Extension Crop News
The following crop news items are from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- An open house will recognize a new research and extension facility as well as the 95th anniversary of Iowa State University’s Northern Research and Demonstration Farm.
- Farmers and agricultural professionals in southeastern Iowa are invited to attend the Summer Field Day at the Iowa State University Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm on June 17, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association.
- The 2025 survey of cash rental rates for Iowa farmland shows that rates decreased, on average, by 2.9% in 2025 to $271 per acre. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conducts the annual Cash Rental Rates for Iowa Survey.
- Iowa State University is holding a series of open house events at the Alliant Energy Solar Farm near Ames. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the farm and learn about agrivoltaics — the integration of solar energy and agriculture.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Women in Ag Program has opened nominations for the annual Women Impacting Agriculture recognition. This honor celebrates women across Iowa who have made significant contributions to the agricultural industry and their communities.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has published a new resource for livestock producers, “Management Strategies of Prussic Acid Toxicity in Sorghum.”
- Youth teams can now register for the 2025 Youth Crop Scouting Competition, hosted by Iowa 4-H and the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management program. The event will be held July 24 at Wyffels Hybrids in Ames.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host Agronomy in the Field, a multi-session, hands-on workshop being offered to women landowners, farmers, conservationists and other women who are interested in learning more about agronomy.
- Logan McCrea is Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s newest field agronomist, serving nine counties in south-central Iowa out of the Mahaska County office. A native of Monroe County, McCrea started his new role in early March of this year.
- People new to crop scouting as well as those wanting to refresh their knowledge and skills are invited to the Crop Scout School on May 22 at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm, Crawfordsville. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering this educational program.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa Central Community College are offering a four-day workshop Feb. 18-21 that will prepare attendees to become certified as Commercial Pesticide Applicators.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting a free, three-part virtual hay school called the “Basics of Haymaking.” The school will cover common agronomic practices for haymaking in Iowa and will be held March 17, 24 and 31 from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released its Real Impact 2024 Report. This report shares a few examples of ISU Extension and Outreach creating real impact in Iowa. County impact reports also are available.
- Farmers, crop consultants, ag retailers and landowners can access timely agronomic related information on the newly updated Integrated Crop Management website from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- Farmers and agricultural service providers can still register for Season Five of CropsTV, powered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. This online learning opportunity features 28 episodes with a variety of crop, pest management, nutrient management, and soil and water management topics.
- Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is hosting a free virtual field day on Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m. Central time. The live discussion will feature Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialists Chris Clark, Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Patrick Wall.
- Members, farmers and ag business professionals are invited to attend the North Central Iowa Research Association annual meeting on Thursday, March 27, at the Northern Research Farm, located at 310 South Main St., Kanawha.
- Chad Hart, extension crop marketing specialist, Melissa Miller, project director of the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, and Kelly Garrett, co-founder of XtremeAg, will speak at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association on March 19. The meeting will be held at the Borlaug Learning Center, Iowa State University Northeast Research Farm, Nashua.
- Iowa landowners may apply to participate in the 2025 Landowner Education Program offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The application window is open until April 4. Program events will take place in June and July.
- All hay producers in the region are invited to attend the 40th annual Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association Annual Meeting and Conference on March 20 at Buzzy’s in Welton. This year’s program will feature Iowa State University extension specialists discussing alfalfa varieties, the weather outlook for the 2025 growing season and other topics.
- A weeklong series of webinars will cover multiple critical topics regarding implementation and management of cover crops on row crop farms in the Midwest. Iowa Learning Farms and Midwest Cover Crop Council are producing the series at noon CST Feb. 10-14.
- Farmers and those who give agronomic advice are invited to attend the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association annual meeting on Thursday, March 6, at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm, located at 3115 Louisa-Washington Road, Crawfordsville.