The 2024 Stakeholder Engagement Program (STEP) Corn Competition in Suwannee County, Fla., focuses on promoting the adoption of best management practices (BMPs) in nitrogen and irrigation use among farmers. The event supporters are the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Nutrien, and the University of Florida (UF). The competition was at the Suwannee Valley North Florida Research and Education Center in Live Oak. Dr. Vivek Sharma and Dr. Kevin Athearn spearheaded the initiative, which encourages growers to utilize new technologies—provided free of cost—while competing to produce high-yield, efficient corn crops. The competition brings together teams of farmers, industry partners, and personnel from UF, FDACS and the water management district.
2024 Competition Insights
In 2024, 15 teams competed in two categories: input-use efficiency and profitability. The top three teams in each category won prizes: $2,000 for 1st, $1,000 for 2nd, and $500 for 3rd. Each team could make 6 crop-specific decisions, four of which were agronomic (variety selection, seeding rate, nitrogen rate and method of application, and irrigation strategies), while two were marketing decisions (crop insurance and sale of corn).
Teams could choose from the available hybrids enrolled in the competition or were allowed to bring their own hybrid. The decision of seeding rate ranging from 26,000 to 36,000 seeds per acre, at an increment of 2,000 seeds per acre, was also made by the teams. Growers chose their own nitrogen rate and method of application (liquid, dry, or controlled-release fertilizer (CRF)) with single or split applications. In the irrigation category, teams have the option to choose their preferred irrigation management tools. All opted for soil moisture sensors—a popular technology among growers due to its ability to provide real-time data on field and crop management conditions. Soil moisture sensors allowed farmers to monitor water content within the rootzone profile and evaluate the soil’s water-holding capacity. This helped them in irrigation management and in turn avoiding nutrient leaching.
Irrigation and Fertilizer
Managing irrigation efficiently was especially important during the 2024 growing season. Its 38 inches of rainfall mostly occurred in the early and late stages of crop growth. These conditions heightened the risk of nutrient leaching, making careful irrigation management essential. Conversely, the month of June was unusually dry, underscoring the importance of aligning irrigation timing with fertilizer applications to maintain nutrient availability.
One emerging technology in the 2024 competition was controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), which slowly releases nutrients over time based on soil temperature and moisture. This reduces the risk of leaching and allows for a one-time application during the growing season. In contrast, conventional fertilizers typically require multiple applications throughout the season. This increases labor, fuel, and equipment costs. CRF fertilizers, although more expensive, have shown potential in improving nutrient-use efficiency. Four teams in the 2024 competition opted to use CRF, applying on average 275 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. While teams using CRF applied, on average, 21 lbs. more nitrogen per acre than those using conventional fertilizers, they also saw higher yields on average, of 25 bushels per acre.
Overall, the average nitrogen application rate for all teams was 261 lbs. per acre, including both CRF and conventional fertilizers. The lowest nitrogen application was 155 lbs. per acre, while the highest was 355 lbs. per acre. All teams received a 30 lb. per acre starter fertilizer application at planting.
2024 Competition Results
Each team’s input-use efficiency was evaluated using the Water-Nitrogen Intensification Performance Index (WNIPI). This index helps determine efficiency in terms of yield relative to nitrogen and irrigation inputs. The winner of the input-use efficiency category produced a yield of 133 bushels per acre with 155 lbs. of nitrogen per acre and 6.6 acre-inches of irrigation. The second-place team had a yield of 163 bushels per acre, applying 210 lbs. of nitrogen per acre and using 6 inches of irrigation. The team coming in third place followed closely behind, yielding 186 bushels per acre with 250 lbs. of nitrogen and 5.9 inches of irrigation. Table 1 provides detailed information on the 2024 STEP Corn Contest winners’ crop management practices.
| Category | Place | Team | Team Members | City | Hybrid | Planting Density |
Irrigation (inches) |
Nitrogen (lbs/acre) |
Yield (bu/acre) |
Farm-Gate Price ($/bu) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Input-use Efficiency |
1st | Wilkerson Farms | BJ and Kelsey Wilkerson |
Trenton, FL | Dyno-Gra 57VC51 | 32000 | 6.6 | 155 | 133 | $4.17 |
| 2nd | Riverbend Farms | Kyle Kelley Tera Kelley Ed White |
Branford, FL | Agrigold 643-52 | 32000 | 6 | 210 | 163 | $5.02 | |
| 3rd | Team Columbia | Ronald Morris | Lake City, FL | Pioneer 2042YHR | 30000 | 5.9 | 250 | 186 | $4.17 | |
| Profitability | 1st | Team Pursell | Billy Browning | Sebring, FL | Pioneer 2042VYHR | 30000 | 7.4 | 280-CRF | 193 | $4.96 |
| 2nd | Riverbend Farms | Kyle Kelley Tera Kelley Ed White |
Branford, FL | Agrigold 643-52 | 32000 | 6 | 210 | 163 | $5.02 | |
| 3rd | Team Columbia | Ronald Morris | Lake City, FL | Pioneer 2024YHR | 30000 | 5.9 | 250 | 186 | $4.17 |
Table 1. 2024 STEP Corn Competition growing and harvest information on the Top 3 Winners of each category.
Efficiency and Profitability
Interestingly, a clear relationship between efficiency and profitability emerged in the competition. Teams that performed well in the efficiency category also tended to rank high in profitability. For instance, the second and third place ranking teams in efficiency also placed second and third in profitability. However, the team taking first place in profitability, achieved the highest yield of the competition at 193 bushels per acre. This team used 280 lbs. of CRF nitrogen and applied 7.4 inches of irrigation. Although this team placed fifth in input-use efficiency, their success in profitability highlights the value of CRF fertilizer in improving both yield and economic returns, despite its higher upfront cost.
The 2024 STEP Corn Competition demonstrates that the use of modern technologies such as soil moisture sensors, drone imageries, and CRF can significantly enhance nitrogen- and irrigation-use efficiency. These innovations not only improve crop yields but also reduce environmental impact by minimizing nutrient losses. The results of the competition underscore the importance of strategic input management, especially in the face of variable weather conditions, and provide valuable insights for future adoption of BMPs in corn production. Through programs like STEP, Florida’s farmers are well-positioned to increase both the sustainability and profitability of their operations.
Stakeholder Engagement Program: A Corn Competition for Efficient Nitrogen and Irrigation Management in Florida
Authors: Carson Jones, Sydney Williams, Taite Miller, Amanda Phillips, Shiva Bhambota, Shivendra Kumar, Kevin Athearn, and Vivek Sharma.
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
North Florida Research and Education Center- Suwannee Valley
7580 County Road 136 Live Oak, FL 32060
Featured image by UF/IFAS photographer Cat Wofford
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