Published July 7, 2025 – This growing season, Nebraska’s Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS™) — a University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension initiative — broadened its scope. Originally focused on sprinkler corn competitions at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte, the program has now grown to host six contests across three distinct locations throughout the state.

This a TAPS™ in the news feature. Get the full story at:Farm Progress

What’s New This Year:

• New Crops Added: Soybeans have been introduced alongside corn and grain sorghum.
• Expanded Locations:
  • North Platte: Continues to host both the sprinkler corn and continuous corn contests.
  • Gothenburg: Now home to a food‑grade corn trial in partnership with the Bayer Water Utilization Center and Frito‑Lay.
  • Mead (Eastern Nebraska Research Center): Features soybean and rotational corn plots, including trials of biologicals for nitrogen management.

Program Highlights:

• Real‑World Learning: Participants manage simulated 3,000‑acre corn or 1,000‑acre sorghum farms, making decisions on hybrid selection, seeding rate, nitrogen and irrigation timing, crop insurance, and marketing—mirroring real farm management.
• Performance Tracking: The program tracks yield, nitrogen use, and water efficiency. Awards go to the most profitable, efficient, and highest‑yielding plots.
• Collaborative Insight: TAPS™ fosters peer learning among farmers and ag professionals. Even non-participants follow the findings to inform their own practices.
• Additional Trials: This year includes experiments on cover-crop termination timing (before or at planting) to explore its interaction with nitrogen use and irrigation requirements.

Fields were planted in late April, sidedressed with fertilizer around June 11, and irrigation decisions began around June 23. Harvest is expected in late October or early November, weather permitting.

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Why It Matters:
This expansion offers Nebraska growers more opportunities to experiment with diverse crops and strategies in a risk-free environment. It enhances decision-making around crop inputs (like nitrogen and water) and introduces innovations such as biologicals and rotation practices—helping growers boost profitability while managing resources more sustainably.

Link to Full Story: FarmProgress – TAPS™ program expands to test new crops, locations in Nebraska