Clayton County youth fare well in Crop Scouting competition

AMES, Iowa – Six Iowa teams participated in the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program’s seventh annual Crop Scouting Competition on July 31 at the Field Extension Education Laboratory in Boone.

The teams, which consisted of Iowa youth (grades 9-12), were tested on their knowledge of crop insects and diseases, growth and development, weed identification, crop disorders, herbicide injury and spraying pesticides. 

Teams took a written test and then rotated through eight field stations run by ISU Extension and Outreach specialists at the Field Extension Education Lab. The overall goal of the competition is for youth to learn from and interact with ISU Extension and Outreach specialists, and gain more knowledge IPM and scouting methods.

“One of the best parts about the Crop Scouting Competition and Regional Crop Scouting Competition is the kids are actually learning during it,” said Adam Sisson, IPM program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “They will walk away with trophies and prizes, but they’ll also walk away with knowledge and, hopefully, an increased knowledge of extension.”

 

Read the full article in the Wednesday, August 23, 2017 edition of The Outlook.