Weather Variability and Its Impact on Field Crops: Continuing the Field Crops Webinar Series

By Angie Gradiz

Weather variability is a critical factor in the success of field crops, influencing plant growth, yield potential and the timing of essential agronomic activities. Variations in temperature, precipitation and seasonal patterns can create both challenges and opportunities for producers. Understanding and managing these variations is key for optimizing crop production. By closely monitoring weather trends and implementing proactive strategies, field crop producers can better anticipate risks, make informed decisions and adapt to climate uncertainties, ultimately increasing farm profitability.

The Field Crops Webinar Series, offered by Michigan State University Extension, consists of eight informative online sessions focused on field crop production and pest management. This series is designed for field crop producers, consultants and agribusiness professionals seeking to expand their knowledge.

The theme for this year's series is once again, Two for the Price of One: Conversations in Row Crop Agriculture. Each session will feature two speakers giving short presentations and discussing different aspects of the topic in an informal talk-show/podcast format with plenty of opportunity for interaction with the audience. Participants will hear how to enhance their row crop production systems in the coming season and have an opportunity to ask questions of agricultural experts.

The live webinars will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 3 and ending March 24, 2025.

The cost of registration is $20 per person for the entire series. This year, we have been approved for seven restricted use pesticide (RUP) applicator credits throughout the course of the program and 8 certified crop adviser (CCA) continuing education units (CEU). Those who attend the live webinars will be eligible to receive one CCA CEU per week and one RUP credit per week, with the exception of March 17. Those requesting RUP credits will receive them in Private Core (if private applicator) or choose between Commercial Core or category 1A (field crops) if they are a commercial applicator.

Webinars will be recorded and archived so participants may choose to view the recordings at a later date. Credits are available only for participants in the live sessions.

Each Monday, registrants will receive an email reminding them of the webinar coming up that evening with the link to the webinar and any other pertinent reminders. The webinars may be accessed on a mobile device or a computer with a stable internet connection—no other equipment is necessary. Archived recordings from previous seasons are accessible for free at the MSU Extension Field Crops Webinar Series webpage.