8:15 a.m. – Registration, Coffee and Donuts
8:15 a.m. – Plant Diagnostics, Jan Byrne, MSU Plant Diagnostics Center
9:00 a.m. – Welcome and Introductions, Dave Milligan, MI Wheat Program Chairman
9:05 a.m. – Morning Plot Presentations via wagon tour
Precision Planting Update, Dr. Manni Singh and Dennis Pennington
Variety Improvement Update, Dr. Eric Olson
Mythbusters: The role of varietal traits in yield, scab resistance, maturity date of wheat
Weed Control Update, Dr. Christy Sprague
Wheat Pathology Team Update, Dr. Marty Chilvers and Martin Nagelkirk
Evaluating varietal impact, nitrogen rates and fungicide treatment on wheat disease development
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, Dr. Kurt Steinke
Wheat Starter Phosphorous, Dennis Pennington
12:15 p.m. – Lunch
1 p.m. – Wheat: The National View, Dale Nellor, North American Millers’ Association
1:20 p.m. – Marketing this Crop, Cody Harris, Star of the West
1:50 p.m. – Season Wrap Up, Martin Nagelkirk MSU Extension; Dennis Pennington, MSU; and Jody Pollok-Newsom, Michigan Wheat Program
2:20 p.m. – Credits (6 RUP & 4 CCA), Closing Comments, Jody Pollok-Newsom, Michigan Wheat Program
2:30 p.m. – Adjourn & Variety Trial Plots, Dr. Eric Olson, optional variety trial stops
The Michigan Wheat Program is a state-check off program voted in by the state’s wheat farmers to assess each bushel of wheat grown and sold. The funds from the program are utilized to further the wheat industry in the state benefitting the state’s nearly 8,000 wheat farmers who grow about 450,000 acres of wheat annually producing about a 40 million bushel crop.