KAWKAWLIN, Mich. — Malting barley offers another crop choice for farmers wanting to diversify their rotations. Barley can be used for feed and other foods, malted for brewing or harvested for seed. Michigan’s booming craft beer industry provides opportunity for farmers to produce and sell malting barley, especially due to the national trend of sourcing local food and consumer demand for a Michigan made craft beer.
An opportunity to learn about producing and managing malting barley is set for June 27, 2019, from 5-7 p.m. at the Don Shelagowski Farm, 804 Wetters Road, Kawkawlin, MI 48631. This event will provide insight on research surrounding malting barley as well as the perspectives of a variety of industry professionals including representatives from the farming, research, seed and malting industries. The event will also feature a free meal for registered attendees provided by Schmidt Farms of Auburn.
Event schedule
- 5:00 – 5:15 p.m. Registration and welcome
- 5:15 – 6:00 p.m. Presentations including:
- Dean Baa, MSU Extension
- Eric Olson, MSU Wheat Breeder
- Whitney Thompson and Sara Hagerty, Origin Malt
- Michael Cooper, Independent Barley & Malt
- 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Winter barley variety trial plot tour
- 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. Meal and networking
Those interested in attending the Thumb Region Malting Barley Field Day are encouraged to register online at Malting Barley Field Days Registration page. The event is free of charge.
For questions regarding specific event details, contact Brook Wilke at wilkebro@msu.edu, Dean Baas at baasdean@msu.edu or Ryan Hamilton at hamil486@msu.edu.
If you are interested in malting barley or malt production in Michigan, visit the MSU ExtensionMalting Barley website or contact Brook Wilke at wilkebro@msu.edu, Dean Baas at baasdean@msu.edu, James Dedecker at dedecke5@msu.edu or Ryan Hamilton at hamil486@msu.edu.
— Dean Baas, Michigan State University Extension, and Erin Keller
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