Free Training Resources from the CPN to Prepare Crop Scouts
Published: 03/24/2025
Preparing crop scouts with the right knowledge and skills is essential for effective pest and disease management. Fortunately, the Crop Protection Network (CPN) offers a variety of free, educational resources to help train both new and experienced scouts. By combining different tools, it's easy to create a customized training experience that fits specific needs. Here are a few key options:
Crop Scout School Videos: A collection of over 40 e-lecture videos covering scouting fundamentals, the latest technologies, and region-specific pest and disease identification. These videos serve as excellent training materials for new scouts and as valuable refreshers for experienced professionals.
Severity Estimation Tool: This interactive tool helps users develop a trained eye for assessing pest severity on corn and soybean tissue. More accurate evaluations lead to better crop protection management decisions.
Web Books: These in-depth, multi-chapter publications provide detailed information on crop diseases, weeds, insects, and other critical pest management topics. They are a valuable resource for those looking to expand their expertise.
With these and other resources available, crop scouts can gain the knowledge they need to make informed decisions throughout the season. Explore more training options on our website and equip yourself with the best tools for a successful season.
This publication was developed by the Crop Protection Network, a multi-state and international collaboration of university/provincial extension specialists and public/ private professionals that provides unbiased, research-based information to farmers and agricultural personnel. This information in this publication is only a guide, and the authors assume no liability for practices implemented based on this information. Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others that may be similar. Individuals using such products assume responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.
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