U.S. college students can submit practical pest management research and compete for cash prizes and publication opportunities.
College students working on new approaches to crop protection and pest management have an opportunity to put their research in front of growers, crop consultants and other agricultural professionals.
Pest Tactic Journal has launched its 2026-2027 Student Paper Competition, an annual program recognizing student research, technical articles and extension writing related to pest management.
The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at accredited colleges and universities in the United States.
Submissions opened Nov. 1, 2026, with an initial deadline of March 30, 2027, or until the journal receives a sufficient pool of eligible entries.
Research With Practical Farm Applications
A major focus of the competition is research and technical information that can be put to use in the field.
Pest Tactic Journal says it is particularly interested in practical and applied work examining pest management strategies, tools, field observations and case studies.
The goal is to highlight work that can help growers, crop consultants, extension specialists, researchers, agricultural suppliers, regulatory agencies and other pest management professionals improve their practices.
Eligible entries can fall into three broad categories: technical and extension articles, original research articles and scientific reviews.
Technical and extension articles can examine topics such as pest management recommendations, chemical and biological controls, new technologies, field and laboratory demonstrations and comparisons of different pest management products or strategies.
Students can also submit case studies or pest profiles addressing the biology, identification, importance and management of invasive, emerging or other significant pests.
Original research papers may include field or laboratory experiments, surveys, observational studies and other quantitative or qualitative research.
Scientific reviews are also eligible, provided they include sufficient literature review and analysis to offer readers new insights into the subject.
Cash Awards and Publication Opportunities
Three cash prizes will be awarded. The first-place student will receive $500, an award certificate, featured publication and a waived article processing charge.
Second place comes with a $300 award, certificate and featured publication, while the third-place winner receives $200, a certificate and featured publication.
Students must be the first author of the manuscript, although faculty advisers and other collaborators may be included as co-authors. Entries must also be original submissions to Pest Tactic Journal.
Papers Will Go Through Peer Review
Competition entries will not be judged solely as student assignments.
Submissions will first be considered by the journal's editorial board before advancing through its standard external peer-review process. Only papers successfully completing the initial editorial assessment and peer review will be considered for awards.
Accepted entries will then be evaluated using criteria including practical relevance to pest management, comments from external reviewers, scientific rigor and methodology, and originality.
That emphasis on real-world relevance could make the contest particularly interesting for students conducting applied agricultural research.
Pest management remains a significant part of crop production, with growers continually evaluating how chemical, biological, cultural and technological tools can be incorporated into effective management programs.
Providing students with a platform for applied research can help connect work taking place at U.S. colleges and universities with the farmers and agricultural professionals who may ultimately use the findings.
How Students Can Enter
Students interested in participating should prepare manuscripts according to Pest Tactic Journal's author guidelines.
Entries are submitted by email and should be identified as a “Student Competition Entry.” Submissions must also identify the manuscript category and corresponding author and include the student's current enrollment status and institution.
An article processing charge applies to accepted articles eligible for publication, although that charge is waived for the first-place winner.
The initial submission deadline is March 30, 2027, unless the competition receives a sufficient pool of eligible submissions before that date.