January 9, 2025

Catfish Bend Convention and Event Center
3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington, Iowa

Crop Advantage Series meetings provide a solid foundation of current, research-based crop production information to help you make informed decisions. Topics for each meeting are selected for your fields and your growing conditions.

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Program

8:30     Registration opens

8:50     Welcome – Virgil Schmitt, extension field agronomist

9:00    2025 Weather Outlook – Dennis Todey, director, Midwest Climate Hub, USDA-ARS (CM)

10:00    Tools and tactics to manage waterhemp – Caleb Wepprecht, senior research specialist, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (PM)

10:50    Break

11:10    Ag market outlook for 2025 and beyond – Chad Hart, extension crop marketing specialist (CM)

12:00    Lunch (provided)

1:00    Session A (select one topic)

• Bug Brawl: Key insect pest challenges of 2024 – Ashley Dean, extension education specialist, Entomology (PM)
• EPA’s Herbicide Strategy – How it will impact you and your operation – Caleb Wepprecht, senior research specialist, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (PM)
• Phosphorus: The old, the new, the future – Andrew Margenot, associate professor, soil fertility, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (NM)

2:00    Session B (select one topic)

• Out damned spot! Out, I say. – Alison Robertson, extension crop plant pathologist (PM)
• Resistance is a sticky situation for soybean aphid – Ashley Dean, extension education specialist, Entomology (PM)
• The right tool for the job: Selecting appropriate cover crop species – Ethan Thies, extension conservation field specialist (SW

2:50     Break

3:10    Session C (select one topic)

• A deep dive into nitrification inhibitors – Richard Roth, extension nitrogen science specialist (NM)
• Iowa Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course. Additional fee applies. Applicators must attend the entire meeting to receive recertification credit. – Virgil Schmitt, extension field agronomist
• What’s happening on local research farms? – Cody Schneider, farm superintendent, Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm (CM)

4:10     Meeting adjourns

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Registration Information

Register early and save! Early registration is $75 and ends at midnight on January 2, 2025. Late or on-site registration is $100. Registration includes lunch, refreshment breaks, and CCA credits.

Please note that private pesticide applicator continuing education is NOT included in the registration. The $30 fee for that will be collected on-site.

Reminders

• Cancellations requesting a refund must be received no later than 3 days prior to the meeting (except weather related).
• Confirmation of registration and receipts are sent via email. Please provide a valid email address when registering.
• For assistance with registration, receipts, cancellation or questions on the status of your registration please contact Registration Services at (515) 294-6222 or registrations@iastate.edu.

Weather

If weather conditions cause a change in meeting plans a notice will be posted on this webpage, emailed to pre-registered attendees,  and provided to local media and radio stations. Any decisions regarding holding the meeting will be announced before 6:00 AM the day of the meeting. Meetings will not be rescheduled. Those registered may transfer to another location or request a refund.

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The Burlington Crop Advantage
is presented in cooperation with
Merschman Seeds and Illinois
Extension

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A special thanks to these local Crop Advantage Series sponsors: