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Iowa Central students report 2025 county‑farm trials, thank Webster County for hands‑on training
Summary
Students from Iowa Central Community College presented results from farm trials on Webster County land — reporting corn and soybean yields, a fungicide trial that showed notable gains, soil‑management tests and plans for next season — and emphasized the partnership’s value for workforce training.
Students in Iowa Central Community College’s Farm Operations & Management class presented results from the 2025 season to the Webster County Board of Supervisors, reporting crop yields, fungicide trial results, and soil‑management findings and thanking the county for access to the county farm.
Terry Coleman, an Iowa Central agriculture instructor, introduced the class and said the county farm gives students essential hands‑on experience. Student presenters described partnerships with local agronomy and seed companies and custom operators who supported planting, scouting and harvest work.
Ellie Brenneman said the south fields (about 107 acres of corn) were planted to three hybrids; the top yielding hybrid was a Pioneer 110‑day at about 253 bushels per acre, followed by a Pioneer 108‑day at about 252 bu/acre, and the class average across hybrids was approximately 236 bu/acre compared with an APH (actual production history) of 225 bu/acre.
Kendall Daniels summarized a fungicide trial: a fungicide‑treated area produced roughly a 38‑bushel advantage in the reported comparison. Daniels said fungicide cost about $25 per acre and, at an assumed $4 per bushel corn price, “it saved us about $127 per acre,” adding, “we all agreed that applying fungicide in 2025 was definitely a good decision.”
Lucas Parcel reported soybean trials in the Northfield (about 103 acres) with two seed sources; yields averaged about 65 bu/acre versus a 10‑year APH of 62 bu/acre. Nick Erickson said wet conditions limited hay harvests (11 acres produced about 57 round bales in the North field; the South field produced about 40 round bales of oats/alfalfa) and that armyworm pressure was noted but not sprayed.
Student presenters also covered fertilizer and precision application: Nick Powers discussed soil sampling and use of variable‑rate technology (VRT) and said input prices were roughly 15% higher than the prior year. Grace Schlock described soil compaction tests indicating both fields were suitable for a no‑till system; the class ran a tillage comparison on part of a field to show effects to future students.
Instructor Terry Coleman wrapped up by noting that, despite challenges such as heavy southern rust, the season provided valuable learning opportunities about variability and risk in production agriculture. Multiple students and instructors thanked the board for leasing the land and said revenues from the harvest help support scholarships.
The board chair and supervisors praised the presentations and reaffirmed support for continuing the partnership between Webster County and Iowa Central Community College.
