Workshops to be held in five locations across Iowa

Specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are once again teaming up with ISU Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering specialists to bring planter equipment expertise to farms across the state Feb. 2–6 with Planter University.

The workshops are an opportunity for farmers, agricultural service providers, equipment and precision ag dealers and others to gain insight into how planters function; optimizing settings for individual seed, field, and equipment needs; and improving understanding of planter wear and calibration. Prior attendees have noted the value this workshop provides, with 80% of 2025 survey respondents stating it was worth more than $10 per acre to their farming operation.

“Planter University goes far beyond a typical planter clinic and provides attendees direct access to specialists with expertise in planter technology and settings,” said Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are excited to host these workshops across the state again this February.”

Specialists from the ISU Digital Ag group will lead each workshop, focusing on small-group, hands-on learning with row units that represent a variety of technologies currently available for planters. The Digital Ag group is renowned for their key industry partnerships and unique expertise in equipment development and precision agriculture. Meetings will also offer continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisers.

“We are going to help attendees better understand the physics behind traditional and high-speed planters and how to evaluate planting performance, because every planter, operator and operation is different,” said Levi Powell, Iowa State ag and biosystems engineering program specialist. “This event will focus on how to dial in the right settings for you and your operation.”

The training will be offered at five locations. Attendance will be limited to maintain small group sizes and allow for hands-on activities. Registration for each location is $100 and closes seven days ahead of each meeting. On-site registration is not available, but online registration will be available starting Jan. 5.

Registration includes lunch, refreshments, reference materials and CCA credits. Registration check-in opens at 8:30 a.m., and the program begins at 9 a.m. The program concludes at approximately 3 p.m.

• Feb. 2 – Alliant Energy Ag Innovation Lab, 3800 University Boulevard, Ames
• Feb. 3 – Carroll County Conservation Center, 22676 Swan Lake Trail Drive, Carroll
• Feb. 4 – Northern Research and Demonstration Farm, Kanawha
• Feb. 5 – Heartland Acres Agribition Center, Independence
• Feb. 6 – Prime Ag, 571 180th St., Otley

For registration-related questions, please contact ISU Registration Services at 515-294-6222 or registrations@iastate.edu. For all other inquiries, email crops@iastate.edu.