Agriculture and Natural Resources Week begins March 1

Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Week will kick off March 1 at Michigan State University. ANR Week has served as a platform for enterprising new developments in agriculture and natural resources in Michigan since 1914.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Week will kick off March 1 at Michigan State University (MSU).

Jointly sponsored by the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, MSU Extension and MSU AgBioResearch, the event offers conferences, workshops and exhibits featuring members of the Michigan natural resources and agriculture industries, including:

Grand Rapids Smart Gardening Conference – Plants are at the base of both the human and nonhuman food chain. Everything eats them directly or indirectly, which may or may not be a good thing as far as plants are concerned. Since they do not move around, it is easy to forget that plants are not helpless. They have evolved an incredible arsenal of chemicals, camouflage, spines, hairs and waxes to discourage herbivores.  

Better Process Control School – The Better Process Control School certifies supervisors of thermal processing systems, acidification and container closure evaluation programs for low-acid and acidified canned foods. Each processor of low-acid or acidified foods must operate with a certified supervisor on hand at all times during processing. 

The Great Lakes: Managing for Action – The Great Lakes are one of Michigan’s greatest resources, providing recreational opportunities, a premier fisheries resource, food and water for millions of people, a water source for agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries and a refuge for wildlife. This conference will address some of the major benefits that the Great Lakes provide as well as challenges that they continually face. 

College Planning at MSU – With so many postsecondary options out there, deciding on the right college experience that leads to a satisfying and rewarding career can be a daunting task for some. This session on college planning will cover topics to help in choosing the right college fit. Information and materials will be shared regarding academic programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) including certificate programs available in the Institute of Agricultural Technology. 

Winery Development Conference 2019 – This conference is targeted to individuals who are considering starting a winery or hard cider business with topics relating to industry trends, fruit-growing regions, business planning, regulatory considerations, available resources and owner experiences. 

Certified Pullorum Tester Workshop – The Certified Pullorum Tester Workshop will cover federal and state poultry laws, the National Poultry Improvement Plan's U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean program, and training on how to properly conduct a plate test for salmonella pullorum.

ANR Awards & Farm Lane Society Induction – On Friday, March 1, several awardees, family members and CANR representatives will be on hand to give the annual ANR Awards at the Broad Art Museum. Awards include the Distinguished Service Awards and several alumni awards. Additionally, a dozen new members will be inducted into the CANR Farm Lane Society.

ANR Week Brunch – The March 1 brunch at the Huntington Club inside Spartan Stadium will feature a walk down Farm Lane with several building renovation projects featured. Guests will participate in a walking brunch and take part in hands-on activities and a get a view of research going at exhibits like Cook-Seevers Hall, the School of Packaging, the MSU Pavilion and the campus Fruit and Vegetable Lab.

ANR Week has served as a platform for enterprising new developments in agriculture and natural resources in Michigan since 1914. For over a century, attendees have networked, learned about new developments in their fields and looked toward the future.

For a complete list of events and times, visit http://www.canr.msu.edu/anrweek/sessions/

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