Nebraska Land Judging & Soil Evaluation
Nebraska Land Judging & Soil Evaluation
Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Land Judging enables each participant to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. Soil, land and home-site evaluation provide a setting for students to investigate the soils in their region, the environment that surrounds them and their effect on their daily lives.
Soil is one of the most important natural resources of our environment. Soil supports and influences the crops we grow for food and fiber, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. The soils of the world fit for plant growth must sustain all the plants, animals and humans that make the Earth their home. The soil acts as a filter for the water entering the groundwater supply, as well as interacting with or being eroded by the water that flows over the surface. Soil has a direct effect on the air we breathe when it becomes airborne and is evident when dust settles or obscures vision. Soil takes long periods of time to develop but can be destroyed or eroded away in very short periods. It is only through proper stewardship of soil that life on Earth can be sustained and improved.
INFORMATION AND USEFUL TOOLS:
2020 Land Judging Promo Video
Land Judging Guide Book - Fundamentals of Land Evaluation in Nebraska
Guide for Applying Conservation Treatments for Land Evaluation
Setting Up and Holding a Land Evaluation Contest
Fact Sheet for Each Field Instructor
South Central and South West Capability Chart
South East, East Central, North East, North Central Capability Charts
SCORECARD EXAMPLE:
Land Judging Scorecard (Blank)
Land Judging Scorecard (Filled Out & Scored)
RULES AND REGULATIONS:
State Land Judging Rules and Regulations
LAND JUDGING COMPETITION:
2021 Regional and State Land Judging Competition Dates, Locations and Contacts
State Land Judging Competition
Oct. 20, 2021
South West Region Rotation
Tri-Basin NRD
Photos from 2020 State Land Judging: NARD Flickr Page
2020 Regional Land Judging Results:
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2020 Western Panhandle Land Judging (No competition due to COVID-19)
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2020 North Central Land Judging Scores (Team)
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2020 North Central Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- 2020 East Central Land Judging Scores (Team)
- 2020 East Central Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- 2020 North East Land Judging Scores (Team)
- 2020 North East Land Judging Scores (Individual)
2020 State Land Judging Scores:
Team & Individual Scores
- First Place: Heartland (Goetzen, Lewis, Goetzen, Quiring)
- Second Place: Fillmore Central (Schelkopf, Korbelik, Geiser, Ascher)
- Third Place: Red Cloud (Ely, Rippen, Hersh, Schroyer)
- Fourth Place: West Point (Hansen, Schlickbernd, Meier, Penrose)
- Fifth Place: Fullerton (Sullivan, Voichahoske, Engel, Bridger)
Unfortunately, the 2021 National Range and Land Judging Competition has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
For more information contact Megan Grimes at mgrimes [at] nrdnet.org or 402-471-7670