"Managing Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome and Northern Corn Leaf Blight in 2016," by Daren Mueller, Iowa State University Extension Plant Pathologist, is one of the presentations featured at the November 24 Agricultural Chemical Dealer Update in Iowa City, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Other topics include herbicide resistance, corn rootworm management, and new sprayer technology.  While the target audience is individuals who provide advice to farmers, it is open to the public.

Continuing Education Units will be available for Certified Crop Advisors and 2015 Continuing Instruction Course credit will be available to agricultural Commercial Pesticide Applicators.

Contact your local Iowa State University County Extension for more information.

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Extension economists offer outlook for grain and livestock for producers and ag-business professionals

Article | Thu, 10/22/2015 - 16:49 | By Ann Johanns, Chad Hart

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host 12 Agricultural Outlook meetings

across Iowa in November and December. This program is designed to provide participants with a concise

evaluation of current market conditions, expected trends in crop and livestock income potential, and

management implications.

Chad Hart, associate professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist with Iowa State

University, will discuss past, current and future prices. "Farmers know today's price," said Hart. "What I

ask is how much did it cost to produce it?" Hart continued, "To make marketing decisions, farmers need

to know their production costs."

Lee Schulz, livestock economist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will explain factors that are

influencing calf prices and how producers can use that information to make decisions about selling at

weaning, backgrounding, or finishing.

Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University, will address

how to manage a farm business with low to negative crop margins. "It is important for producers and ag-

business professionals to have a clear understanding of the profitability analysis for corn and soybeans in

the state of Iowa, as well as on their own operations," said Plastina. "Profit analysis, as well as being

aware of possible strategies to cope with low- to negative-profit margins are key to managing in 2016."

Each program will feature information presented by specialists from Iowa State University Extension and

Outreach. Some locations will also provide expertise from Iowa State University agricultural legal experts

and Extension field agronomists, who will give participants a realistic expectation of production prices

and tactics to decrease costs to get to a profitable margin. Specific topics will vary to provide a regional

focus for participants.

The sessions are open to the public, however pre-registration is requested two days prior to the date of the

event. A meeting is planned for November 5, 2015 in Iowa City, IA. Please visit

www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html for more information.