EAST LANSING, Mich. — The environment for many crop diseases is enhanced by wet, humid conditions. Irrigation can greatly enhance crop productivity but can also provide an environment more conducive to disease development than in non-irrigated fields. It’s a sort of trade-off. With good planning, monitoring and selecting appropriate crop protection strategies, crop disease under irrigation can be managed. Michigan State University Extension field crop pathologist Marty Chilvers and irrigation educator Lyndon Kelley will discuss managing crop diseases under irrigation, with a heavy focus on corn tar spot, during the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast on Aug. 6, 2020, at 7 a.m. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during the broadcast. MSU agricultural climatologist Jeff Andresen will provide the weekly weather update following Chilvers’ and Kelly’s presentation.
The Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast sessions are held every week during the growing season via Zoom. These virtual meetings take place every Thursday morning from 7-7:30 a.m. from April 16 through Sept. 10, 2020. Following this discussion, MSU’s agricultural meteorologist Jeff Andresen will present the current weather conditions and the seven- to-10-day forecast. A question and answer time will follow.
In cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), RUP credits will now be available for the live sessions. Each week will have a specific code provided to attendees. The recertification credits will not be available to those viewing the recordings or podcasts. Categories will be Commercial core, Private core and 1A.
Participating is easy and free! You can join the live meeting via Zoom using a computer, tablet, mobile device or regular phone line. If you are new to Zoom, simply download the Zoom app and you will be ready to join online every week to see visuals shared by presenters. A call-in by phone option is also available but note that you will only hear the audio portion.
Participants must sign up to receive an email notification with instructions for joining the Virtual Breakfast. You only need to do this once and you will receive the Zoom link and call-in phone number, as well as weekly reminders every Wednesday. Participants receiving emails can opt in or out at any time.
Sign up to receive Virtual Breakfast Zoom information
If you cannot participate in the live session at 7 a.m., you can view the recorded version at any time. However, only the live session will be eligible for RUP credits. Recordings will be closed-captioned and available at the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast page and the MSU Extension Field Crops Team social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
If you are unable to sign up online, call the Lapeer County MSU Extension office at 810-667-0341.
Follow MSU Extension Field Crops Team on Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube and for breaking news.
— James Isleib, Michigan State University Extension
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