This summer, Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms are once again hosting a series of field days across the state. These events offer a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest crop production research, management practices, and emerging agricultural technologies directly from Iowa State specialists and researchers.
These field days are an excellent resource for farmers, agribusiness professionals, landowners, and anyone interested in agriculture. Below is a list of upcoming field days and the topics that will be featured at each event.
Additional details about these and other upcoming events can be found on the Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms website.
We look forward to seeing you at a field day this summer!
June 9, 2026 – Central Iowa Resilient Systems Field Day (ISU Beef Teaching Farm (3725 520th Ave, Ames, IA 50014))
The field day will kick off at 8:30 am with a welcome and overview. The day will feature a series of hands-on demonstrations focused on improving resilience in forage and livestock systems under increasing weather variability. Participants will explore how diverse cropping systems, including perennials and legumes, influence soil structure, root development, and water movement. Topics include:
- Interactive rhizobox demonstrations
- Guided soil pit discussions
- Connecting soil and forage dynamics to livestock management
- Building more resilient and productive systems
This field day will also include a Lunch and Learn on the topic of Toxic Weed Management.
Learn more at this event page, and register here! Cost is $20/person and space is limited.
Questions? Contact: Shelby Gruss, sgruss@iastate.edu, 515-294-3832.
June 16, 2026 – Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm (3115 Louisa-Washington Rd, Crawfordsville, IA)
Check-in for this field day starts at 1:00 PM with the program beginning at 1:30 PM. Topics to be featured include:
- Research Farm Update – Cody Schneider, farm superintendent
- The Role of AI in Pest Management – Wes Everman, extension weed scientist, and Arti Singh, associate professor of agronomy
- A Systems Approach to Cover Crop Adoption – Mark Licht, extension cropping systems specialist
- Does Your Corn Have Enough Nitrogen? - Sotirios Archontoulis, professor of agronomy
No pre-registration is required. Certified Crop Advisors can earn 1.0 Crop Management, 0.5 Pest Management, and 0.5 Nutrient Management CEU’s for attending the meeting.
Click for more information on the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm Summer field day!
June 24, 2026 – Northeast Research Farm (3321 290th St, Nashua, IA)
This field day starts at 11 a.m. and will feature the following topics:
- Managing Crop Diseases in 2026 – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist
- Nitrogen and Sulfur Management for corn and soybeans – Richard Roth, extension nitrogen science specialist
- Maximizing Weed Control with Pre and Post-Emergent Herbicide Strategies – Wes Everman, extension weed specialist
A complimentary lunch is being provided by Five Star Cooperative. To ensure an accurate head count for the meal, please RSVP to the Northeast Iowa Research Association at neira@iastate.edu by Monday, June 22.
Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available, including one nutrient management and two pest management continuing education credits.
Please contact Josh Michel at (563) 581-7828 or jjmichel@iastate.edu, or Terry Basol at 641-426-6801or tlbasol@iastate.eduif there’s any questions!
June 25, 2026 - Northern Research Farm (310 S. Main Street, Kanawha IA 50447)
The Iowa State University Northern Research and Demonstration Farm will host a summer field day from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the north farm. Topics include:
- Mid-to-late season oat production management practices - Margaret Smith, forage agronomist, Albert Lea Seed
- Herbicide injury demonstration - Meaghan Anderson, extension field agronomist
- Current growing season conditions and impacts on crop growth and development - Angie Rieck-Hinz and Gentry Sorenson extension field agronomists
Registration and refreshments will start at 8:30 a.m. and the field day will start at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost to attend and the meeting is open to the public.
Those who are attending are encouraged to pre-register by June 22 by calling Matt Schnabel at 641-762-3247 or emailing northernrf@iastate.edu. Certified Crop Advisers continuing education credits will be available.
The association appreciates the support and sponsorship from First Citizens Bank, Gold-Eagle Cooperative, and Calcium Products.
For more information, contact ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists Angie Rieck-Hinz at 515-231-2830 or amrieck@iastate.edu; or Gentry Sorenson at 641-430-6715 or gentrys@iastate.edu
June 25, 2026 – Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm (53020 Hitchcock Ave, Lewis, IA)
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. with the field day officially starting at 10 a.m. A complimentary lunch will be provided thanks to our generous sponsors. The field day will feature the following topics:
- Soybean herbicide demo – Wes Everman, Iowa State University Extension weed specialist
- Fungicide efficacy and disease pressure update – Alison Robertson, Professor of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Extension Field Crops Pathologist
- Effects of sulfur on corn and soybeans - Richard Roth, Assistant Professor and Extension Nitrogen Specialist
- A systems approach to adopting cover crops - Mark Licht, Associate Professor and Extension Cropping Systems Specialist
- Best herbicide management practices - Bill Backhaus, BASF Ag Solutions Senior Agronomic Service Representative and Nate Quam, BASF Ag Solutions Technical Service Representative
Certified Crop Advisers can earn 0.5 Crop Management, 1.5 Pest Management, and 0.5 Nutrient Management CCA CEUs.
Open to the public at no cost. Pre-register to help with a head count for lunch by contacting Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist at 712-254-0082 or clonz5@iastate.edu
July 1, 2026 – Iowa State University Weed Science Field Day, Curtiss Farm (2219 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014)
Join us for the Weed Science Field Day on Wednesday, July 1! At this event you will hear the latest on weed management practices, demonstrations of effective herbicide programs, updates on herbicide resistance in Iowa, and information on new technologies to manage weeds.
The field day starts at 8:30 a.m. with check-in and refreshments, followed by a welcome from Dr. Wesley Everman, ISU Weed Scientist, and Dr. Jason Henderson, Vice President for Extension and Outreach, and field plot tours from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This field day is available at no cost to attendees due to the generous support of the ISU Weed Science Program. A complimentary lunch will be provided. RSVP (by June 24) and learn more about the field day on our event page.
Please contact Wesley Everman at weverman@iastate.edu or 515-294-3700, or Meaghan Anderson at mjanders@iastate.edu or 319-331-0058 for more information.
July 8, 2026 - Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm (6320 500th St. Sutherland, IA)
This field day kicks off with morning refreshments at 9 a.m. and the program begins at 9:30 a.m. featuring the following topics:
- Current Crop Market Outlook – Chad Hart, professor and extension ag economist
- Water Quality and Research at the NW Research Farm – Matt Helmers, director, Iowa Nutrient Research Center
- Forecasting Disease and Fungicide Decision – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist
- Timely Agronomic Topics of the 2026 Growing Season, Gentry Sorenson and Leah Ten Napel, Extension Field Agronomists
There will be a complementary lunch served at noon. Following lunch there will be an optional afternoon session on the role of artificial intelligence in pest management lead by Wes Everman, extension weed scientist, and Arti Singh, associate professor of agronomy. Please consider attending!
Registration is not required. For more information contact Gentry Sorenson at (641-430-6715) or Leah Ten Napel at (712-541-3493).
September 10, 2026 – Northeast Research Farm (3321 290th St, Nashua, IA)
Save the date for the 50th Anniversary Celebration! More details coming soon.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on June 2, 2026. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.
- Field Agronomist in NW Iowa