UPDATE: Meeting canceled
LANSING, Mich. — The line-up of speakers for the Michigan Wheat Program’s 8th Annual Winter Grower Meeting once again this year has the experts in the industry that make this a must-attend event. With less than a month remaining, wheat growers need to register for this midwinter tradition.
The Michigan Wheat Program’s Annual Winter Grower Meeting is Wednesday, March 18 from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Eagle Eye Golf Course and Banquet Center, 15500 Chandler Rd., Bath Township (just north of Michigan State University). The free, one-day conference is a popular annual tradition for nearly 300 farmers each March.
This year’s line-up includes nine sessions featuring a dozen speakers and a mini-trade show of ag business that support Michigan wheat farmers and their needs. Eight RUP and 4 ½ CCA credits will be available at day’s end.
“With this year’s annual meeting, the board really wanted to emphasize the future – what we can anticipate in the marketplace, on the production side, with the weather and also new varieties coming through the pipeline,” said David Milligan, Chairman of the Michigan Wheat Program, Vice President of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and a Cass City farmer.
“We know that markets and weather conditions have been rough for wheat growers in the Great Lakes region. Our goal with this winter meeting is to set our collective thinking to what’s coming down the road. The Michigan farmer has always been creative and resilient, and the 2020s will be no different,” Milligan said.
The marketing keynote speaker is Citizens Elevator’s Vice President of Grain, Angie Setzer. Setzer, who manages five elevator locations and an innovative on-farm program for Citizens Elevator, is also a nationally-known grain markets commentator on such media as AgDay, US Farm Report, Market to Market and the Weather Channel. She recently launched “The Business End of Farming,” a resource for farmers looking to improve their marketing.
Setzer’s “Cash is King” weekly column in Pro Farmer focuses on the developments in the cash grains market and ways producers can take advantage of developing opportunities. Angie has over 23,000 Twitter followers, where she’s known as the @GoddessofGrain.
At the Michigan Wheat Annual Winter Meeting, Setzer will speak on current market conditions and provide an overview of what can be expected in the months and years to come.
In addition to markets, growers have faced weather challenges, too. Mark Torregrossa, MLive weather expert, will be speaking about what’s happening weather wise and what that means for the future including what this growing season will be like for farmers.
The Annual Meeting kicks off with an industry production panel discussion including Jacob Hecht, Plant Manager for Star of the West; Clay Martz, Manager of Nutrient Ag Solutions; and Ben Wilson, Agronomist with Helena AGRIntelligence. The session is moderated by Michigan State University (MSU) wheat specialist Dennis Pennington.
A national perspective on wheat policy and wheat issues will be delivered by Josh Tonsager, Vice President of Policy and Communications for NAWG, out of Washington, DC. The day wouldn’t be complete without a look at new seed varieties expected for future release from Dr. Eric Olson, MSU wheat breeder.
The full agenda is located at www.miwheat.org at the top of the “What’s Hot” column on the left edge. Farmers may also register by phone by calling: 1- 888-WHEAT01 (888-943-2801). Vendors wishing to join the trade show should email Michigan Wheat Program executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom at jody@miwheat.org or call 1-888-943-2801, as booths are available on a first-come basis in the limited space.
The Michigan Wheat Program is funded by nearly 8,000 farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties. The Michigan Wheat Program board seeks to promote the state’s wheat industry by funding and supporting the strategic priorities of wheat farmers working with input suppliers, seed producers, millers, end users and consumers. Research on wheat production practices and grower education has been a continued focus for the organization.
— Michigan Wheat Program
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