Agriculture and Natural Resources

The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) certification was established as a program of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) in 1992, with the first certifications awarded in 1993. The CCA program was established to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States and Canada.

The CCA program is voluntary, providing a base level of standards through testing and raising that standard through continuing education.

This course may be purchased through the ISU Extension and Outreach Online Store. 

Financial Decision Making teaches you how to develop accurate and useful financial statements for your farm business. Learn how to understand principles of leverage, cash management, and asset investment. Completion of the Financial Decision Making course satisfies the Iowa Farm Service Agency mandatory borrower education requirements.

This course can be purchased through the ISU Extension and Outreach Store. 

Interested in getting started with poultry? This course walks you through how to select, order your chickens, care for and protect your flock.

This is a free course

This online, interactive and self-paced course contains narrated presentations, lesson activities and resources to provide farmers and agribusiness professionals the tools to develop long-term weed management plans to help delay the development of herbicide resistance.

Those who complete the course are eligible for 3.0 integrated pest management Certified Crop Adviser continuing education units. In order to receive CCA credits, the entire course must be completed

The materials for this online course were originally developed by Iowa State University and Outreach field agronomists along with weed scientists Bob Hartzler and Mike Owen for a series of face-to-face Weeds Week workshops.

This is course can be purchased through the ISU Extension and Outreach Online Store. 

The Land Stewardship Leadership Academy is a professional development program for early to mid-career professionals who work with landowners to implement water and wildlife conservation on private land in Iowa. The course uses a blend of learning and engagement techniques to explore topics in agriculture, conservation, and behavior change. The goal of the program is to help participants build cooperative relationships with farmers that facilitate and inspire conservation adoption while balancing farm profitability and resiliency.

This program enrolls an annual limited capacity cohort. To learn more about how to apply visit the Land Stewardship Leadership Academy web page.

Livestock Price and Market Risk Management course focusing on futures, options, insurance products to manage price risk and developing a marketing plan.

This a free course with self-enrollment. 

This course requires an enrollment key from your Iowa State University Extension Office.  Contact your local county office if you are interested in this course. 

This online curriculum offers information and tools to enhance the safety and health of a an farm operation that allows visitors on their property. Participation in this program will lead to new skills and techniques to implement practical management solutions on your farm. Upon successfully completing all training modules, activities, quizzes, and evaluations participants will receive a certificate of completion. This course is available by registering at the ISU Extension & Outreach Store. 

Welcome to the 2020 Fumigation Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for Iowa private and commercial fumigators. Completing this course will recertify you in Category 7C, Fumigation and Category 10, Demonstration and Research. If you are a private applicator, this course fulfills part of the requirements to retain your fumigation status to your private applicator certification.  Enrollment in this course is through the ISU Extension Store.