Prepare for a successful scouting season and career with the free Extension Crops & Soils Foundational Crop Scout Training!

Who should attend?

The Foundational Crop Scout training series is designed for entry-level crop scouts with limited or no scouting experience and anyone looking for a refresher course in basic scouting skills. We invite anyone looking for basic scout skills along with those working for crop consultants, industry agronomists, or ag service providers throughout Wisconsin to join us for this hybrid training opportunity. The program will provide crop scouts with the key foundational skills necessary for successfully scouting field crops including corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

What topics will be covered?

Join us for weekly virtual lunch-and-learn webinars that introduce the fundamentals of field crop scouting and apply what you have learned with a half-day hands-on training in the field at one of the three University of Wisconsin Ag Research stations. Hands-on field day registration to be announced. Register for the free webinars here.

Webinar topics include:

• Weds., May 14: Introduction to Crop Scouting
• Weds., May 21: Crop Staging, Stand Counts, Soil/Tissue Sampling
• Weds., May 28: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
• Weds., June 4: Basic Insect ID
• Weds., June 11: Basic Weed ID
• Tues., June 17: Introduction to Common Crop Diseases

What will I learn?

With today’s tight margins, proper crop scouting helps farmers detect pests early, make informed and cost-effective decisions, and optimize yields. This program will give participants take-home skills in:

• Identifying weeds, diseases, and insect pests in forage and field crop systems
• Understanding nutrient deficiency symptoms, crop stand counts, crop staging
• Soil, tissue, and insect sampling techniques

For questions or accommodation requests, please contact Dane Elmquist at dane.elmquist@wisc.edu.