MSU Extension Lapeer County

2026 Agricultural Meeting Summary Sheet

(As of December 1, 2025)

The above line is a link to this year's Winter Ag Meeting summary list.  This list is meant to be a living document that will be updated periodically when new events are added and past events are removed.  Please check the red date shown at the top of the right column.

***********

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS:

2026 Pesticide Applicator Core Review and MDARD Testing

Register at https://events.anr.msu.edu/2026pesttest/

Review: $25.00 - payable to MSU

Test: $75.00-Commercial / $50.00-Private / $45.00-Registered - payable to State of Michigan

***Participants must attend Review Session to participate in the In-Person Testing.***

It is recommended that participants read and study the Core Manual before attending the review. Copies may be ordered from: https://msupesticidemanuals.com/. The Lapeer County MSU Extension office may have copies available for purchase. Call 810-667-0341.

2026 Regional Crop and Pest Management Updates

Learn about the latest recommendations for managing weeds, diseases, insects and nematodes from MSU Exension educators and specialists.

For more information and to register visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/2026CropPestUpdate/

Registration is $40 and includes lunch and the 2026 Weed Control Guide for Field Crops

RUP and CCA credits will be available at each meeting.

Farm Policy and Risk Management Series

New to this season is an emphasis on cost of production studies for specialty crops. Having a better understanding of production costs can help producers position their farms to take advantage of price opportunities. The returning topics of insurance programs will feature forage, pasture, and field crop acres. Farm Bill commodity programs will round out this year’s program, addressing the latest changes to programs from congressional legislation.

• • • October 23 - Blueberries Cost of Production Study Review
    • November 13 - Apples Cost of Production Study Review
    • January 20 - Farm Bill Commodity Programs
    • January 22 - Peaches Cost of Production Study Review
    • January 22 - Coverage Options in Revenue Protection for Field Crops
    • February 3 - Chestnuts Cost of Production Study Report from MSU
    • February 19 - Cabbage Cost of Production Study Review

Series begins in October and is a free program presented by Michigan State University Extension. To participate, registration is required. To register today, visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/fprms25/

MSU Christmas Tree Winter Webinar Series - Challenges on the Horizon

The 2026 winter webinar series will focus on "challenges on the horizon" that will likely impact Christmas tree production in the Great Lakes region in the near future.  Each week will feature a different topic and potential solutions to address those challenges. RUP credits have been requested for the following states: CT, MA, MI, NH, OH, PA, IN, and VT.  

Cost: $20 to register for entire series

For more information and to register: https://events.anr.msu.edu/MSUWinterWebinar26/

Update on Bulletins Live! Two and Mitigation Measures

This training consists of a 50-minute update on Bulletins Live! Two and mitigation measures and calculations, followe by personalized one-on-one training on how to use the website. This is a free event and one RUP credit is available. Register at: https://events.anr.msu.edu/Bulletinslivetwo/ February 12, 2026 ~ 9:00 AM Lapeer MSU Extension Office 1800 Imlay City Road Lapeer, MI 48446 *Additional dates and locations are available.

Farm Women's Symposium - Rooted Together - An Agriculture Conference

Bringing women in agriculture together for fun, learning and fellowship. Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth ~ 855-652-7200 Cost: $225.00 per person by February 15th Scholarships: https://www.farmwomenssymposium.org/scholarships For information and to register: https://www.farmwomenssymposium.org/

Beginning Farmers - Free Curriculum

Whether you are a new farmer looking to learn some new skills in the off season or an educator working with beginning farmers, you’ll find materials and resources you can adapt to your needs. Free curricula and resources for beginning farmers and beginning farmer educators are now available to download: https://www.beginningfarmercurriculum.org/ https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/beginning-farmer-resource-and-decision-making-guide

***********

RESOURCES

MSU Field Crops Team Website

Agriculture     Corn     Cover Crops     Dry Beans    Small Grains     Soybeans     Forages    

Hemp Production    Hops      Malting Barley     Soil Health     Sugarbeets    Weeds     Wheat

Harvest and Storage Info

The links below contain information to help farmers handle current harvest challenges, including temporary storage, storage safety and adapting silos for grain storage. There’s also a link to the USDA’s recently changed Marketing Assistance Loan Program and information about conditions at the Port of New Orleans. Other sections deal with making decisions related to delaying harvest and a series of links related to marketing options. For more information for your particular situation, contact your local MSU Extension office.

Links to Grain Storage Information

• Temporary Grain Storage Considerations
• Adapting Silage Silos for Dry Grain Storage
• Grain Storage Problems Are Increasing the Dangers to Farm Operators

Updates on Gypsy Moths and mitigation strategies: Click here

USDA FARMLAND CASH RENTAL RATES
The “USDA Farmland Cash Rental Rates” document is a listing of cash rental rates by county dating from 2014 to the 2025 year. The information was obtained from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and is based on their county-level survey results. Download document https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/usda-farmland-cash-rental-rates

MSU CUSTOM WORK RATES REPORT - 2026
The 2026 report covers a wide range of field machine operations.
Download document https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-custom-work-rates-report