By Eric Anderson
Michigan State University Extension researchers and educators write grants, develop protocols and invest time to conduct on-farm research throughout the state in an attempt to show farmers and agribusinesses the outcomes of various agronomic and pest management practices at the regional and local level. These efforts are key to ensuring that not only are important research questions answered but that information is relevant and made readily available to the agricultural community throughout Michigan. That “extension” of agricultural research into communities is one of the three primary pillars on which Land Grant Universities are founded.
On-farm research and in-season crop scouting and pest monitoring are important tools that researchers and educators on the MSU Extension Field Crops Team use to make connections with local farmers and agribusiness professionals. At the Southwest Michigan On-Farm Research Field Day, several research projects and in-season observations from the south central and southwest region will be highlighted.
The field day will be held in the field at 70811 Lakeview Rd., Sturgis, MI (GPS coordinates: 41.770389, -85.407194) on August 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. including lunch. The event is open to all those involved and interested in the agricultural community in the region. The cost is FREE thanks to the generous support of the Michigan Soybean Committee and a grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Registration is required by August 17 to secure your seat and lunch, walk-ins will also be welcome but lunch is not guaranteed.