Registration closes soon for the Soybean Harvest Equipment Field Day on September 15 in Eaton County
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EmailOnline registration closes Sept. 8 to reserve a free lunch. Additional topic to be addressed will include desiccating soybeans as a harvest aid.
The registration deadline is fast approaching for the 2026 Soybean Harvest Equipment Field Day on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Parr Farms, 1966 N. Clinton Trail (M-50), Charlotte, MI 48813. Tuesday, Sept. 8 is the last day for online registration to ensure space and a free lunch. Walk-in and online registrations will be accepted after Sept. 8, but lunch is not guaranteed.
Additional topic: The crop is not progressing as quickly as expected, so we will be applying a desiccant to the demonstration field in the hopes the crop will be ready to harvest in time for the event. A brief presentation on research findings with soybean desiccation in Michigan will be given by Ph.D. student Michael Dodde in the Sprague lab at MSU. Soybean desiccation has been proposed to help Michigan soybean producers combat harvest delays from variable fall weather. Research has shown that harvest aids can improve desiccation but did not consistently speed up seed dry down or harvest.
Register for the Soybean Harvest Equipment Field Day
Reducing soybean harvest losses is an easy and effective way to increase soybean yields by 1 to 2 bushels per acre and income by $11.40 to $22.80 per acre in 2026. This field day will provide participants with information and educational materials about reducing soybean harvest losses. There will also be a presentation on options for adding or upgrading monitor equipment on your farm. Farmers, agribusiness professionals, agency staff and those interested in agriculture are welcome to attend. Equipment company representatives will discuss specific recommendations for fine-tuning their combines. The following topics and equipment will be demonstrated or presented:
- Draper heads
- Auger heads
- Air-assisted reels
- Harvest recommendations
- Harvest loss measurements
- Common harvest errors
Agenda
Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. A clinic on combine maintenance will follow introductions. Attendees will select which concurrent clinic to attend based on the brands and models used on their farms. Clinics will include a thorough walk-around and discussion with plenty of time for Q&A. A presentation on adding or upgrading monitor displays will be given before lunch, which will be provided free of charge.
The afternoon will consist of a short drive down the road for demonstrations of soybean harvest representing a wide range of equipment manufacturers and technologies. The day will conclude by 3 p.m.
This event has been offered free to attendees over the years due to generous support from the Michigan Soybean Committee. Farmers, agribusiness professionals, agency staff, and those interested in agriculture are welcome to attend.
Credits
One restricted use pesticide and four certified crop adviser credits have been approved.
Registration
Pre-registration is required by Sept. 8 to reserve a meal. Walk-ins will be accepted but lunch is not guaranteed. Register online or call the St. Joseph County Extension office at 269-467-5511 for assistance.
Register for the Soybean Harvest Equipment Field Day
Cost
Cost is free due to generous funding from event sponsors, the Michigan Soybean Committee and Michigan State University Extension.
Sponsors
Hutson Inc., Janson Equipment Co., Burnips Equipment Co., Williams Farm Machinery, Farm Depot, Indian Creek Ag, Caledonia Farmers Elevator, Drexel Chemical Co., Michigan Soybean Committee, and Michigan State University Extension. Special thanks to Gary Parr for hosting the event and harvest demonstration plots.
Communication
Be sure your email and cell phone are correct when you register and check both in the days leading up to the event should it need to be postponed due to weather. The postponement date is Sept. 22, 2026.
Contact Eric Anderson (eander32@msu.edu or 269-359-0565) or Madelyn Celovsky (celovsk2@msu.edu or 248-385-7886) with questions about the event.