Extension Crop News
The following crop news items are from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will implement updated pesticide applicator certification and training rules beginning Jan. 1, 2026. In preparation for the new rules, the Iowa State University Pesticide Safety Education Program is revising several applicator manuals and exams to ensure compliance and provide accurate resources for commercial and private pesticide applicators.
- The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm Business Management Team invites farmers and agriculture professionals to a Grain Marketing Workshop in Ottumwa Jan. 6–7, 2026. The two-day workshop is designed for participants with various experience levels, including those with limited and intermediate skills, as well as seasoned, successful grain marketers.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the In-Season Manure Application with Irrigation Field Day on Dec. 4 in Klemme. Participants will learn about innovative strategies designed to address nutrient water quality issues stemming from agriculture.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a no-till and soil health field day on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Badger Community Center. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and no-till field day near Ollie on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Scott Swanson’s farm. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a “Conservation On Tap” event on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bremer Brewing Company in Waverly. The event, which is available at no cost, will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask questions. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host the 36th Annual Integrated Crop Management Conference, set for Dec. 10–11 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. This premier event will provide crop production professionals with the latest information, cutting-edge research updates and tools to prepare for 2026.
- Soil compaction caused by farm machinery and field traffic will be discussed at an upcoming Soil Compaction School event on Nov. 14. The event will cover methods to minimize compaction and mitigate any soil compaction that may have already occurred.
- The Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic has earned national accreditation from the National Plant Diagnostic Network, recognizing the clinic’s commitment to high-quality, reliable diagnostic services. Clinic diagnosticians invite Iowans to submit samples for diagnosis.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop, relay intercropping and water quality field day near Crawfordsville on Thursday, Nov. 6, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Iowa State University Southeast Research Farm.
- Early planting combined with warm spring and fall conditions has led to an earlier-than-usual corn harvest in Iowa. Crops are also drier than normal, creating a greater risk of field fires during harvest. Kris Kohl, field agricultural engineer with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, offers recommendations to reduce the risk.
- A new report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach examines awareness and attitudes among Iowa farmers regarding the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a statewide initiative to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into Iowa’s waterways and contributions to Gulf hypoxia. The report draws on data from the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers.
- With harvest underway, combines, grain carts and other large equipment are appearing on Iowa roads. Drivers are reminded to slow down and share the road with farm machinery this fall.
- National Farm Safety and Health Week 2025 is Sept. 21–27, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach reminds operators that safety is critical when handling, transporting and applying manure.
- Youth from six states tested their Integrated Pest Management skills and knowledge during the Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition on Sept. 13. Iowa State University hosted the competition at Wyffels Hybrids in Ames.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program will host a webinar titled, “Becoming an Employer of Choice: What Today’s Workforce Values and Strategies for Attracting and Keeping Employees in Agricultural and Food Systems Settings,” on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to noon.
- The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach agricultural engineering team has shared its annual guide on best practices for fall manure application. This essential resource covers everything from manure testing and equipment calibration to optimal timing, soil conditions and safety.
- A new podcast is available for listening from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in collaboration with UW-Madison Extension Dane County and FairShare CSA Coalition. “Pivot Points” explores significant changes farmers have made in their business models and, by extension, their lives.
- The Iowa Organic Conference will return to Iowa City, Monday, Nov. 17, for a full day of all things organic, headlined by organic pioneer and “king of kamut” Bob Quinn.
- A Sept. 30 webinar will explore “PFAS in Agriculture: What It Means for Your Farm and the Food Supply Chain.” The webinar, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and collaborators, will provide a comprehensive overview of PFAS, synthetic compounds widely used in consumer and industrial products and often referred to as “forever chemicals.”
- CropsTV, powered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will return for its sixth season in January 2026, continuing its mission to deliver timely and relevant crop production information directly to farmers and agricultural service providers.
- New information and decision tools are available in the August edition of Ag Decision Maker to help farmers and livestock producers make informed marketing decisions for their yields and herds.
- A Sept. 24 workshop will provide an opportunity for producers to learn more about the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE2), as well as the Iowa Phosphorus Index. The Ames workshop is a collaborative effort between the Iowa DNR, USDA and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- This summer has been both hot and wet, with consistent rainfall across much of the state. These conditions have led to some unusual challenges in corn fields, including wrapped tassels and southern rust. Both have raised questions about their potential impacts on corn silage.
- The Iowa State University Digital Ag Innovation Lab and Terraplex are co-hosting a new educational event on Sept. 4, offering research-backed insights on drone spraying use in agriculture. The workshop is designed for a range of attendees, from curious farmers and licensed applicators to agricultural professionals and ag-tech startups.
- The Humboldt County Extension Office will host a Fertilizer and Finance workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
- The article, “Foreign-held farmland in the United States and Iowa: scale, use, and ownership trends,” provides timely updates not only on foreign interest but also on ownership and lease agreements across Iowa and the U.S. The article is available in the July edition of Ag Decision Maker from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- Iowa State University’s Northern Research and Demonstration Farm will host its Fall Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 4.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab, will host Drone University on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua. The introductory workshop will provide growers, crop advisors and agricultural professionals with foundational knowledge on the effective use of imagery drones for improved decision-making in crop management.
- The annual Fall Field Day at the Iowa State University Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is holding two separate events at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville on Sept. 4 — Windbreak School and Fall Field Day.
- “Where the Grass Is Greener,” a statewide program from Iowa 4-H and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, provides youth with hands-on educational experiences demonstrating the benefits of perennial groundcover. Iowans can experience the program at the Iowa State Fair on Aug 9 at the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building.
- Eleven youth teams in grades 7-12 tested their integrated pest management skills during the Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition. This competition aimed to test and increase youth knowledge in pest identification, IPM and crop production, as well as demonstrate careers in agriculture.
- Seventeen Iowans graduated from the second cohort of the Landowner Education Program in July. Organized by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the program helps landowners improve the environmental and economic resiliency of their land through soil health practices.