News

Southwest Michigan field crops update – September 17, 2026

Published on September 17, 2026
Soybeans and corn are finishing up kernel fill and drying down. Seed corn and potato harvesters ran as weather permitted.
When a cover crop becomes a cash crop: Lessons from a cereal rye seed production field

Published on September 15, 2026
A West Michigan grain farmer’s goal of growing cereal rye for grain seed leads to some important lessons on cover crop usage in Michigan.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – September 10, 2026

Published on September 10, 2026
Seed corn harvest continues and potato storage harvest will start this week, temperatures permitting.
Plan a late season weed control strategy with MSU Extension's Virtual Breakfast

Published on September 4, 2026
The 2026 Virtual Breakfast Series continues with great tips from MSU Extension’s Christy Sprague for planning a late-season weed control strategy.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – September 3, 2026

Published on September 3, 2026
Watch for red crown rot in soybeans and ear molds in corn. Seed corn harvest started.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – August 27, 2026

Published on August 27, 2026
Watch for red crown rot in soybeans. Tar spot was confirmed in St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. No further late blight has been detected in southwest Michigan.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – August 20, 2026

Published on August 20, 2026
Seed corn approaches harvest. Potato growers met to discuss late blight identification and management in response to last week’s confirmation of late blight in St. Joseph County.
Register for the Pesticide Core Review Training at GLEXPO 2026

Published on August 19, 2026
Registration is open for the Pesticide Core Review Training and MDARD RUP test, offered in English and Spanish, at the Great Lakes Expo on December 10. Participants can also earn RUP credits. Don’t miss this opportunity!
The Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day returns to Michigan

Published on August 18, 2026
A full day tradeshow, weeding tool discussions and in-field demonstrations for managing weeds in row crops, vegetables and tree fruit with steep registration discounts for organic and organic-curious growers from Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – August 13, 2026

Published on August 13, 2026
Seed and kernel fill are progressing in corn and soybeans. Late blight discovered in St. Joseph County.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – August 6, 2026

Published on August 6, 2026
Most soybeans and corn are moving into seed fill stages.
Tips for roller crimping cereal rye

Published on August 3, 2026
Want to roller crimp next spring? Start planning now.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 30, 2026

Published on July 30, 2026
Soybeans are in pod or seed formation stages.
Conservation field days coming up in the Western Lake Erie Basin

Published on July 30, 2026
Don’t miss these demos on tillage equipment, cover crop flyover, soil pit, manure spills and more in the Basin.
Come with all your unanswered questions to the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast on August 6

Published on July 28, 2026
The 2026 Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series will hold its last hot topics Q&A session on August 6, so come with your questions.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 23, 2026

Published on July 23, 2026
Most soybeans are in pod formation, and many corn acres have tassels and silks out.
Get the latest cover crop tips at MSU Extension Field Crop Virtual Breakfast

Published on July 21, 2026
Brooke Wilke from the long -term agroecosystem research experiment will talk about cover crops on July 30.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 16, 2026

Published on July 16, 2026
Soybeans are flowering and entering early pod formation. Tasseling started in corn, and seed corn detasseling began in earnest.
No pipe, no trench—do mole drains work?

Published on July 16, 2026
The 2026 Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series continues July 23 with guest speaker Ehsan Ghane, associate professor and drainage specialist in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at MSU.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 9, 2026

Published on July 9, 2026
Most soybeans have entered reproductive stages, and corn is approaching tasseling. Watch for western bean cutworm and tar spot in corn.