AMES, Iowa – CropsTV, powered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, recently wrapped up its fifth season. This online, self-paced educational program delivers crop production information directly to farmers and agricultural service providers at home, in the office or anywhere with an internet connection.
Season 5 of CropsTV featured 28 episodes covering a variety of crop, pest management, nutrient management and soil and water management topics. Specific
topics exclusive to CropsTV included the “Early bird gets the bean: Why planting dates matter” with Shawn Conley from the University of Wisconsin, Madison; “The batch and build approach: Creating an easy button for conservation” with John Swanson, water resources supervisor in Polk County, Iowa; “Marketing grain: Old and new” with Ryan Drollette and Tim Christensen, extension farm management specialists; “Recognizing the signs: Identifying common nutrient deficiencies in row crops” with Richard Roth, assistant professor and extension nitrogen science specialist; and “Top 10 tax considerations for farmers and rural landowners in 2025” with Kristine Tidgren, director, Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at ISU.
The 28 episodes were released in batches every week from early January through the middle of February, and subscribers had viewing access through April 15 to watch all episodes when it was convenient for them. Season 5 had subscribers from 10 states, including as far as Colorado and New Hampshire. Around 70% of CropsTV subscribers who responded to a survey at the end of the season believed the educational content was worth more than $5 per acre.
Total viewing time from CropsTV subscribers in Season 5 was 2,503 hours, or 104 days and 7 hours. Additionally, 2,684 continuing education units were earned by Certified Crop Advisors.
“CropsTV has been a popular online learning opportunity for farmers and agricultural service providers since it launched five years ago,” said Leah Ten Napel, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Based on feedback from CropsTV subscribers, they really enjoy the flexibility and convivence that this program provides as well as the variety of topics offered.”
While CropsTV Season 5 is over, you can watch selected episodes from Season 5 of CropsTV on YouTube. CropsTV Season 6 is expected to launch in January 2026. Stay tuned for more details to come.
For any CropsTV-related inquiries, please email cropstv@iastate.edu.