Webinar Series to Focus on Health Soils, Heavy Tillage, Compaction

Ever wonder why water sometimes ponds in the low area of a field and sometimes doesn't?

Anna Cates, University of Minnesota Extension state soil health specialist, and Holly Hatlewick, Renville Soil and Water Conservation District administrator, will discuss how management changes soil structure and function during the Field Crops Webinar Series on Feb. 13.

Cates will go over how organic matter builds soil aggregates, which can both store water and speed infiltration. Hatlewick will talk about how changing tillage regime has affected the soils in her county, as well as the logistical implications such as equipment, fertility and weed management. Not getting the right amount of water is one of the primary reasons for crop failure, so building resilient soils can boost stability and ease stress.

Field crop producers, consultants and agribusiness professionals are invited to participate in the Field Crops Webinar Series 2023, a series of eight online programs addressing field crop production and pest management offered by Michigan State University Extension.

The theme for this year's series is 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. ET beginning Feb. 6 and ending March 27, 2023. Topics include the following:

Feb. 13 -- Healthy Soils and the Scourge of Heavy Tillage and Compaction by Anna Cates, Soil Health Specialist, University of Minnesota, and Holly Hatlewick, District Administrator, Renville County Soil and Water Conservation District

Feb. 20 -- Agronomic Considerations for Managing the 2023 Growing Season by Manni Singh, Cropping Systems Agronomist, MSU and Laura Lindsey, Soybean & Small Grains Specialist, The Ohio State University

Feb. 27 -- Technology to Help Make Sense of On-Farm Yield Data by David Bullock, Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Illinois and Elizabeth Hawkins, Agronomic Systems Field Specialist, The Ohio State University

March 6 -- Soft Landing? Buying and Renting Agricultural Land in 2023 by Matthew Gammans, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, MSU and Wendong Zhang, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, Cornell University

March 13 -- Integrated Wildlife Damage in Michigan Field Crops by James DeDecker, Director of Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, MSU and Amberly Hauger, Wildlife Biologist , USDA Wildlife Services

March 20 -- Weed Management and Herbicide Efficacy in Variable Weather by Erin Burns, Field Crops Weed Specialist, MSU and Christopher Landau, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Illinois

March 27 -- Opportunities and Challenges of Disease Management by Marty Chilvers, Field Crops Pathologist, MSU and Albert Tenuta, Extension Plant Pathologist, OMAFRA

Cost of registration is $20 per person for the entire series. Those attending the live webinars will be eligible to earn one MDARD pesticide recertification (RUP) credit per session for application to one of the following categories: Private Core, Commercial Core or Field Crops. One continuing education unit (CEU) for certified crop advisers will also be available for each session.

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

Register for the Field Crops Webinar Series.

Prior to each webinar, registrants will receive an email containing a link to connect to the webinar. 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 from the MSU Extension Field Crops webpage.

For additional information or assistance, contact the St. Joseph County Extension office at 269-467-5511 or msue.stjoseph@county.msu.edu. Call by Jan. 30 to request accommodations for persons with disabilities. Requests received after this date will be fulfilled when possible.