Registration Open for the 2026 Crop Scout School Training Program

By Andi Anderson

Registration is now open for the 2026 Crop Scout School, a training opportunity designed for individuals new to crop scouting as well as those wishing to refresh their field knowledge. Participants may choose from two educational sessions, offered at different locations in Iowa.

The first session will be held on May 20 at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm in Crawfordsville, and the second will be offered on May 26 at the Field Extension Education Lab in Boone.

According to Rebecca Vittetoe, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the program provides valuable learning for all skill levels.

She stated, “The Crop Scout School serves as a foundational course for beginners and a refresher for experienced crop scouts, providing essential information for effective and efficient crop scouting.” She added that the combination of educational presentations, hands‑on field practice, and guidebooks makes the program beneficial for growers and scouts aiming to improve their skills.

Check‑in for both sessions begins at 8:30 a.m., with the program scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre‑registration is required, and walk‑ins will not be accepted. Registration closes May 15 for the Crawfordsville session and May 21 for the Boone session.

Each session is limited to 60 participants. The registration fee is $150, which includes printed and digital resources, lunch, and refreshments.

The training will cover a wide range of topics, including crop staging for corn and soybeans, disease identification, insect and weed identification, scouting tips, and diagnosing nutrient deficiencies and herbicide injury.

Field sessions will allow participants to practice stand assessments, examine demonstration plots, and apply diagnostic skills.

Participants will receive several publications, including Soybean Diseases and Corn Diseases, Field Crop Insects, the Corn and Soybean Field Guide, and the Digital Weed Identification Field Guide (2nd Edition).

These resources offer high‑quality images, scouting details, and updated agronomic information.

For questions regarding the Crawfordsville session, contact Rebecca Vittetoe at rka8@iastate.edu or 319‑653‑4811. For the Boone session, contact Rebekka Van Alstyne at rjvan@iastate.edu or 515‑294‑4008.

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