NDSU Extension to Host Advanced Crop Adviser Workshop in Late January and Soil Compaction Conference Throughout February
CROP ADVISOR WORKSHOP
North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension will host the 2026 Advanced Crop Advisers Workshop Jan. 27 and 28 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, North Dakota.
“This workshop provides in-depth, current and relevant research results and management recommendations, which help crop advisers assist farmers to maximize return on investment and produce high-yielding crops in challenging conditions,” says Jeff Stachler, workshop co-chair and NDSU Extension cropping systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center.
A featured event of the workshop will be a panel discussion about navigating input purchases in the tough farm economy.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Jan. 27, with the program scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday’s educational sessions are the following:
- Make Every Input Count in 2026 panel discussion
- Necessary and Recommended Herbicide Adjuvants
- Alternative Weed Management Technologies
- Fertilizer Facts and Myths
- Buckle Up! 2026 Crop Market and Trade Outlook
The second annual pest identification quiz will run all day Tuesday and early Wednesday morning.
On Jan. 28, registration and breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., and educational sessions are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., ending with lunch. The Wednesday sessions are the following:
- Staying Grounded: Managing Stress and Supporting Mental Wellness in Agriculture
- Emerging and Resistant Insect Pests in Soybean, Wheat and Corn
- Field Crop Diseases and Disease Forecasting Tools
- What It Takes to Improve Weed Management
- Soil Compaction and Soil Health
Visit ndsu.ag/cropadvisers26 to view a brochure with workshop details and registration information.
Early bird registration is required by Jan. 25. The workshop costs $200 per person or $150 for one day. Walk-up registration cost is $250.
Certified crop advisers can receive up to 10 continuing education units by participating in the event both days.
For reasonable accommodations, contact Linda Schuster at 701-652-2951 at the earliest convenience.
SOIL COMPACTION CONFERENCE
Soil compaction is a growing concern for farmers and land managers, especially across the northern U.S. and southern Canada.
North Dakota State University; University of Minnesota Extension; Manitoba Agriculture; Iowa State University; and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness will host the Northern Soil Compaction Conference, an international virtual event designed to help producers understand, manage and prevent compaction.
The conference will be held online from 9 a.m. to noon CST on Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24.
Compaction can restrict root and crop growth, reduce water infiltration, limit nutrient access, increase crop disease pressure and lower overall yields. Every pass of heavy equipment increases the risk of soil compaction.
“There are effective strategies to fix existing compaction issues and prevent them in the future,” says Carlos Pires, NDSU Extension soil health specialist.
“These strategies include using cover crops, rotating crops, adjusting tillage practices, managing traffic patterns, properly inflating tires and distributing axle loads more evenly.”
The 2026 Northern Soil Compaction Conference will provide an opportunity to explore the latest research and practical solutions from top experts in the U.S. and Canada. Attendees can gain actionable insights to address current compaction issues, develop long-term management strategies and learn about the benefits of these practices for productivity and profitability.
Registration costs $75 for the full four-day event. A limited number of scholarships are available. Recorded presentations will be available for registrants who are unable to attend a session.
For more information and to register, visit ndsu.ag/NSCC2026.
Certified crop advisers may earn up to 12 continuing education units (CEUs) over the four days of the conference.
For more information, contact Pires at carlos.pires@ndsu.edu.
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