Agronomy Workshops for Iowa Women to Be Held Near Adel

Agronomy in the Field is a multi-session workshop offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to women landowners, farmers, conservationists, and other women who are interested in learning more about agronomy.

This spring and summer, the workshop will be held on five dates at the Des Moines Area Community College, Dallas County Farm, located approximately 3 miles north of Adel at 25749 N Ave. (US 169), Adel.

Workshops will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 18, May 23, June 20, July 18 and Aug. 22. The workshops are free to attend, with registration strongly encouraged. To register, contact Aleta Cochran at 515-993-4281 or aleta@iastate.edu.

This series is designed to be hands-on and conducted in the field to see real-time conditions. Each session will be approximately 1.5 hours long, and interested women can attend any of the sessions.

The goals of this series are to strengthen agronomic skills for women resulting in better decision-making and understanding of inputs for crop production, as well as increased knowledge of various conservation practices and confidence in communication with their spouse, farming partner, ag retailer or tenant.

“I learned a great deal about many agronomic issues. I will be able to use all the information in my family and my boyfriend’s farming operations,” said a previous participant. “It also allows me to have better conversations with my customers.”

“We plan to cover topics on crop growth and development, pest management principles, scouting techniques, pasture management and grazing and additional practices and topics as they come up this spring and summer,” said Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “The group really leads the topic selection and discussion.”

The DMACC Dallas County Farm provides a unique opportunity to look at row crop and pasture management systems, as well as learn more about integrating conservation practices like cover crops with row crops.

There is no charge to participate, but RSVPs are strongly encouraged. To RSVP contact Aleta Cochran at 515-993-4281 or aleta@iastate.edu. For more information on the program contact Meaghan Anderson, extension feld agronomist, at mjanders@iastate.edu or 319-331-0058.

Agronomy in the Field is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Local support is provided by ISU Extension and Outreach Dallas County and the DMACC Dallas County Farm.