A University of 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, UNL Extension educator.

The course is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. May 13 at the university's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, Neb.

Past participants have given the training high marks, Glewen said. In fact, 95 percent of last year's participants rated the program as above average or one of the best programs of its type available.

Topics include: how corn and soybean plants grow and develop; soybean and corn pests; insect quiz; plant morphology; using a key to identify weed seedlings; identifying weeds; crop diseases and quiz; and nutrient deficiencies.

Presenters include: Dale Flowerday, agronomist; Tamra Jackson, UNL Extension plant pathologist ; Keith Jarvi, UNL Extension entomologist ; Keith Glewen, UNL Extension educator; Lowell Sandell, UNL Extension weed science educator; and Amy Ziems, UNL Extension educator - plant pathology.

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

Early registration is $95 by May 6 and $105 after.

A total of 5.5 Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education Units is anticipated in the integrated pest management (4.0), crop production (1.0) and soil fertility (.5) categories.

For more information or to register, contact the ARDC, CMDC Programs, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, Neb., 68033, call (402) 624-8000, fax (402) 624-8010, e-mail cdunbar2@unl.edu or visit the Web at http://ardc.unl.edu/cmdc.shtml.

Click here to download a PDF file of the brochure.

The training is part of the UNL Extension Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics and is sponsored by Extension in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Additional diagnostic clinics include: WWheat Production and Pest Management In-Field Clinic - June 11; Mid-Summer Diagnostic Clinic - July 15; Mid-Summer Diagnostic Clinic - July 16; and Late Season Diagnostic Clinic - August 20.