Updating Michigan irrigators

Lyndon Kelley<kelleyl@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - December 23, 2016

Six area meeting hosted by Agri-business provides irrigation update for Michigan irrigators.

Irrigation is an extremely valuable management practice for many producers, and it is essential for the production of many of Michigan’s field and specialty crops. The wide diversity of irrigated crop types and production locations adds the challenge of keeping producers abreast of the latest in irrigation management practice and legal requirements for large volume water use. Six Michigan agribusinesses stepped forward to assist Michigan State University Extension in this educational effort by serving as host for a series of irrigation update sessions scattered across Michigan.

Irrigated crop management topics to be present by Michigan State University Field Crop educator, Bruce MacKellar, include:

Achieving adequate stands and hybrid selection in irrigated or highly productive corn
Managing Nitrogen, Sulfur, Phosphorus and Potassium in irrigated soils
Emerging pest problems

Steve Miller, MSU-BAE irrigation specialist, and Lyndon Kelley, MSU/Purdue Extension Irrigation educator, will present topics including:

Integrating checkbook irrigation scheduling with soil moisture monitoring
Michigan water policy and irrigation implications
Using irrigation for fertilizer and chemical application

The meeting will earn participants two Certified Crop Advisor Soil & Water Management credits, 0.5 CCA crop management credits and a phase 1 credit Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program. Application has been made for two Restricted Use Pesticide credits.

The MSU Extension presentation will be from 8:30 a.m. until noon at all of the sites. The Koviack Irrigation meeting at the Holiday Inn West in Kalamazoo will continue after lunch with an industry representative from Zimmatic Irrigation.

Friday, Jan. 6, 2017 (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Farm Services, Inc., 4840 N. Greenville Rd., Lakeview, MI

Call 989-352-8411

Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Michigan Valley Irrigation, 2071 Main St., McBride, MI

RSVP to 989-762-5028 or via email @ mvilakeview@gmail.com

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 (8 a.m. - 3 p.m., hosted by Koviack Irrigation)

Holiday Inn West, 2747 S. 11th St., Kalamazoo, MI

Reservation required for provided lunch. Call 269-273-3010 by Jan. 13.

Friday, Jan, 27, 2017 (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Michigan Valley Irrigation, 14265 Beadle Lk. Rd., Battle Creek, MI

RSVP to 269-565-4426 or via email at frontdesk@mvibc.com

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Advance Farm Supply, 450 8th St., Burr Oak, MI

Call 269-489-5031

Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Co-Alliance, 16724 Bakertown Rd., Buchanan, MI

Call 269-695-6823 or email carl.wagner@co-alliance.com

For more information, contact MSU Extension at 269-467-5511 or check out our flyer on the web.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).