January 8, 2026

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    2026 Crop Climate Outlook – Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist (CM)

10:00    Crop Market Outlook for 2026 and Beyond – Gary Schnitkey, professor and extension specialist in farm management, UIUC (CM)

10:50    Managing Stress on the Farm – Dawn Dunnegan, human sciences specialist in family wellbeing

11:05    Break

11:15    Waterhemp Management and Resistance Concerns – Wesley Everman, assistant professor and extension weed science specialist (PM)

12:05    Lunch (provided)

1:00    Session A (select one topic)

• What Can We Do About Nitrates in Drinking Water? – Matt Helmers, director, Iowa Nutrient Research Center (SW)
• Soil Fertility Priorities with High Input Prices and Low Commodity Prices – John Jones, assistant professor, crop sciences and ext. specialist, agronomy and soil fertility, UIUC (NM)
• Should I Spray or Should I Go Fishing? – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist (PM)

2:00    Session B (select one topic)

• What Can We Do About Nitrates in Drinking Water? – Matt Helmers, director, Iowa Nutrient Research Center (SW)
• Should I Spray or Should I Go Fishing? – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist (PM)
• Managing Bt Resistant Corn Rootworms and Other Corn Pests – Nick Seiter, assistant professor and field crop entomologist, UIUC (PM)

2:50     Break

3:10    Session C (select one topic)

• Soil Fertility Priorities with High Input Prices and Low Commodity Prices – John Jones, assistant professor, crop sciences and ext. specialist, agronomy and soil fertility, UIUC (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
• Managing Bt Resistant Corn Rootworms and Other Corn Pests – Nick Seiter, assistant professor and field crop entomologist, UIUC (PM)

4:10     Meeting adjourns

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Registration Information

Register early and save! Early registration is $75 and ends at midnight on January 1, 2026. 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.

Registration opens December 4, 2025.

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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