Learn. Unlearn. Relearn.
This website was created to provide a resource that teaches the fundamentals of applied agronomy and brings the basic knowledge to life with actual in-field examples.
Howard Brown
BASICS OF APPLIED AGRONOMY is a 12-lecture course delivered in real time that covers agronomic fundamentals in Soil and Water, Nutrients, Pests, and Crop Management. It was offered in 1992 to help prepare seed sales representatives and community college students to take the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Exams. Since 1992, over 600 people have completed the course from around the World, including India, Vietnam, Brazil, the U.S., and Canada, to help prepare for the CCA Exams or just as a review of basic agronomic principles.
REGISTRATION FOR THE COURSE
August 12 to October 28, 2025
COURSE DETAILS
Time of lectures: 7:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Day of week: Tuesdays
Lecture platform: Zoom.com
Course information: OneDrive shared folder
Weekly Updates: Text and Email
REGISTRATION FEE
Complete Lecture Series: $200/person
Individual Category: $75.00/category
Full-Time Student: $50/person
TEXTBOOKS(Links)
$75.00 2020 Field Crop Scouting Manual (U of I)
$75.00 Soil Fertility Manual (TFI)
$75.00 International CCA Exam Study Guide (TFI)
CLASS CONTENT
SOIL AND WATER MGT
LECTURE 1
Course Introduction
Basic Soil Properties
Site Characterization
LECTURE 2
Soil Erosion
Residue and Tillage Management
Restrictive Soil Layers
Soil Management Effects on Air Quality
LECTURE 3
Water and Solute Movement
Soil-Plant/Water Relations
Irrigation and Drainage
Water Quality
NUTRIENT MGT
LECTURE 4
Basic Concepts of Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility
Nutrient sources
Soil pH and liming
LECTURE 5
Nutrient placement and timing
Nutrient Movement in Soil and Water
Nutrient Diagnostics
LECTURE 6
Soil Testing and Tissue Analysis
Nutrient Management Planning
Manure and Biosolids
PEST MGT
LECTURE 7
Basic Concepts of Pest Management
Sampling and Monitoring
Weed I.D.
LECTURE 8
Insect Identification
Pathogen Identification
LECTURE 9
Pesticide Performance and Application
Pest Resistance Strategy
Health, Safety, and Environmental Stewardship of Pesticides
CROP MGT
Cropping Systems and Decisions
Corn Growth and Development
Soybean Growth and Development
LECTURE 11
Wheat Growth and Development
Alfalfa Growth and Development
Information Technologies
LECTURE 12
Managing Agronomic Information
Crop Production Economics