Field Crop Updates Ahead for Southwest Michigan

By Nicolle Ritchie

The southwest Michigan Crop and Pest Management Update will be held Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Dowagiac Conservation Club, 54551 M-51 North, Dowagiac, MI 49047. The cost is $40 per person and includes a light breakfast and lunch. Attendees will receive an updated copy of the Michigan State University Extension bulletin E-434 “Weed Control Guide for Field Crops”. Three restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits are available (private, 1A), and 3.5 certified crop advisor (CCA) credits have been requested (0.5 NM, 1 SW, 2 IPM).

Pre-registration is open through Jan. 27. Register online or contact the St. Joseph County MSU Extension office at 269-467-5511 for assistance.

Agenda

8:30 a.m. Check-in/Registration

9:00 a.m. Welcome and commodity update, Kristin Poley

9:30 a.m. Management options for SCN and SDS, Eric Anderson

10:00 a.m. Soil and crop fertility Q&A, Kurt Steinke (submit questions ahead of time)

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. Weed update (corn) and grass control, Erin Burns

11:30 a.m. Weed update (soybean) and pigweed management, Christy Sprague

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Early insect pests, Chris DiFonzo

1:30 p.m. How drainage can protect your crop, Ehsan Ghane

2:15 p.m. Irrigation topics, Younsuk Dong and MSU Extension irrigation educators

3:00 p.m. Wrap-up, evaluation and credits