Farm Progress

Crop Advantage Series will bring latest research and crop production information to 14 locations across Iowa.

November 23, 2017

2 Min Read
VALUABLE INFO: Every year in January, ISU’s Crop Advantage meetings deliver the research, knowledge and experience of ISU specialists to farmers and other decision-makers in the field.

The 2018 Crop Advantage Series will allow farmers and crop advisers to hear current research and crop production information from Iowa State University.

ISU Extension and Outreach specialists will travel to 14 locations around Iowa Jan. 3-26, providing updated management options and recommendations on current and future crop production issues. The meetings will also offer continuing education credits for certified crop advisers and pesticide safety recertification.

“There is no other program in our crop production education year that we are able to bring this many Extension specialists together to individual sites across the state like we can for these Crop Advantage meetings,” says Meaghan Anderson, Extension field agronomist in east-central Iowa.

In 2017, nearly 2,000 individuals attended the meetings across Iowa. When asked in a survey about the impact of the information on managing farming operation margins for 2016 and beyond, 44% of attendees estimated a value of $5 to $10 per acre and 24% estimated a value of $10 to $20 per acre.

“Our goal is to prepare producers to manage potential issues when they arise, or even before they arise, by sharing the most up-to-date scientific knowledge from Iowa State University,” says Anderson. “Content at the meetings is driven by local county needs and production issues.”

Timely topics to be discussed
Topics on the agenda this year include factors for high-yielding soybeans, micronutrients and tissue testing, nitrogen management, soil health concepts, cover crops and seedling diseases, insect management thresholds, SCN-resistant varieties and seed treatments. Other topics include crop market outlook, weed management and dicamba use in 2018.

“The introduction of dicamba-resistant soybean varieties along with new dicamba formulations resulted in a substantial increase in off-target injury complaints this summer,” says Bob Hartzler, ISU Extension weed specialist. “Understanding particle and vapor drift scenarios, recent product label changes, and updated university application recommendations will be covered at each Crop Advantage meeting this winter.”

For locations, times, program content and registration, visit cropadvantage.org. Early registration for each location is $50. Late registration made less than seven days prior to the meeting or on-site is $60. Registration includes lunch, a printed proceedings booklet, private pesticide applicator recertification and CCA credits.

Dates and locations
The 2018 series will be held at these 14 locations:
 Jan. 3, Sheldon
 Jan. 4, Okoboji
 Jan. 5, Burlington
 Jan. 9, Storm Lake
 Jan. 10, Ames
 Jan. 11, Moravia
 Jan. 12, Mason City
 Jan. 16, Atlantic
 Jan. 17, Fort Dodge
 Jan. 18, Waterloo
 Jan. 23, Le Mars
 Jan. 24, Iowa City
 Jan. 25, Denison
 Jan. 26, Davenport

For answers to your questions, contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429 or [email protected], or contact your regional ISU Extension field agronomist. 

Source: Iowa State University

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