Advanced Crop Advisers Workshop
This is an advanced workshop for agricultural professionals, including crop consultants, agronomists, Extension agents and agribusiness representatives, who advise farmers with recommendations on crop production.
SAVE THE DATE for the 2027
Advanced Crop Advisers Workshop:
February 9-10, 2027
at the Fargo Holiday Inn.
The information presented at Advanced Crop Advisers Workshop is for educational purposes. References to commercial products are provided with the understanding that NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station do not endorse commercial products or companies even though references may be made to brand names, trade-marks or service names.
Presenter: Bryan Young
Understanding how adjuvants maximize herbicide efficacy.
Necessary and Recommended Herbicide Adjuvants (YouTube video)
Presenter: Monica McConkey
Practical strategies for recognizing and managing stress, maintaining mental wellness, and supporting others in the agricultural community. Learn to build resilience, maintain balance during peak seasons, and create a healthier work–life mindset while navigating the unique stresses of the ag industry.
Presenters: Noel Anderson, Mike Ostlie
Harvest weed seed destruction, robotic weeders, cover crops, and many other non-traditional herbicide technologies.
Presenters: Brady Goettl, Lindsay Pease, Szilvia Yuja
Many fertilizer products promise impressive crop results, but do they really deliver? Explore how N, P, and S cycle in the field and review recent research evaluating whether products live up to their claims.
Presenter: Frayne Olson
An update and outlook on key issues impacting 2026 crop market prices.
Presenters: Janet Knodel, Patrick Beauzay, and Fei Yang
Biology and Best Management Practices for armyworm and bean leaf beetle, new MN corn pests, recent findings regarding Bt resistant corn borers and cold tolerance, and rotation resistance of Western and Northern corn rootworms.
Presenters: Sam Markell, Wade Webster
A suite of research-based pest and disease management tools have been designed to help farmers and crop consultants make informed management decisions throughout the growing season. These tools provide access to fungicide efficacy ratings, economic return on investment calculators, disease forecasting models, risk maps, and training resources that support integrated pest management across multiple crops. All tools are web-based and can be easily accessed on computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones by opening the link in a web browser. Many tools are interactive, allowing you to enter field-specific information such as location, crop, disease pressure, or input costs to receive personalized results. Together, these resources are intended to complement field scouting by translating university research data into practical management decision making.
Crop Protection Network (CPN) - Provides regionally coordinated, research-based information to support pest management decisions across U.S. cropping systems. https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/
CPN – Fungicide Efficacy Tool - Allows users to compare fungicide performance ratings for major crop diseases based on multi-location research trials. https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/fungicide-efficacy-tool
CPN - White Mold ROI Calculator - Helps soybean growers estimate the probability that a fungicide application for white mold will be economically profitable under varying conditions. https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/white-mold-roi-calculator
CPN - Disease Severity and Insect Defoliation Training - Offers visual training resources to improve accuracy and consistency in estimating disease severity and insect defoliation in the field. https://severity.cropprotectionnetwork.org/
CPN - Crop Disease Forecasting Tool - Provides in-season, weather-based disease risk predictions to assist with timely and informed management decisions. https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/crop-disease-forecasting
NDAWN White Mold Risk Prediction Maps - Displays real-time and forecasted white mold risk across North Dakota using weather data from the NDAWN network. https://www.ndawn.info/agriculture_whitemold.html
NDSU – Canola Sclerotinia Risk Map and Risk Calculator – Provides a tool to assess Sclerotinia risk in canola and evaluate the potential benefit of fungicide applications. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/sclerotinia/riskmap.html
SCN Coalition - Offers educational resources to help growers understand, monitor, and manage soybean cyst nematode effectively. https://www.thescncoalition.com/
SCN Coalition - SCN Profit Checker - Estimates the potential yield and economic benefits of managing soybean cyst nematode through resistant varieties and other practices. https://www.thescncoalition.com/profitchecker/
National Sunflower Association – Diseases - Provides disease identification and management resources specific to sunflower production. https://www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/diseases/
2025 Extension Soybean Pathology Field Trial Report - Summarizes results from NDSU Extension soybean disease management trials conducted during the 2025 growing season. https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/2025-extension-soybean-pathology-field-research-reports
Interactive 3D visualizations designed to aid in disease identification and education for dry bean and sunflower crops.
- Sunflower Rust (3D video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7auRSvqwuNA
- Dry Bean Rust (3D video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1XNxN3-ec
- Common Bacterial Blight of Dry Bean: Identification and Management (3D video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EC5uw8MpxY
Presenters: Tom Peters, Jeff Stachler
Herbicide application parameters, hand weeding, field perimeter weed management, water quality, adjuvants, and many other factors contribute to weed control.
Presenter: Jodi DeJong-Hughes
Soil compaction impacts crops; learn how best to mitigate current compaction and review proven strategies to minimize future compaction risk.
Presenter: Jeff Stachler
Presenter: Andrew Friskop
HRSW diseases were challenging and tar spot was discovered in ND corn in 2024. This session provided practical solutions for improving wheat disease management and discussed how tar spot will impact corn production in ND and MN.
Presenter: Jason Fewell
Ag finances are getting tougher as capital has eroded over the past two years. How do top farmers keep their farms profitable despite current market prices?
Presenter: Wade Webster
Nearly every soybean disease could be found in this region in 2024 and some newer diseases have expanded their geography. This session covered the key soybean disease issues observed in 2024 and how best to manage them.
Presenters: Joe Ikley, Brian Jenks, Tom Peters
Strategies to control grass weeds and key broadleaf weeds in HRSW while allowing sugarbeet and other crops in the rotation.
Presenter: Brady Goettl
Late-season potassium deficiencies showed up in the 2024 soybean crop and soil test potassium levels are at all-time lows. Refocus your efforts on potassium fertility.
Presenters: Andrew Friskop, Janet Knodel, Bob Koch, Sam Markell
Insecticides and fungicides are often applied unnecessarily. Speakers will address the importance of insect and disease thresholds and the tools available for making pesticide application decisions.
Presenters: Bob Koch, Jeff Stachler
Many pesticides are sold as pre-mixtures which are convenient from a packaging standpoint and helpful with compatibility. However, the active ingredient concentrations are not always what is needed to control pests. This presentation breaks down these factors and provides key active ingredient rates for certain pests.
Presenters: Chandler Gruener, Naeem Kalwar
Meet new additions to the NDSU Soil Health team, discuss the team’s goals, and build upon key soil health principles and practices.
Presenters: Greg Endres, Joe Ikley, Sam Markell, Michael Wunsch
As more farmers look for more profitable crops to grow, this session discussed strategies necessary to grow dry beans in our region, with an emphasis on weed and disease management.
Presenters: Kirsten Butcher, David Ripplinger
The menu of carbon programs continues to expand. This session covers latest trends and whether enrollment is a hassle or benefit to farmers.
Presenters: Anitha Chirumamilla, Jason Hanson
Looking to add canola to your cropping system? Learn about changing pest issues and strategies for successful canola production from long-term canola farmers.
Presenters: Devin Nohl, Rob Proulx
Drone pesticide applications are increasing, but are we ready for this? This session will discuss the pros, cons, and disasters of using drones for pesticide applications and how to properly operate a drone to maximize pest control.
Presenter: Marshall McDaniel
The concept of soil health can be nebulous even to soil scientists. Marshall defines soil health, presents highlights of Iowa soil health studies and emphasizes the value of soil health.
Presenters: Dean Malvick and Wade Webster
Frogeye leaf spot and Cercospora leaf blight on soybean, tar spot of corn, charcoal rot on both corn and soybean, and Verticillium stripe on canola have recently found their way to Minnesota and North Dakota. Learn the latest tips on disease identification and management.
Presenters: Jan Knodel, Patrick Beauzay, and Bruce Potter
In 2023, we saw soybeans infested with soybean aphid and spider mites or green cloverworm and soybean aphid. Learn strategies for managing multiple pests simultaneously given pest biology, insecticide resistance, and treatment thresholds.
Presenter: Dave Franzen
Summaries related to natural population dynamics of asymbiotic organism N-fixing activity and regional studies on the corn yield response from commercial products. Farmers and their consultants should perform on-farm replicated strip trials to test products of interest in the future. Points for potential users to ask providers of biological products to determine whether companies have “done their homework” before bringing those products to the marketplace.
Presenters: Dean Malvick and Wade Webster
Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRSR) is re-emerging as a significant disease of soybean. Learn whether P. sojae population shifts to overcome seed treatment active ingredients or varietal resistance genes, more compacted soils or inopportune rains may be to blame.
Presenters: Bruce Potter, Jan Knodel, and Patrick Beauzay
Western and northern corn rootworm populations have shifted to resist many management techniques. Learn the latest about rootworms, and how best to monitor and manage them.
Presenters: Joe Lauer and Emerson Nafziger
Dry conditions in recent growing seasons have limited yield potential. Have “drought tolerant” hybrids preserved potential? Are soybeans experiencing more production challenges than years ago? Has our honeymoon with soybeans ended?
Presenters: Rob Proulx and Rex Sun
You’ve heard the hype — come hear the facts. Learn about the latest NDSU research and see a live demonstration of artificial intelligence (AI) applications to precision agriculture. Then learn about the opportunities, shortcomings and operational principles behind several AI-powered crop management and advising tools.
Presenters: Joe Lauer and Emerson Nafziger
The speakers recap corn and soybean production decades ago, today and where it is likely to go in coming decades.
Presenter: Randy Zimmerman
This session reviewed the 2023 crop price outlook, grain marketing strategies, projected cash flows and breakeven for area crops.
Presenters: Joe Ikley and Sarah Lancaster
Every year weed scientists receive a multitude of questions related to weeds, herbicides and everything else under the sun. This session will go into detail about some of the more common questions from 2022.
Presenters: Jodi Boe, Greg Endres, Henry Steinberger
All crop seasons are unique, including 2022. Selected crop advisers briefly shared some of their unique crop experiences from the past year.
Presenters: Hans Kandel, Page Klug, and Jochum Wiersma
Global grain markets and local distilleries have led more producers to consider adding sunflower or rye to their cropping system. This session provided the top agronomic considerations to raise successful crops and tips for how to keep birds from stealing your yield.
Presenter: Dave Franzen
Nitrogen and phosphorus and important for profitable yield of regional crops. This session detailed the science behind timing and placement of both of these nutrients in the context of needs of major crops in the area.
Presenters: Sean Brotherson, Becky Kopp Dunham
Stress levels may increase due to inflation, supply chain issues affecting input prices, global affairs affecting grain prices, a month's delay in planting, etc. These and other factors outside of farmers' control exacerbate the challenges of an already stressful profession. This session presented helpful (and less helpful) ways of addressing scenarios that may be encountered working with farmers.
Presenters: Brad Brummond, Jay Gudajtes, Jodi DeJong-Hughes
Discussion focused on research and farm experience with reduced tillage in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota soils that traditionally have been tilled.
Upper Midwest Tillage Guide Upper Midwest Tillage Guide
Reduce Soil Compaction Reduce Soil Compaction
Presenters: Janet Knodel and Jochum Wiersma
Over the past couple of years grasshoppers have caused economic injury in wheat, wheat stem sawfly has established itself in northwest Minnesota, and small grains cover crops have led to renewed worries about Hessian fly threatening small grains cash crops. This session covered biology and management of these insects and more.
Presenters: Jay Goos, Carrie Miranda
Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is a perennial problem in calcareous and poorly-drained soils. Since its arrival in Minnesota and North Dakota, soybean cyst nematode (SCN) has also stolen soybean bushels. This session covered the latest concepts with regard to managing IDC, and the opportunities and challenges of developing soybean varieties more resistant to IDC and SCN.
Presenters: John Breker, Ryan Buetow, Jodi DeJong-Hughes
This session focused on two important soil management issues. (1) Soil acidity in North Dakota generally has risen the most in long-term, no-till fields, though it has also been observed in conventional tillage. Liming will be an important strategy into the future. (2) Soil susceptibility to compaction and strategies for alleviation.
Presenters: Robert Koch and Bruce Potter
In recent years, soybean gall midge has been found in Minnesota and North Dakota, a new leafminer has been found in Minnesota soybean, and corn rootworm has moved into North Dakota. This session covered how the larger cropping system affects these pests and how the best to scout or monitor for these pests and determine when treatment is warranted.
Presenters: Betsy Jensen and Josh Tjosaas
This session will review 2022 projected farm profitability, 2022 projected cash flows and break-even for area crops. It will also cover managing for the unexpected as relates to 2022 farm input expenses and marketing.
Presenters: Dave Franzen, Andy Jung and Troy Sayler
Industry and university representatives will provide updates on fertilizer and pesticide product limitations and implications for the 2022 crop season.
Presenters: Anna Cates, Jodi DeJong-Hughes and Mark Lefebvre
UMN Extension and MN SWCD personnel come together to answer many of the questions we have regarding carbon programs, including: Is the science settled or is the “cart before the horse”? What are the pros and cons of different carbon sampling strategies? How do FSA and NRCS look at these programs?
Presenters: John Breker and Dave Franzen
Soils and crops exhibited tremendous variability in productivity during 2021. The discussion will review reasons for the variability and strategies for 2022 soil management and plant nutrition.
Presenters: Joe Ikley and Bryan Young
North-central region and NDSU Extension weed specialists will partner to discuss the impact of the past crop season on weed management strategies for 2022. Subjects include reduced herbicide efficacy in 2021, herbicide carryover
Presenters: Anitha Chirumamilla and Ian MacRae
While soybean aphid populations densities have not reached treatment thresholds in northwest Minnesota and North Dakota in recent years, alfalfa weevil, spider mites, grasshoppers, diamondback moth, flea beetles, thistle caterpillars and green cloverworms have. A good understanding of pest identification, biology and treatment thresholds can give you a leg up with whatever pests pop up in 2022.
Presenters: Hans Kandel, Lindsay Pease and Tom Scherer
NDSU and UMN Extension faculty will discuss under what circumstances the installation of pattern drainage tile trumps surface ditching, whether a whole-field or select-area approach to tile installation is best, whether pump stations make sense in areas that cannot be gravity drained and under what circumstances tiling is most likely to provide a return on investment.
