EAST LANSING, Mich. — Connect, share and learn at the following field days during August and September of 2019 throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan. These field days will cater to field crop, forage and specialty crop growers.
Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center Field Day
When: Aug. 10, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET
Where: Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, E3774 University Dr, Chatham, MI 49816
RSVP: Monica Jean at 906-786-3032 ext. 106 or atkinmon@msu.edu
The Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center (UPREC) Field Day will highlight a wide range of research and education projects conducted at the center including a beef cattle feeding study, alfalfa, malting barley and industrial hemp variety trials, season extension in organic vegetables, climate resilience in organic dry beans and efforts to support K-12 agriscience education and beginning farmer development in the Upper Peninsula.
Lunch will be provided free of charge by the Hiawathaland Farm Bureau.
Dry bean field days
When: Aug. 6, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Where: Ron Collins Farm, 14101 11th Rd, Garden, MI 49835, and Dave Robere Farms (45.992587, -86.426400)
RSVP: Monica Jean at 906-786-3032 ext. 106 or atkinmon@msu.edu
The Upper Peninsula on-farm dry bean variety plots are conducted in cooperation with the Michigan State University Dry Bean Breading program. Dark red kidney varieties will be highlighted at the first stop on Ron Collins’ farm. From Garden, Michigan, take highway 183 (II Road) south 10 miles to 11th Road. Turn left (east) down 11th Road, plots are one mile on the left side (north). Look for signs.
The second stop will highlight a deer repellent trial testing DeerPro and Plantskydd in soybeans with applicability in dry beans also. The plots are located at Dave Robere’s farm. From Cooks, Michigan, take highway 13 four miles to Thunder Lake Road, turn left. Drive three miles to Miller Road, turn right. Drive one mile to Peterson Road, turn right. The plots will be less than half a mile down Peterson Road on the left-hand side (east).
Lunch will be included for free, sponsored by DeerPro and Plantsydd. Two Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) pesticide recertification credits have been requested.
When: Aug. 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Where: Smolinski Green Acres Farm, 13449 Taylor Hawks Rd, Lachine, MI 49753
RSVP: Christian Tollini at 989-734-2168 or tollinic@msu.edu
The northern lower Michigan dry bean field day, hosted in cooperation with ADM Edible Bean of Auburn, Michigan, will highlight dry bean research across the state, including a white mold fungicide trial conducted locally. Pest management and market updates will be discussed as well with MSU Extension, ADM Edible Bean and the Michigan Bean Commission.
This field day will qualify as a MEAP Phase 1 Event, and two MDARD pesticide recertification credits will be available as well. Lunch will be provided by ADM Edible Bean.
Corn field days
When: Aug. 26, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
Where: Skudlarek Dairy Farm, 11527 Spud Rd, Posen, MI 49776
RSVP: Christian Tollini at 989-734-2168 or tollinic@msu.edu
The northern lower Michigan corn field day will showcase grain and silage hybrids that are part of the Michigan Corn Performance Trials. In addition to a plot tour, there will be informational sessions from MSU Extension.
Two MDARD pesticide recertification credits will be available, and it also qualifies as a MAEAP Phase 1 event. Lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the plot tour.
When: Aug. 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. CT
Where: Pleasant View Farms, J-2 Road in Stephenson, Michigan (45.415401, -87.518264), between County Road G 12 and Wery Road. Look for signs.
RSVP: Monica Jean at 906-786-3032 ext. 106 or atkinmon@msu.edu
The Upper Peninsula corn hybrid trial is part of the Michigan Corn Performance Trials program, funded by Project GREEEN and MSU Extension. We collaborated with the University of Wisconsin’s Corn Hybrid Trials to include 80-97-day corn hybrids commonly grown in the Upper Peninsula. The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan has provided funding to hold a field day including a complimentary lunch. We will be discussing corn hybrid selection and wildlife damage, as well as touring the plots with MSU agronomist Maninder Singh.
The field day also qualifies as a MAEAP Phase 1 event and two MDARD pesticide recertification credits have been requested.
Potato field days
When: Aug. 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Where: Styma Potato Farm, 7155 N Grand Lake Hwy, Posen, MI 49776 (plot located on Grand Lake Highway, across from Catholic Cemetary in Posen)
RSVP: Christian Tollini at 989-734-2168 or tollinic@msu.edu
The northern lower Michigan potato field day will include a variety plot tour as well as informational sessions from MSU Extension and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. Two MDARD pesticide applicator recertification credits will be available, and the field day also qualifies as a MEAP Phase 1 event.
Lunch will be provided by Nutrien Ag Solutions of Gladstone, Michigan, at Lakeside Park in Rogers City, Michigan, following the field day.
When: Aug. 28, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET
Where: VanDamme Potato Farm, 2371 St. Nicholas Rd. Rock, MI 49880
RSVP: Monica Jean at 906-786-3032 ext. 106 or atkinmon@msu.edu
The Upper Peninsula potato variety trial and field day at VanDamme Farms is funded by the Michigan Potato Industry Commission to evaluate varieties and educate potato farmers on new management practices. Two MDARD pesticide recertification credits have been requested.
The event includes a free dinner sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions of Gladstone, Michigan.
Soybean field days
When: Aug. 26, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET (after corn field day lunch)
Where: Hardies Dairy Farm, 21354 Co Rd 452, Hillman, MI 49746 (plot is located on County Road 452 between Royston Road and County Road 628)
RSVP: Christian Tollini at 989-734-2168 or tollinic@msu.edu
The northern lower Michigan soybean field day will feature a plot tour of early maturing soybean varieties as well as informational sessions from MSU Extension regarding soybean management. Two MDARD pesticide recertification credits will be offered at this field day, and it also qualifies as a MAEAP Phase 1 event.
When: Sept. 4, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Where: MSU Forestry Biomass Innovation Center, 6005 J Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829 (45.767279, -87.1972880)
RSVP: Monica Jean at 906-786-3032 ext. 106 or atkinmon@msu.edu
The Upper Peninsula soybean variety trial is funded by the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee to evaluate varieties ranging from RM 0.06 – 1.8. This year, we are also studying deer soybean variety preferences. We will be touring the plots at the MSU Forestry Biomass Innovation Center and discussing deer damage in soybeans.
Lunch is included and two MDARD pesticide recertification credits have been requested.
— Michigan State University Extension
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