By Warren Pierson, Brent Pringnitz
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a Late Season Crop Management Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Field Extension Education Laboratory near Boone, Iowa. Designed for agribusiness professionals and crop producers, the two-day course provides hands-on, in-field experience and discussions of the 2015 growing season, along with the latest research on disease management and identification from ISU Extension and Outreach specialists.
The clinic will focus on management decisions made throughout the season and the results of those decisions. Presenters will also discuss topics such as cover crops, nutrient applications and other decisions to be made this fall. Finally, specialists will present their most recent research and how the results have formed their suggestions and recommendations.
“This program provides agribusiness professionals and crop producers with up-to-date information on research and how data from that research is used to make management suggestions,” said Warren Pierson, program specialist with the Field Extension Education Laboratory at ISU Extension and Outreach. “Our goal is to offer a hands-on learning experience by getting the attendees into the corn and soybean plots.”
ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and field agronomists will provide instruction on the principles of Integrated Pest Management with an emphasis on weed, insect and crop disease identification in Iowa corn and soybean production.
The two-day Late Season Crop Management Clinic presentation topics and Iowa State instructors include:
- Phosphorus and potassium soil testing and fertilization management – Antonio Mallarino, professor and extension specialist in agronomy at Iowa State University
- Soybean cyst nematode management in 2015 and beyond – Greg Tylka, professor in plant pathology and microbiology
- Late season insect management issues – Erin Hodgson, associate professor and extension specialist in entomology
- Corn disease management update – Alison Robertson, associate professor and extension specialist in plant pathology and microbiology
- Soybean disease management update – Daren Mueller, assistant professor and extension specialist in plant pathology and microbiology
- Disease identification quiz – Alison Robertson and Daren Mueller
- Update on bioenergy, specifically with miscanthus in Iowa – Nicholas Boersma, assistant scientist in agronomy and Catherine Bonin, agronomist
- Late-season weeds: What do they forecast? – Bob Hartzler, professor in agronomy and extension weed specialist
- Prairie strips: Conservation for multiple benefits – Lisa Schulte-Moore, associate professor in natural resource ecology and management
- Cover crops as part of the corn and soybean cropping system – Mark Licht, extension cropping systems agronomist
- Corn production and management – Mark Johnson, extension field agronomist
- Soybean production and management – Mark Johnson or Mark Licht
- Water quality update – Jamie Benning, extension water quality program manager
Registration check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, with sessions starting at 9 a.m. and adjourning at 4 p.m. Sessions will start on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 8 a.m. and adjourn at 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required and must be completed before midnight, Aug. 19. Cost is $250 and includes lunch, refreshments and class materials. To register, go to www.aep.iastate.edu/feel/late. Registration is available online with credit card or by mail with check payment.