Production contests are popular among farmers and often stir up debate about the “best” production practices for crops. Since 1987, UW Agronomy has been conducting a contest for corn and soybean farmers called PEPS (Profits through Efficient Production Systems). The forerunner of the Wisconsin PEPS contest was the UW Pacemaker Yield Club run from 1956 to 1959. Over 550 farmers participated with the average yield of club members exceeding 100 bu/A in five of six years. In 1981 the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association perceived an over-emphasis on “maximum yields” and sponsored a contest based on net monetary return per land area. From 1982 to 1986, a Conservation Tillage Corn Production contest was run based on the economics of corn production. In 1987 this contest was expanded into the current PEPS contest to include corn, soybeans and wheat. Currently, the contest is divided into three divisions: 1) cash corn, 2) livestock corn (rotation with alfalfa or manure application), and 3) soybean.