Agents patrolling crops field
The University of Minnesota's Institute for Ag Professionals (IAP) Field School is a renowned educational program, celebrating its 35th year, dedicated to providing agricultural professionals with practical, hands-on training in modern farming management and practices.
This specialized program attracts a diverse range of attendees, including agricultural educators, crop consultants, farm managers, and industry representatives. These professionals are eager to expand their expertise in farm business management, crop production, risk management, and other critical aspects of agriculture, aiming to better support Minnesota farmers and advance the industry.
The IAP Field School is an integral part of the University of Minnesota Extension program, which broadly supports agriculture by offering tools and education on farm management, finance, legal issues, marketing, and estate planning. The Institute for Ag Professionals, which operates the Field School, targets professionals who advise or manage agricultural operations.
Over the years, the Field School has established a reputation for being valuable to both early career professionals and seasoned veterans. Christine Wicks, from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, has been attending the Field School for over 25 years, while Carolyn Remer, a conservation agronomist at Centra Sota Cooperative, is new to the industry and attends the Field School to learn about soil health.
The two-day event is an in-field experience, offering participants the opportunity to reconnect and review issues that don't necessarily come up every year. The curriculum covers core principles in agronomy, entomology, weed, and soil sciences, as well as timely, cutting-edge topics to build on the knowledge gained from these core principles.
The Field School sessions include topics such as herbicide mode of action and crop injury symptoms, basic and advanced crop diagnostics, scouting and decision-making for insect pests, cover crops, water, and soil health, alfalfa and forage identification, and management.
Participants appreciate the practical knowledge gained from the Field School, which helps them effectively advise farm producers to optimize crop health and yield. Over 1,200 participants of the Field School influence numerous farm producers and millions of acres across Minnesota.
The 2025 Field School will be held on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus on July 29-30. Registration for the event is now open. To receive notifications for registration and other crop production updates, sign up for Minnesota Crop News.
The Institute for Ag Professionals Field School continues to play a vital role in the University of Minnesota's mission to support the future of agriculture with research-based education and resources. The Field School remains committed to empowering agricultural professionals to make a positive impact on Minnesota's farming community.
Agricultural professionals, such as Christine Wicks and Carolyn Remer, attend the IAP Field School to further their learning in farm business management, crop production, risk management, and other education-and-self-development aspects of agriculture. The Field School sessions cover a range of topics, including herbicide mode of action, crop diagnostics, insect pests, cover crops, water and soil health, alfalfa and forage identification, and management, providing participants with practical knowledge essential for optimizing crop health and yield.
