Virgil Schmitt

Virgil Schmitt has been in his current position since 1992, although counties he's covered have changed over time.

He's worked as an extension 4-H and youth leader in Butler and Grundy Counties and as an extension agriculturist in Linn County, Iowa. He taught high school agricultural education in Reinbeck, Iowa and community college agriculture at Muscatine Community College.

Schmitt is an eastern Iowa native, where he lives and manages his home farming operation.

For upcoming events and timely crop production information in your area, subscribe to the East Central and Southeast Iowa Crop Update.

Virgil Schmitt
February 26, 2024 9:28 PM

You are invited to the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association's annual meeting, on Thursday, March 7, at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm, located at 3115 Louisa-Washington Rd, Crawfordsville.

The association, in partnership with Iowa State University, oversees the...

Crop Production
May 9, 2023 12:18 PM

Many farmers across the state of Iowa found a nice, early window to get the 2023 planting season kicked off. The second week of April became busy with tillage, planting (both corn and soybeans), and herbicide passes. Unfortunately, that window closed quickly and left us with extended cool...

Crop Production
April 3, 2023 11:57 AM

Join us on May 17th for a Crop Scout School at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville. ...

Crop Production
February 13, 2023 8:00 AM

Farmers and those who provide consultation to farmers, as well as the general public, are invited to the...

Crop Production
June 15, 2022 7:25 AM

Farmers and farm businesses are invitied to join us on July 7 at Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville for our Agronomy Workshop and Certified Crop Advisor Training in the morning and our Summer Field Day in the afternoon. These events are being hosted by the research...

Crop Production
September 17, 2021 4:12 PM

2021 has been an unprecedented year for fall armyworms, not just here in Iowa but other states as well. There have been many questions regarding how to manage fall armyworms in hayfields and cover...

Insects and Mites
May 31, 2021 10:43 PM

Carbon markets and weed management strategies in soybeans will be the featured topics at an upcoming Agronomy Workshop and Crop Advisor Training being offered from 8 AM to noon on June 16 at the Southeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm located near Crawfordsville.

...

Crop Production
February 22, 2021 1:58 PM

Farmers and crop advisers are invited to attend the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association annual meeting, which will be held virtually this year via Zoom on Tuesday, March 4, at 8 a.m.

The annual meeting will feature the following topics and speakers: “A Review of the 2020...

Crop Production
November 6, 2020 3:14 PM

We are looking to hire a new Extension Field Agronomist to serve south central Iowa (Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose, Davis, and Van Buren counties). Field agronomists provide educational leadership and subject-matter expertise in crop production and...

Crop Production
November 5, 2020 9:11 AM

Registration for the 2020 Ag Chem Dealer Update meetings near Boone on Dec. 8 and Iowa City on Dec. 15 is now open online. Each location will have both a morning and afternoon session to accommodate as many attendees as possible while meeting social distancing requirements. In addition to insect...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites, Pesticide Education, Plant Diseases, Weeds
February 24, 2020 4:08 PM

Farmers and crop advisors are invited to attend the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association annual meeting, which will be held at the Johnson County Extension Office in Iowa City on Thursday, March 5, 2020 beginning at 10 a.m.

Registration and refreshments will begin at 9:30 a.m...

Crop Production
August 28, 2019 10:06 AM

Check out what ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists in EC, SE, and SC Iowa are seeing and hearing in their areas regarding crop progress and issues showing up in crop fields.

Crop Production
August 28, 2019 9:27 AM

Mark your calendar for the September 5th Fall Field Day at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville! The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a complimentary meal and registration. The tour starts at 6 p.m. and will feature the following topics:

Crop Production
February 19, 2019 10:01 AM

Farmers and crop advisors are invited to attend the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association annual meeting at the Johnson County Extension office in Iowa City on Thursday, March 7, 2019 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The day will feature an update on activities at the Iowa State...

Crop Production
August 3, 2018 2:43 PM

Mark your calendar for the September 6 Fall Field Day at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville.

This year’s fall field day will feature the following topics:

  • “A Season in Review” by Myron Rees, Southeast Research Farm Superintendent...
Crop Production
June 12, 2018 8:12 AM

On June 28, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting the annual Spring Field Day and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Training at the Southeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville.

...

Crop Production
March 12, 2018 1:13 PM

Pest resistance is a world-wide challenge from hospitals to farm fields. I recently spent several days in the hospital battling an internal bacterial infection, which required intravenous antibiotics. I noted that the medical staff:

Crop Production, Insects and Mites, Plant Diseases, Weeds, Herbicide Resistance
February 13, 2018 9:10 AM

Farmers and agriculture suppliers will want to attend the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association annual meeting at the Johnson County Extension office in Iowa City on Thursday, March 1, 2018 beginning at 10:00 a.m., according to association president Jeff Ellis.

Following a...

Crop Production
June 28, 2017 9:12 PM

Farmers, ag retailers, and certified crop advisers gathered at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm on June 22 for the research farm association’s annual spring field day.  Myron Rees, farm superintendent, kicked off the field day by sharing a farm and crop update with everyone. Some...

Crop Production
September 13, 2016 1:00 PM

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists report crop conditions in south central, southeast, and east central Iowa.

Crop Production
August 18, 2016 8:46 AM

Mark you your calendars for the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm's Fall Field Day, which is set for September 8. Registration will begin at 1 p.m. with the tour starting at 1:30 p.m. 

The featured stops for this year's field day include a presentation on UAVs with a demonstration...

Crop Production
June 7, 2016 3:53 PM

After a busy week at a meeting in Michigan, Virgil Schmitt and I visited the Muscatine County farmer with Palmer amaranth to assess the population.

This farmer first discovered Palmer amaranth...

Weeds