AMESWomen landowners, farmers and ag retailers will have the opportunity to meet again this fall and winter to learn more about agronomy and related agricultural topics through distance-learning sessions of Agronomy in the Field.

Agronomy in the Field for women is in its fifth year and has been offered at several locations across the state. The goals of Agronomy in the Field are to strengthen agronomic skills for women that allow for better decision-making, provide a better understanding of inputs for crop production, see and understand different conservation practices and increase confidence in communication with their spouse, farming partner, ag retailer or tenant.

Programs are hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists Angie Rieck-Hinz, Meaghan Anderson and Rebecca Vittetoe, with help from guest speakers on a variety of important topics.

Distance-learning sessions of Agronomy in the Field will be offered monthly from November through April. Sessions will start at 6 p.m. and will typically last until 7:30 p.m. These sessions will be provided through a web-conferencing program, so women can join online from the comfort of their own home or participate in a watch party offered at several local county extension offices across the state.

“It can be hard to travel in the fall and winter months with the harvest season and weather challenges, so utilizing web-conferencing technology will allow women across the state to still be a part of the program, even if they are unable to physically be in the same location,” said Rieck-Hinz.

All sessions will be recorded so women can access them at a time convenient for them if they can’t join the live sessions.

The sessions that will be offered this fall and winter are as follows:

Nov. 19 Crop marketing

Dec. 17 Farming for bushels or profitability?

Jan. 14 Alternative Crops and Markets

Feb. 18 Growing season weather outlook and weather resources

March 17 Planning for successful implementation of a herbicide program resources

April 7 Early season scouting tips and tricks

Any interested women landowners, farmers and service providers who would like to participate in upcoming sessions should contact Rieck-Hinz, at 515-231-2830 or amrieck@iastate.edu; Anderson, at 319-331-0058 or mjanders@iastate.edu; or Vittetoe, at 319-653-4811 or rka8@iastate.edu, so access can be provided for web-conferencing and resource materials. There is no cost to participate in these sessions.