Nebraska Extension offers crop scout training in May

A May 11 Nebraska Extension crop scout training course will provide crop scouts an opportunity to enhance their skills.

The training is designed for entry level scouts who will be working for crop consultants, industry agronomists or farm service centers across Nebraska and neighboring states, said Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator.

The course is from 8:25 a.m. to 5 p.m. with registration at 8 a.m. at the university’s Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.

“Past participants have consistently given the training high marks and state that the knowledge gained from attending improved their scouting skills,” Glewen said.

Topics include: How Corn and Soybean Plants Grow and Develop; Soybean and Corn Insect Management; Using Knowledge of Plant Morphology and a Seedling Identification Key to ID Weeds; Crop Diseases and Quiz; and Nutrient Deficiencies.

“Some of the benefits registrants stated the training provided included practical and working knowledge and better accuracy in field scouting,” Glewen said. “Other participants appreciated the hands-on, practical format.”

Cost for this training is $165 which includes a resource book. Or for participants attending the training only (no resource book) the fee is $50. Fees include lunch, refreshment breaks, workshop materials and instruction manual. Registrants should preregister to reserve their seat and to ensure workshop materials are available the day of the training session. Updated reference materials are included in this year’s take-home instruction manual.

Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are available with 4.5 in pest management, 1 in crop management and .5 in fertility and nutrient management.

For more information or to register, contact Nebraska Extension at (402) 624-8030, (800) 529-8030, e-mail Keith Glewen at [email protected], or online at ardc.unl.edu/cmdc.shtml.