Difficult growing conditions, tight margins and weak commodity prices made 2019 a challenging year for Iowa crop production. Making smart, informed decisions based on the latest research and developing technology takes on greater importance for the success of the farming operation.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer the 31st annual Integrated Crop Management Conference on Dec. 4-5 in Ames to provide agribusiness professionals, industry representatives and farmers an opportunity to learn, question and discuss.

The conference features 39 workshops for attendees to select from, developing their own customized program. A highlight of the conference each year are guest speakers from other universities and organizations invited by ISU specialists to share research findings and technology from across the Midwest.

“With nearly 1,000 attendees each year, the ICM Conference is a great opportunity for farmers, industry, ag retailers, agronomists and educators to network with each other and interact with their university specialists,” says Mark Licht, conference chair and assistant professor in agronomy. “We receive great feedback each year for the guest speakers we’ve invited to participate. It’s something we continue to focus on each year while building the conference program.”

Peter Kovács, South Dakota State University, will discuss agronomic implications of new planter technologies. From University of Minnesota, Scott Wells will discuss the evolving use of cover crop interseeding. Charles Lynch of the University of Iowa will share information on glyphosate and cancer, and the findings of the Agricultural Health Study.

Visiting from Kansas State University, Anita Dille reviews integrating cover crops for weed suppression in corn-soybean systems. Justin McMechan, University of Nebraska, discusses the ecology and management of soybean gall midge. Damon Smith, University of Wisconsin, shares information on smartphone-based apps used to predict and manage plant diseases. From USDA-ARS, Newell Kitchen looks at the history and future of corn nitrogen recommendations. Robert Mullen with Nutrien will discuss the global nature of the fertilizer industry and how the changing landscape is affecting U.S. farmers.

Additional highlights from the 2019 program include weather and crop market outlooks, hemp as a cash crop, fertilizer application technology, harvest crop quality budgeting for pest resistance, and weed and crop disease management updates.

Register now, choose your topics

“This year, attendees will have as many as six workshops to choose from each hour,” says Brent Pringnitz, conference coordinator for ISU Ag and Natural Resources Extension. “This format allows participants to customize their conference experience and fulfill necessary CCA credit needs. It’s a popular format that packs a lot of information into two days.”

The conference is approved for up to 14 continuing education credits for certified crop advisers. Iowa commercial pesticide applicator recertification for 2019 is also available in categories 1A, 1B, 1C, 4 and 10.

To register, visit the ICM Conference website. Space is limited for the event and requires preregistration. Early registration for the event is $225 and ends midnight Nov. 22. After Nov. 22, the fee increases to $275, and registrations will be accepted, as space allows, until noon Dec. 2.

No registrations will be accepted at the door. For registration questions, contact ANR Program Services at [email protected] or 515-294-6429.

Source: ISU, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.