By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University Extension will host the 2026 Eastern Crop, Pest Identification and Management School beginning Feb. 24 at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota. The program is designed to provide practical education for those involved in crop production and field scouting across the northern Great Plains.
The school will offer hands-on training focused on identifying and managing crop pests. It is designed mainly for undergraduate students and first- and second-year crop scouts. Participants will receive instruction on recognizing crop diseases, insect damage, herbicide injury symptoms, and other production challenges commonly found in regional cropping systems.
Major crops covered during the program will include wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, dry beans, canola, and sunflowers. The training is intended to help attendees better understand how pest issues affect these crops and how proper identification supports sound management decisions.
“Accurate identification of crop disorders and pests is one of the most important skills for making crop management decisions,” says Wade Webster, NDSU Extension soybean pathology specialist. “This program provides hands-on experience that will help crop scouts and other agricultural professionals confidently diagnose crop issues.”
The main goal of the school is to prepare participants for success as field scouts by strengthening their knowledge of crop pests and production challenges in the north central region. Sessions will be led by NDSU Extension specialists and scientists with experience in crop protection, pathology, and agronomy.
Attendees will receive reference materials to support continued learning after the event. These materials will include a resource binder, flash drives with identification guides, and crop management information. Additional binders will be available for purchase for those seeking extra training tools.
Registration details and additional program information are available online. Questions related to program content can be directed to Webster or Barbara Nilles in NDSU's Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Biotechnology at 701-231-8363 or richard.webster@ndsu.edu or barbara.nilles@ndsu.edu. Participants who need disability accommodations are encouraged to contact organizers at least two weeks before the program.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Sustainable Agriculture