URBANA, Ill. — As the new year begins, crop producers, consultants, and industry professionals already have the year’s crop on their minds. Stay up to date with research updates and opportunities impacting statewide crop production at the 2024 Illinois Crop Management Conference with University of Illinois Extension.

With multiple locations and an online option, everyone can gather the information needed to make the most informed decisions for farming operations. Attendees can expect topical sessions filled with the latest research updates from crop science experts at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

“We’re planning a conference filled with information and resources for producers, industry, researchers, and students to come together and talk about what they are seeing, so we can learn from each other,” says Talon Becker, Extension commercial agriculture specialist. “Together, we can continue improving Illinois crop production.”

Seven continuing education units, CEUs, are available for Certified Crop Advisers covering a broad range of crop production topics at in-person events. Additional presentations and CEUs are available by accessing the online content available from Feb. 16 to April 30. Access to online content is included in the registration cost for in-person events.

Attendees can choose from three in-person locations and dates, including:

• Feb. 1: Collinsville. Register by Jan. 25 for an early-bird rate.
• Feb. 7: Champaign. Register by Jan. 31 for an early-bird rate.
• Feb. 15: Sycamore. Register by Feb. 8 for an early-bird rate.

Registration cost for each in-person location is $80 before the early bird date and $100 after. Lunch is included. The student cost is $20. Students must bring a student ID to the program day to verify.

Session topics vary by location, but participants who attend in person will also have access to online sessions. General topics for all locations include insect management in corn and soybean, field weed and disease control updates, existing weather tools and monitoring to help ag decisions, and advancements in ag technology.

For those who prefer to access the recorded presentations online only, the registration cost is $50.

• Feb. 16 to Apr. 30: Online. Register by March 15.

Certified Crop Advisers may earn CEU credit by viewing the online presentations and completing the corresponding quizzes to access a QR code that can be scanned with a CCA app. Sessions will be worth 0.5 to 1.0 CEUs, accordingly. Online presentations run 25 to 50 minutes long.

Online participants must access the content through a Learn @ Illinois Extension account. Registrants who do not have an account associated with the email address used for registration will have an account created for them, and login instructions will be sent to all registrants prior to Feb. 16.

Complete event details, including presentation titles, agendas, and registration for all conference events, available at go.illinois.edu/CMC.

For questions or if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in this program, contact Megan Weber, Extension program coordinator, at megannr2@illinois.edu or 217-265-5321. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.  

SOURCE: Talon Becker, commercial agriculture specialist, Illinois Extension

WRITER: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension