CCA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CCA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which cover crop would be MOST effective at reducing wind erosion over winter in the Great Plains? → Winter rye
2. The Feekes scale is a growth staging system used for which crop? → Small grains (wheat, barley, oats)
3. Which practice best prevents development of herbicide-resistant weed populations? → Rotating herbicide modes of action and integrating non-chemical weed control
4. In precision nutrient management, variable rate technology (VRT) is MOST economically justified when a field has: → High spatial variability in soil test values across defined management zones
5. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) of irrigation water is used to assess the risk of: → Soil structure degradation due to sodium-induced clay dispersion
6. Which of the following is considered a primary macronutrient essential for corn growth and is required in quantities similar to nitrogen? → Potassium (K)
7. Which of the following is a key component of an effective IPM program in correctional facilities? → Regular pest monitoring
8. Infiltration rate in a compacted soil layer can BEST be improved by: → Deep tillage (subsoiling) through the compacted layer
9. A cash flow statement is most useful to farm managers for: → Identifying the timing of cash inflows and outflows to anticipate shortfalls
10. Which process describes the movement of photosynthetically fixed carbon from leaves to other plant organs through the phloem? → Mass flow (pressure-flow hypothesis)
11. When conducting an irrigation water quality test, which two parameters are most critical for assessing salinity and sodium hazard to crops and soil structure? → Electrical conductivity (EC) and Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)
12. Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) is caused by which pathogen? → Fusarium virguliforme
13. Which practice is MOST effective at reducing evaporation losses from soil in a dryland farming system? → Maintaining surface residue mulch
14. In corn (maize), the V6 growth stage refers to: → Six visible leaf collars
15. In cotton, the NAWF (Nodes Above White Flower) index is used to determine: → Cutout stage and timing for irrigation termination
16. Which irrigation method typically achieves the highest application efficiency for row crops by delivering water directly to the root zone? → Drip/trickle irrigation
17. Why is phosphorus typically banded rather than broadcast? → It places nutrients close to developing roots
18. Which pathogen causes common corn smut, characterized by large galls on ears and tassels? → Ustilago maydis
19. Which application method best reduces ammonia volatilization loss when surface-applying urea? → Incorporating urea into the soil or injecting it
20. Gross margin for a crop enterprise is calculated as: → Total revenue minus variable (direct) costs only
21. In furrow irrigation, surge flow is used primarily to: → Improve water advance rate and distribution uniformity by cycling flow on and off
22. The primary environmental concern associated with over-irrigation in agricultural fields is: → Leaching of nitrates and other soluble nutrients into groundwater
23. What does the term 'critical period for weed control' refer to in crop production? → The crop growth window during which weed competition causes unacceptable yield loss
24. A producer wants to apply 120 lbs N/acre using urea (46-0-0). How many lbs of urea per acre are required? → 261 lbs/acre
25. Which soil horizon is most commonly referred to as the 'subsoil' and is often enriched by illuviation? → B horizon
26. Tissue testing at the V6 growth stage of corn most accurately reflects nutrient status when the sample consists of: → The uppermost fully collared leaf
27. Which of the following best describes the 'credit' given to legume nitrogen in a nutrient management plan when a non-legume crop follows in rotation? → A portion of legume-fixed N is credited based on legume stand quality and yield
28. What is the primary benefit of conservation tillage in soil management? → Reduces soil erosion
29. Which irrigation method is most efficient for reducing water loss due to evaporation? → Drip irrigation
30. What is the primary mechanism by which nitrogen is lost from waterlogged soils? → Denitrification