1994-2012

First Meeting

•1994 Iowa State University Ames, IA

•Organized by Ken Ziegler•26 attendees including 8 Faculty

First Meeting

•Started the process of obtaining NCR Status

•What, who, when the group would meet

•What the group was to discuss and achieve

1996

•Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas

•George Ham, Associate Director Kansas Ag. Exp. Station•Presented current situation and alternatives regarding NCR Committee status.

NCR

•Strong tendency to reduce the number of committees in recent years

•Fewer administrative advisors available to service existing and new projects

NCR

•Fewer dollars available for travel and increased accountability

•NCR directors focusing on other, higher priorities

NCR

•NCR directors focusing on other, higher priorities

•Decided to move on as a self organized group

Purpose

•Provide comprehensive, impartial, and timely information about variety performance to growers

Purpose

•Promote Land Grant University operated crop performance trials

Objectives

•Develop recommendations for standardized variety testing and reporting procedures

Objectives• List of procedures on website• UCTA.ORG

Objectives

•Facilitate the formation of regional databases for major agronomic crops in the North Central region

Objectives

Objectives

•SELECT- Variety selection software

•Joe Lauer- University of Wisconsin

•Work in progress

Objectives

• Distribution of results

• UCTA.ORG

Objectives

• Liaison with industry• ASTA booth

Objectives

• Liaison with industry• ASTA booth

Objectives

•Provide a formal setting where recommendations from seed companies and associated commodity organizations can be discussed, evaluated, and incorporated into appropriate protocols

Objectives

•Provide forum for the exchange of information and ideas related to crop testing in the North Central region

Objectives

•Summer meeting•Equipment•Plots

Attendance University Attended Hosted• Iowa State 15 2• Ohio State 14 2• University of Illinois 18 2• University of Missouri 7 1• University of Nebraska 14 2• Kansas State University 16 2• Purdue University 6 1• Michigan State University 18 2• University of Minnesota 2 0• University of Wisconsin 17 2• Penn State University 13 1• South Dakota State University 3 1• Virginia Tech 1 0• North Dakota State University 1 0• Colorado State University 1 0

• Average Attendance ~20

Notable Events

• 1996 North Central Crop Evaluation Committee

• 1998 Decided to develop website• 2005 Industry panel• 2006 Purdue to host website and give it a facelift

• 2007 Change name to University Crop Testing Alliance

• 2007 ASTA booth• 2009 Illinois to host website

Memorable tours

•1996 Konza Prairie•2000 Terry Redlin•2003 Evergreen Dairy•2005 Betty Lou Cruise•2008 Chicago Board of Trade•2010 GM Tour•2011 Monsanto Production