Bean and Beet Field Day

August 19, 2025 8:00AM - 1:00PM

MSU Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, 3775 S. Reese Rd Frankenmuth, MI 48734

Contact: David Wishowski at wishowsk@msu.edu or 989-513-4586; Scott Bales at balessco@msu.edu or 517-353-0120 or Thomas Wenzel at wenzelth@msu.edu or 989-652-8014

MSU and industry researchers will discuss current issues impacting dry beans and sugarbeets at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth, MI. Growers will have the opportunity to learn about weed and insect resistance issues, varietal advances and production practices in dry bean, soil fertility strategies and pathology issues in sugarbeet.

Lunch is sponsored by the Michigan Bean Commission and Michigan Sugar Company.

MDARD RUP and CCA credits are pending approval.

Cost: FREE

Field presentations (9 a.m. to noon)

The following six sessions/stops will be 30 minutes and in rotation.

Fertility and nutrient management in sugarbeet – Kurt Steinke, professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences
Insect management in field crops – Chris DiFonzo, professor in the MSU Department of Entomology
Impact of planting date on dry bean production – Scott Bales, dry bean specialist in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences. Sugarbeet agronomy and research update – Corey Guza, general agronomist, Michigan Sugar Company
Sugarbeet Advancement research update, “Variety, Leaf Disease and Nutrient Management” – Dave Wishowski, sugarbeet educator, MSU Extension. Sugarbeet pathology issues – Linda Hanson, research plant pathologist at USDA ARS and adjunct full professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, and Jaime Willbur, assistant professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences
Dry bean variety development at MSU – Valerio Hoyos-Villegas, assistant professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences. Dry bean breeding and quality research – Karen Cichy, USDA ARS and adjunct associate professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences
Herbicide-resistant weed concerns in dry bean and sugarbeet – Christy Sprague, professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences