Crop Scout School prepares individuals with little or no previous crop scouting experience, providing a foundation of basic skills for crop scouting corn and soybean in the Midwest.

This program has been designed for beginning crop scouts to ensure they are ready for success when they go to the field. Correctly identifying pests in the field is critical for selecting the correct tools to economically manage issues in a timely fashion. The course features sessions on corn and soybean growth and development, weed, disease and insect identification, along with scouting methods and techniques.

Registration includes digital versions of the Corn and Soybean Field Guide and Weed Identification Field Guideand print versions of Field Crops Insects, Corn Diseases, and Soybean Diseases.

Space is limited to the first 70 registered due to limited classroom space and to ensure small group sizes. Students will rotate through classes and have the opportunity to have more one-on-one interactions with specialists. Live corn and soybean plants will be provided to students to give them the opportunity to look at plants, rather than pictures. It will also give them the opportunity to practice with their field guides before they go to the field.

Program

8:30 am Registration and check-in
9:00 am Welcome, announcements, introductions
9:05 am General scouting tips and tricks
9:45 am Breakouts begin
Students will divide into smaller groups, rotating through insects, weeds, crop diseases, crop physiology/staging, and other potential crop issues or challenges
11:45 am Lunch (provided)
12:45 pm Breakout sessions continue
2:00 pm Field session - stand counts, growth staging, etc
3:30  pm Program concludes

Register

When

May 19, 2022

Registration check-in 8:30 AM.
Program begins at 9:00 AM concludes at 3:30  PM.

Where

Kirkwood Community College
Horticulture Building
6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Instructors

Meaghan Anderson

Extension field agronomist

Weed identification
Field diagnostics

Terry Basol

Extension field agronomist

Field diagnostics

Erin Hodgson

Extension entomologist

Insect identification


Mark Licht

Extension cropping systems specialist

Crop physiology and staging

Josh Michel

Extension field agronomist

Field diagnostics

Clarabell Probasco

Extension field agronomist

Field diagnostics


Alison Robertson

Extension crop plant pathologist

Crop disease identification

Virgil Schmitt

Extension field agronomist

Crop scouting tips and tricks
Potential crop issues/challenges

Rebecca Vittetoe

Extension field agronomist

Field diagnostics

Register

$100

Registration, prior to midnight, May 12, 2022

Registration includes lunch, refreshment breaks and course materials.

 

Reminders

  • Pre-registration is required to attend this course. Registrations must be received prior to midnight, May 12, 2022.
  • Class size is limited to 70 and pre-registration is required to attend. Registrations accepted on a first-come, first-paid basis. Registration will be closed if the course reaches capacity.
  • Requests for refunds must be received prior to midnight, May 12, 2022. Substitutions will be allowed.
  • Confirmation of registration is sent via email. Please provide a valid email address when registering

Contact

Rebecca Vittetoe
Extension field agronomist
(319) 653-4811
rka8@iastate.edu


For assistance with registration, receipts, cancellation or questions on the status of your registration please contact ANR Program Services at (515) 294-6429 or anr@iastate.edu.