Summer Field Day – virtual once more

Register now for Michigan Wheat Program’s Fabulous Field Day set for June 9

Lansing, Mich.  (May 19, 2021) – From our Wheat-tastic Wheat Wisdom Webinars in February and March to the Fabulous Field Day, the Michigan Wheat Program is forging ahead with its traditional programs in a nontraditional format.  Announcing:  Fabulous Field Day fixed by the Michigan Wheat Program for Wednesday, June 9, from 8 to 10 a.m.

The wheat check-off board made the hard decision to hold its third – and hopefully final – all-virtual event. Once again, no car trip or hotel reservations are needed and growers can get all the latest research information and preharvest tips from their easy chair, kitchen table or tractor seat.

“We believe growers have adapted to this format, at least temporarily, which enables us to move ahead with photos and videos that illustrate what’s going on out in the MSU research plots that are funded by wheat check-off dollars,” said Bill Hunt, chairman of the nine-member Michigan Wheat Program board and a wheat farmer from Davison.

“With $3.5 million invested in 150 wheat research projects over the past 10 years, our researchers have a lot of fabulous results to talk about again this June,” Hunt said.

Topics for the program include disease and weed control, fertility for grain and straw, fall planting, wheat variety selection and preparing for harvest. The full agenda for the two-hour, free, online conference includes:

Welcome to Michigan Wheat’s Fabulous Field Day

Terry Henne, WSGW Radio

Brian Horgan, Chair, MSU Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Research Presentations

Dr. Christy Sprague – Weed Control in Wheat

Manni Singh – Wheat Planting Strategies

Marty Chilvers, Martin Nagelkirk – Disease Management

Dennis Pennington – Harvesting High Quality Grain

Dr. Kurt Steinke, Lacie Thomas– Start Right to Finish Well: Wheat Grain and Straw Production

Dr. Eric Olson – Identifying the Best Wheat Variety for Your Farm

Michigan Wheat Special Announcement

Dennis Pennington, MSU Wheat Specialist and

Jody Pollok-Newsom, MI Wheat Program Executive Director

Credits and Wrap Up

The program has approval for 2 RUP credits with 2 CCA credits pending.

Registration is now live!  Farmers interested in attending the free event, should visit the Michigan Wheat Program’s website at www.miwheat.org and click on “Summer Field Day” under the “What’s Hot” heading in the left column.  The link to the most current detailed agenda is also located in this area. Alternatively, growers may also register via phone at: 1-888-WHEAT01.  An email is required so that the log-in information for joining the Virtual Field Day may be sent to participants prior to the event.

Day of the event. Early “check-in” on June 9 is 7:45 am. Michigan Wheat and its partners will staff a “help desk” to answer questions and facilitate growers having troubles accessing the Zoom meeting.

Facebook. Michigan Wheat, MSU Extension Field Crops team and WSGW, along with its sister stations will also co-broadcast the event via its Facebook pages. Any RUP and CCA credits are not available for Facebook participants. Those seeking credits must participate via zoom.

The MWP is a check-off organization funded by the state’s wheat farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties.  The Michigan Wheat Program promotes the state’s wheat industry by funding and supporting the strategic priorities of wheat farmers by working with input suppliers, seed producers, millers, end users and consumers.  Research and grower education are top priorities for the organization.