Crop scouts will learn how to better manage pests during a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Crop Scout Training for Pest Managers program on March 17.

The training provides in-depth and detailed information from university specialists and private-industry representatives.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the workshop is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the university's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.

Cost is $95. Fees include lunch, refreshment breaks, workshop materials and an instruction manual. Registrants should pre-register to reserve their seat and to ensure workshop materials are available the day of the training session. New reference materials are included in this year's take-home instruction manual.

Topics include: how corn and soybean plants grow and develop, soybean and corn pests, insect quiz, plant morphology, using a key to identify weed seedlings, identifying weeds, crop diseases and quiz and nutrient deficiencies.

Presenters include: Dale Flowerday, agronomist; Tamra Jackson, UNL Extension plant pathologist; Keith Jarvi, UNL Extension entomologist; Keith Glewen, UNL Extension educator; Lowell Sandell, UNL Extension weed science educator; and Amy Ziems, UNL research technologist

Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are available, with four in pest management, one in crop management and one-half in fertility/nutrient management.

For more information or to register, contact UNL Extension at 402-624-8030, 800-529-8030; e-mail Keith Glewen or visit the University of Nebraska-Lincoln online.

UNL Extension is in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.