IOWA FALLS, Iowa — Colin Hurd, Founder and CEO of Smart Ag, will be the kick-off speaker at the North Central Iowa Crop & Land Stewardship Clinic being held Friday, March 15, 2019 at the Iowa Falls-Alden High School in Iowa Falls. Hurd will address “Farming with Driverless Technology and Artificial Intelligence.” Driverless technology and artificial intelligence are two new tools for farming that will be implemented in the next few years. Hurd’s presentation will provide a glimpse in the future of farming.
Other crop clinic speakers include ISU Extension Specialists Malissa Radar, Bob Hartzler, Chad Hart, Kapil Arora, Angie Rieck-Hinz, Ed Zaworski and Kelvin Leibold, soil scientist Mark Tomer from USDA, Ryan Glade from Iowa D.O.T., retired ISU Extension specialist Mark Hanna and Dennis Todey, Director of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub. Other clinic topics include Growing Industrial Hemp in Iowa, Crop Market Outlook, Tar Spot in Corn, Manure and Cover Crops Impact on Drainage, Weed Management Update, Factors Impacting Future Farm Profits in a Global Economy, Tillage, Compaction & Corn Stalks Residue Management, Rules of the Road for Farm Vehicles, Developing a Story Map for Conservation Management in the Southfork Watershed, Crop Weather Outlook for 2019 and Living with Stress in a Challenging Ag Economy.
Producers will have the opportunity to complete their annual two hours of training to maintain their Private Pesticide Applicators certification. Free Continuing Education Credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors. An agribusiness fair will run throughout the day with exhibits from various agribusinesses on display. There will be a free drawing for door prizes.
Registration with refreshments begins at 8:00 a.m. with the clinic held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free blood pressure screening and blood glucose testing will be offered from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. by Hansen Family Hospital staff. An eight hour fast should precede the blood glucose test. In case of questionable weather, announcements will be made on KIFG 95.3 FM or 1510 AM, KDAO Radio 1190 AM and 99.5 FM, KLMJ 104.9FM and KQCR 98.9FM.
The crop clinic is free and pre-registration is not required. There is a state-wide charge of $20 for Private Pesticide Applicator Training for recertification. The program and lunch are provided by area sponsors. For more information, contact Darwin Miller, Hardin County ISU Extension Director, ph. 641-648-4850 or toll free 1-888-648-5005 or e mail: darwinm@iastate.edu
— Iowa State University
For more news from Iowa, click here.