John Lawrence’s message from Jan. 13, 2020
With up-to-date scientific knowledge from Iowa State, Iowa’s crop producers will be prepared to manage potential issues when they arise or even before they arise. That’s the goal that drives our annual Crop Advantage meetings. Every January, Agriculture and Natural Resources extension specialists travel to locations across the state to share updated management options and recommendations on current and future crop production issues. Did you know?
- The 2020 meetings began Jan. 3 and conclude Jan. 30. Content at each of the 14 sessions is driven by county needs and local production issues.
- Farmers and crop advisers who participate gain a solid foundation of current, research-based crop production information to help them make smart, informed decisions for their farming operations.
- Last year more than 2,000 people, representing all 99 Iowa counties and surrounding states, attended Crop Advantage meetings. Eighty-four percent of participants said information they gained would likely save them between $5 and $20 per acre.
This year’s agenda includes the market outlook for 2020, weather and climate trends, grain drying and storage, emerging insect pests such as soybean gall midge, nitrogen management, tar spot and other corn and soybean disease issues, and fertilizer application technology. In addition, Certified Crop Advisers can receive continuing education credits and pesticide applicators can recertify.
More notes
- Please review the January program update from the leadership team for current examples of what is happening across our programs.
- The 2018-2019 4-H Statewide Data for Decision Makers and 4-H Data for Decision Makers by county reports are available for your use. These resources for 4-H data are helpful for grant opportunities, discussions with partners and county plans of work for local 4-H programs.
- On Jan. 1, ISU Extension and Outreach entered a three-year memorandum of understanding with the ISU Alumni Association. The goal is to more fully support each other’s programs. We look forward to exploring opportunities to increase alumni engagement with extension programs, councils and county offices.
- Remember to submit your 2019 stakeholder reports. We are publishing the reports on the County Services website as they are received. You can use your county stakeholder report throughout the year to build awareness of programs, demonstrate impact and outcomes, and show return on investment. Thank you to everyone who contributes to these reports. Sharing our extension stories helps people know how we are working in your county and throughout the state to build a strong Iowa.
- Join Cyndi Wiley, Iowa State’s digital accessibility coordinator, for Making Social Media Posts Accessible, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. Connect online. This is the first in a new digital accessibility webinar series. The series will continue February through May on the last Tuesday of the month, 10-11 a.m.
- Learn about the 2020 Census during a webinar Tuesday, Feb. 11 at noon. Community and Economic Development will share information about how the Census is conducted, what it means for communities and how county offices may be able to assist local officials. Watch for more information in the coming weeks.
— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach