Do you need training to become a field scout or to do a better job of scouting this growing season? Two one-day Scout Schools will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, March 6. Both schools will be held for a full day at the Scheman building at the Iowa State Center in Ames.

Field Crop Scout School helps new scouts or those with little field experience to understand principles and techniques of scouting. The sessions will cover

• growth and development of corn, soybean, and alfalfa;
• how to identify common weeds, diseases, and insects; and
• discussion of common crop problems.

Most sessions will include hands-on activities. Scouts will receive a notebook of publications and information to help them recognize crop problems in the field. Managers may attend the sessions with their scouts at a reduced cost.

The registration fee is $70 for scouts and $40 for managers. The fees cover lunch, breaks, and the scouting notebook. All participants must be pre-registered. Walk-in registrations will not be accepted.

Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits will not be offered for this program. For more information and registration materials, visit the Agribusiness Education Program Web site at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/aged. Questions may be directed to the Agribusiness Education Program at (515) 294-6429 or Joyce Hornstein at (515) 294-1101.