MSU Extension Beginning Farmer

Field Crops

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  Learn more about the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant program webinar in January 2025

  Published on December 20, 2024
  Find out if this grant opportunity is a fit for your value-added farm business.

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  Farm financial management – Getting started

  Published on December 20, 2024
  Beginning farmers should manage their finances to strive for profitability. Implementing a good accounting system and developing beginning and end of year balance sheets is an important start.

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  MSU Extension to host restricted use pesticide review and testing January 21 at Great Lakes Trade Expo

  Published on December 17, 2024
  MSU Extension, in partnership with MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program and MDARD, will host a restricted use pesticide (RUP) review and testing at the 2025 Great Lakes Trade Expo. RUP credits are available.

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  What are tariffs and how could they impact farm prices?

  Published on December 16, 2024
  A review of potential tariff impacts on input purchasing decisions.

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  2025 MSU Custom Work Rates Report

  Published on December 10, 2024
  The 2025 report covers a wide range of field machine operations.

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  Free online courses on pollinator protection offer a restricted use pesticide (RUP) credit for Michigan certified pesticide applicators

  Published on December 6, 2024
  Pesticide applicators in Michigan can take a free, self-paced, online course on pollinator protection to earn one RUP credit in categories 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 6, 7A, Commercial Core or Private Core.

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  High oleic soybeans—still worth considering?

  Published on December 5, 2024
  High oleic soybeans have the potential to improve human health and increase farm profits for those able to take advantage of near-term opportunities.

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  MSU Extension to host restricted use pesticide review and testing on MSU campus December 19

  Published on December 4, 2024
  MSU Extension, in partnership with MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will host a restricted use pesticide (RUP) review and exam session at the MSU Pavilion on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.

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  Michigan State University Extension to host Planning for Profit Workshop for farmers

  Published on December 3, 2024
  Michigan State University Extension will host a two-day workshop focused on budgeting and marketing in order to maximize producer profit.

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  Feedback sought on new resource for new and beginning farmers at 2024 GLEXPO

  Published on December 3, 2024
  The Beginning Farmer Resource and Decision Making Guide is a new jointly created resource in the works from MSU Extension and USDA.

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  Entrenamiento sobre la Seguridad del Manejo de los Pesticidas y la Protección del Trabajador ofrecido en inglés y en español 12 de diciembre en Great Lakes Expo 2024

  Published on November 14, 2024
  Por la tarde, los participantes podrán tomar el examen RUP de certificación para la aplicación de Pesticidas de Uso Restringido de MDARD y también podrán recibir la capacitación sobre el Estándar de Protección al Trabajador requerida por la EPA WPS.

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  MSU to host Marketing and Input Strategies program to discuss securing profits and minimizing input costs

  Published on November 14, 2024
  A virtual program from MSU Extension aimed at helping you navigate grain and input markets.

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  Bad years create tax planning opportunities

  Published on November 12, 2024
  Playing the long game in tax planning can minimize your overall tax liability.

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  Tax planning is a valuable tool for reducing your tax liability

  Published on November 12, 2024
  Farmers should consider adopting solid tax planning strategies that maintains consistent taxable income across multiple years.

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  Understanding farm financial wellbeing

  Published on November 8, 2024
  Skilled farm decision-making considers overall farm and household wellbeing, of which finances are an important component.

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  Thumb Ag Day 2024 will feature agricultural vendors and educational sessions

  Published on November 7, 2024
  Join all your area MSU Extension agricultural educators for the 2024 Thumb Ag Day, Dec. 11.

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  Negotiating reasonable land rent in times of low market prices

  Published on November 5, 2024
  How can you, the farm manager, help your landowners understand the impacts of lower prices and high input costs on profits?

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  Marketing spotlighted in new season of risk management series from MSU Extension

  Published on October 30, 2024
  Marketing is the main emphasis of this year’s Farm Policy and Risk Management Series

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  New to crop insurance? See the ‘Beginner’s Guide to Crop Insurance’ by USDA

  Published on October 30, 2024
  The “Beginners Guide to Crop Insurance,” recently released by the USDA Risk Management Agency, is available in Spanish and English.

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  Review your break-even grain prices to secure profits or minimize losses

  Published on October 30, 2024
  Following another year of declining prices, marketing strategies may need to focus on minimizing losses