Field Crop Sessions

Upcoming Sessions

• Feb 23

  MI Ag Ideas to Grow With

  February 23, 2026 – March 5, 2026 Zoom

  Unique virtual experience encompassing many aspects of the agricultural industry

• Feb 23

  Innovative Agronomy Tools

  February 23, 2026 8:00AM – 9:00AM Zoom

  Learn about innovative tools and resources for agronomic decisions, especially pest management, and how to use them to improve decision-making.

• Feb 23

  Soil Health Testing Options and Interpretation

  February 23, 2026 9:00AM – 10:00AM Zoom

  What is soil health, and how can you measure it? This session will cover testing options and how to understand test results in order to improve soil health.

• Feb 23

  Intermediate Wheatgrass

  February 23, 2026 10:00AM – 11:00AM Zoom

  Agronomic management considerations for growing a relatively new perennial grain crop: Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (IWG).

• Feb 23

  Open-Pollinated Corn

  February 23, 2026 11:00AM – 12:00PM Zoom

  Considerations for growing open-pollinated corn, including management, advantages, disadvantages, and more.

• Feb 23

  Growing Grass and Alfalfa Hay Between Solar Arrays

  February 23, 2026 12:30PM – 1:30PM Zoom

  This presentation will help Michigan farmers learn how grass hay and alfalfa can successfully be grown between solar arrays. Grass hay and alfalfa yield and nutrient content data will also be shared.

• Feb 24

  Exploring a Beginning Farmer Curriculum to Guide Group Learning

  February 24, 2026 12:00PM – 1:00PM Zoom

  Learn to work with other farmers to gain knowledge to help improve your farming & business practices in areas of land access, produce food safety, soil health, farm finances, building new markets, IPM, urban agriculture and policy.

• Feb 26

  Crop Insurance 101 for Field Crops

  February 26, 2026 12:00PM – 1:00PM Zoom

  Prices for many farm inputs remain high compared to commodity prices. This session will review the basics of insurance and how to optimize strategies for corn, soybeans, and wheat growers. 

• Mar 5

  Considerations and Practical Tips when Starting, Operating, and Sustaining a Mobile Irrigation Lab Program

  March 5, 2026 9:00AM – 9:50AM Zoom

  This talk will highlight the importance of irrigation uniformity evaluations and how irrigation system evaluations support precise irrigation management.

• Mar 5

  Why is Irrigation Important in Michigan?

  March 5, 2026 10:00AM – 10:50AM Zoom

  Irrigation adds value through increasing yield, reducing risk, and valuable fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops often not grown without irrigation, positively affecting farm incomes, land values, and tax base.

• Mar 5

  Advances in Irrigation Technology and Technology Adoption through Extension Programming

  March 5, 2026 11:00AM – 11:50AM Zoom

  This session will focus on discussing new advances in irrigation and how to increase adoption through innovative and interactive programs.

• Mar 5

  Understanding the Competition for Water and How it May Change Water Policy and an Overview of Riparian Rights and the Impact on Regional Water Policy

  March 5, 2026 12:00PM – 12:50PM Zoom

  With data‑center chip manufacturers getting pushed into areas with high water and energy availability, communities must understand water use and mitigation measures. Also, get an overview of Riparian rights and its affects on policy.

• Mar 5

  Rolling out a New Type of Irrigation

  March 5, 2026 1:00PM – 1:50PM Zoom

  An overview of a recent study on Sumisansui irrigation tape. This session will cover how this system is used, how it performs, along with the benefits and drawbacks to this new irrigation system.

• Mar 5

  Michigan Large Volume Water Use: Site Specific Review and Water Users Committee

  March 5, 2026 2:00PM – 2:50PM Zoom

  Overview of the current Michigan Large Volume Water Use site-specific review process and Water Users Committees. Proposed alternative to Michigan’s current site-specific review process and Water Users Committees.

Field Crops Session Recordings

• Irrigation Water Sources for Gardens, Greenhouses, Small Farms; Small Scale Drip Irrigation Design and Planning

  Published on March 7, 2025

  Irrigation is essential for yields and quality of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. This session explores potential sources for small scale drip irrigation operations.

• Improving Drip Irrigation Efficiency: Keeping Irrigation Water in the Root Zone

  Published on March 7, 2025

  This session focuses on irrigation scheduling, uniformity testing and other management practices to increase drip irrigation efficiency.

• Michigan Large Volume Water Use Policy Update

  Published on March 7, 2025

  Listen to viewpoints of three professional working on the implantation issues of Michigan Large Volume Water Use Policy and how it effects irrigation opportunities for agriculture in Michigan.

• Center Pivot Irrigation Efficiency: BMPs for Center Pivot Irrigation

  Published on March 7, 2025

  This session focuses on enhancing the efficiency of center pivot irrigation systems through the implementation of Best Management Practices, including key strategies for optimized water use and overall system performance.

• Optimizing irrigation: Scheduling and Soil Moisture Monitoring

  Published on March 7, 2025

  This session explores strategies for effectively managing water resources using advanced irrigation scheduling and soil moisture monitoring methods.

• Water Rights, Registration and Reporting Requirements and Tools to Help

  Published on March 7, 2025

  Landowners have the right to use water, but there are registration and reporting requirements. Learn about the tool available to help meet the requirements.

• Digital Agriculture and Precision Technologies: Precision Conservation Strategies

  Published on March 6, 2025

  Look into the crystal ball and see that the future of ag is digital. Precision ag technology offers powerful insights for making decisions to increase farm profitability and reduce environmental impact.

• Challenges and Opportunities in No-Till

  Published on March 6, 2025

  What happens when you take away tillage? Christine Charles, MSU Extension educator, will share some lessons learned from farmers’ experiences in transitioning to no-till.

• Challenges and Opportunities in Growing Canola

  Published on March 6, 2025

  Want to go beyond corn, soybean, and wheat? Learn about growing canola at the Kellogg Biological Station through the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research, including challenges with planting, harvest, and emerging pests and diseases.

• Case #43: The Mystery of the Stunted Soybeans

  Published on March 6, 2025

  Join us for real life cases of stunted soybeans, the steps we took to determine the cause(s), and how to respond to your own crop mysteries (soybeans or otherwise).

• Slug and Bugs

  Published on March 6, 2025

  A look into fields unusual munching activity. What is the common pest? Slugs! We will discuss some of the factors that led to the issue and some ways to mitigate the risk.

• Planning for Climate Change on your Farm

  Published on February 28, 2025

  Think through climate-related risks on your farm and learn how to make a plan to prepare for heavy rains, wind, drought, heat or floods. CCA credits offered.

• Successfully Secure NRCS EQIP Contracts for Farmers

  Published on February 26, 2025

  Step-by-step support to help farmers understand the scope of the EQIP program, and how to best advocate for themselves and their farm when interacting with their local field office.

• MSU Agrability Program

  Published on February 25, 2025

  Learn more about the Michigan AgrAbility Project. This statewide program helps farmers with a disability or injury continue farming.

• Bring Your Own Soil to Determine Soil Texture

  Published on February 25, 2025

  Soil health is vital to grow healthy crops but can be challenging aspect of farming. Soil tests help to know how many nutrients are in the soil and what to add, but soil texture is also critical for good soil management.

• Upgrades to older pivot control systems and 360 Rain- A Quick Look at a Robotic Irrigation and Nutrient Application System

  Published on February 27, 2024

  One of the newest irrigation ideas is 360 Rain. Explore how it may fit into Midwest crop production with over half of our center pivots over 20 year in age. Explore how this can be used to breathe efficiency into old equipment.

• Building Your Skills with Michigan’s Large Volume Water Use Registration and Reporting tools.

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Learn the ins and outs of the programs from the State Agency staff who rely on the Michigan Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (MIWWAT) and the Michigan Large Volume Water Use Reporting Tool.

• Soil Health for Beginners: Caring for Your Farm from the Ground Up

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Soil health is a critical part of farming. If you are new to farming or new to the land, this is a perfect time to make a long-term plan. Discover approaches to learn about your soil and how to support better crop production.

• Review of 2023 Irrigation Research

  Published on February 27, 2024

  What did we learn from irrigation research in 2023?

• Irrigation Electrical Safety

  Published on February 27, 2024

  How do we safely operate electric pumps and center pivots?