Iowa City, IA
January 27, 2026
Johnson County Extension Office
3109 Old Hwy 218 South, Iowa City, 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.
Program
8:30 Registration opens
8:55 Welcome – Rebecca Vittetoe, extension field agronomist
9:00 2025 Crop Year Review: What Went Well, What Went Wrong – Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist (CM)
10:00 Should I Spray or Should I Go Fishing? – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist (PM)
11:00 Waterhemp Management and Resistance Concerns – Wesley Everman, assistant professor and extension weed science specialist (PM)
12:00 Lunch (provided)
1:00 Session A (select one topic)
- Managing Soil and Water Resources: Where, When, and Why to Use Cover Crops – Rick Cruse, professor, director of the Iowa Water Center (SW)
- Cybersecurity and Crisis Response: Protecting Farms and Ag Retail Connections – Ryan Drollette, extension farm management specialist (CM)
- Save Money and Meet Your Corn’s Need for N-Fertilizer in 2026 – Melissa Miller, project director, Iowa Nitrogen Initiative (NM)
2:00 Break
2:10 Crop Market Outlook for 2026 and Beyond – Chad Hart, professor and extension ag economist (CM)
3:15 Iowa Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course. Additional fee applies. Applicators must attend the entire meeting to receive recertification credit. – Rebecca Vittetoe, extension field agronomist
4:15 Meeting adjourns
Registration Information
Register early and save! Early registration is $75 and ends at midnight on January 20, 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.
Your location host

Logan McCrea
extension field agronomist
ldmccrea@iastate.edu
(641) 226-7102
@LoganMccrea

Rebecca Vittetoe
extension field agronomist
rka8@iastate.edu
(712) 540-3319
@rkvittetoe

Virgil Schmitt
extension field agronomist
vschmitt@iastate.edu
(563) 260-3721
@VirgilSchmitt
