Nebraska Extension Offers May Field Crop Scout Training

April 22, 2015

Register now for Crop Scout Training to be held May 12 at the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead. The training is designed for entry level scouts who will be working for crop consultants, industry agronomists, or farm service centers across Nebraska and neighboring states, said Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator. The course is from 8:25 a.m. to 5 p.m. with registration at 8 a.m. at the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building

"Past participants have consistently given the training high marks and state that the knowledge gained from attending improved their scouting skills," Glewen said.

Topics and presenters include:

• How Corn and Soybean Plants Grow and Develop — Keith Glewen, Nebraska extension educator;
• Soybean and Corn Insect Management — Wayne Ohnesorg, Nebraska extension entomologist;
• Using Knowledge of Plant Morphology and a Seedling Identification Key to ID Weeds — Josh Miller, doctoral student, UNL Doctor of Plant Health Program and Plant Pathology, and Rodrigo Werle, doctoral student, UNL Weed Science;
• Crop Diseases and Quiz — Tamra Jackson-Ziems, Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist, Kyle Broderick, UNL graduate student; and Kelsie Musil, UNL graduate student; and Keith Glewen, Nebraska extension educator.

"Some of the benefits registrants stated the training provided included practical/working knowledge and better accuracy in field scouting," Glewen said. "Other participants appreciated the hands-on, practical format."

Cost for this program is $155. The fee includes lunch, refreshment breaks, workshop materials and instruction manual. Registrants should preregister by May 5 to reserve a seat and workshop materials. Updated reference materials are included in this year's take-home instruction manual.

It's anticipated that six Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education Units will be granted in the integrated pest management (4.5), crop management (1.0) and fertility/nutrient management (0.5) categories.

For more information or to register, contact cdunbar2@unl.edu, call (402) 624-8000, or visit http://ardc.unl.edu/training.shtml.  A map to the ARDC is available.

The training is part of the Nebraska Extension Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics and is sponsored by extension in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.