Extension Crop News
The following crop news items are from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- The 2026 Crop Scouting Competition for youth is set for July 27, according to Iowa 4-H and the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management program. The competition will take place at the Field Extension Education Laboratory in Boone. The deadline to register is July 1.
- Drones are beginning to play a role in Iowa agriculture, particularly for crop monitoring and pesticide application, but most farmers remain uncertain about the technology’s advantages and limitations, according to results from the 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- Iowans face a wide range of disasters each year, and preparation is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk. To support communities statewide, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has launched a new Disaster Readiness website — a one-stop hub for trusted information and resources to help Iowans prepare, respond and recover from disasters.
- Iowa State University’s Digital Ag Innovation team, in partnership with Terraplex Ag, will host a two-day Drone Workshop designed to prepare participants for the Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification exam. The workshop will take place May 27–28 at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab in Ames.
- People new to crop scouting, as well as those wanting to refresh their knowledge and skills, are invited to the 2026 Crop Scout School. Attendees may choose from two dates and locations this year.
- A significant transfer of Iowa farmland is expected in the coming years as a large share of land is owned by farmers age 65 and older, yet many operations do not have a written estate or succession plan in place. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has developed an online portal, available at no cost, to provide education and resources that help farm families navigate the legal, financial and communication aspects of transition planning.
- With a fundamental role in teaching, research and extension, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach reflects this year’s National Agriculture Day theme, “Agriculture: Together We Grow.” All year long, ISU Extension and Outreach provides research-based information and resources to engage Iowa’s farmers, producers and agribusinesses in educational opportunities that support both profitability and sustainability.
- Farmers who depend on custom work or provide custom services can review rates reported by others across the state in the latest Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.
- Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Rock Creek Watershed and Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crop and Conservation Reserve Program field day in Carpenter on Thursday, April 2, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carpenter Community Center. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost.
- The 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, surveyed 945 farmers and found that they are increasingly concerned about soil compaction and that their views on management approaches are changing over time.
- The Iowa State University Pesticide Safety Education Program has updated its EPA-approved narrated video and PowerPoint to train agricultural workers and pesticide handlers in accordance with the 2015 Worker Protection Standard and the 2024 Application Exclusion Zone Rule.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and plant disease workshop as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in Ames on Tuesday, March 24, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. 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 Thursday, March 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona. The event, which is available at no cost, will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask questions related to conservation. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event.
- Drones over crops and collars on cattle are signs of agricultural innovation that Iowa farmers and ag industry professionals are exploring with help from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. They want practical, experience-based learning so they can optimize these and other innovative ag technologies for greater efficiency and profitability.
- An Advanced RUSLE 2 workshop has been scheduled for service providers and producers who are working with RUSLE2 and the Iowa Phosphorus Index to develop manure management plans. The workshop will be held on April 2 at the Iowa State University Digital Ag Innovation Lab.
- Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, March 12, at 1 p.m. Central time. The event aims to provide valuable insights into the impacts of different cover crop systems and manure application methods on water quality and corn yield.
- The Wallace Foundation will hold an educational event for the public, followed by its annual business meeting, on March 6 at the Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm in Lewis.
- Members, farmers and ag business professionals are invited to attend the North Central Iowa Research Association annual meeting on Wednesday, March 25, at the Northern Research Farm, located at 310 South Main Street, Kanawha.
- Iowa landowners may apply to participate in the 2026 Landowner Program: Balancing Profitability, Stewardship and Legacy, offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The application window is open until April 10, and program events will take place in June and July.
- Kevin Humke, Midwest regional sales manager of TeeJet, Wes Everman, extension weed science specialist and Chad Hart, extension crop marketing specialist, will speak at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association at the Borlaug Learning Center, Iowa State University Northeast Research Farm, in Nashua on March 18.
- A one-day school aimed at improving the quality of stored grain is scheduled for March 11. This event will take place at Iowa State University’s Kent Feed Mill, located at 1873 State Avenue, Ames. Row crop farmers, landowners, grain handlers and manufacturers involved in grain storage and conditioning are encouraged to attend.
- The Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association will host its annual meeting on Thursday, March 5.
- Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Lower Skunk River Water Quality Initiative Project and Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development, will host a cover crop workshop in Mt. Pleasant on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.
- The Iowa State University Pesticide Safety Education Program has revised several applicator manuals and exams to reflect the updated pesticide applicator certification and training rules implemented by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on Jan. 1.