February 3-4 - Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, Bavarian Inn & Conference Center, Frankenmuth

February 2-6 - Virtual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

February 7- March 28 - Field Crops Webinar Series 2022, Mondays, 7-8 p.m., 1 RUP credit per webinar

February 8 - Central MI Dry Bean Meeting, Isabella County Building, room 320, Mt. Pleasant, Call (989) 317-4079 or msue37@msu.edu to register

February 15 - Cool Tools for IPM, Mt. Haley Township Hall, 3020 South Homer Rd., Midland, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (lunch provided), 6 RUP Credits

February 17 - Cool Tools for IPM, Gratiot/Isabella RESD, 1131 E Center St., Ithaca, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (lunch provided), 6 RUP Credits

March 1 - Cool Tools for IPM, Sidney Township Hall, 3019 South Grow Rd., Sidney, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (lunch provided), 6 RUP Credits

March 5-12 - ANR Week, Michigan State University

March 8-10 - Drainage Workshop, 524 S. Shaw Ln., Farrall Ag Eng Hall, Room 106, East Lansing

March 29 - Pesticide Review/Test, Mid Michigan College, Harrison, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Review, 12:30 p.m. Test (other dates and locations available)

Eric Anderson, MSU Extension - January 6, 2022

Field crop producers, consultants and agribusiness professionals are invited to participate in the Field Crops Webinar Series 2022, a series of eight online programs addressing field crop production and pest management offered by Michigan State University Extension. Participants will be able to access the expertise of agriculture specialists and educators from the comfort of their home or office.

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 corn, soybean and forage 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. EST beginning Feb. 7 and ending March 28, 2022.

Participants may choose to register for the entire series at $20 per person or for individual sessions at $5 per person per session. 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.

Each webinar 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.

To register for one or more webinar program in the series, visit the Field Crops Webinar Series event page. 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. 31 to request accommodations for persons with disabilities. Requests received after this date will be fulfilled when possible.

MDARD PPPMD and MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program are offering a Core Manual review class followed by in-person Core pesticide applicator certification testing. Fumigation and Greenhouse endorsement tests will also be available. PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL CORE EXAMS ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL CATEGORY EXAMS.ATTENDANCE FOR THE CORE REVIEW IS MANDATORY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CORE TEST.

The 4-hour review covers all of the chapters of the National Pesticide Applicators Certification Core Manual. The review is held in the morning and the MDARD exams are given that afternoon. We recommend participants read and study the Core Manual before attending the review. Copies may be ordered from: https://npsecstore.com/pages/michigan. County Extension may also have copies available. Please call for ahead availability.

Check-in for the program is 7:30 to 8 a.m. The Core review class is from 8 a.m. to noon. MDARD will begin the testing session at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Cost for the Core review class is $25.00. The fees for MDARD testing are Commercial Core $75.00, Private Core $50.00 and Registered Applicator $45.00. Military Veterans Private Core fees waived if a copy of their DD214 is provided. Participants must bring a separate check payable to “State of Michigan” for the MDARD Exam fees. Cash or credit card payments are not accepted. The core course $25.00 registration fee may be paid by credit card at the time of registration. Check or cash payment will be accepted at the door.

This is a combined program. Capacity for each offering is 50 to 100 Participants depending on location. 

PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND THE CORE REVIEW AND THE TEST. NO REFUNDS OR DEFERRING TO OTHER LOCATIONS ARE ALLOWED.

Michigan State University (MSU) has collected information on land values since 1991

using a mail survey of appraisers, lenders and others involved in Michigan agriculture.

The goal of the MSU study is to provide information on the value of land based on

agricultural and nonagricultural use. The survey also collects information on land

leasing and rental rates. This report contains the results for the MSU land value survey

conducted in the summer and fall of 2021. Results reveal that average land prices and

rental rates for many categories of agricultural land have increased from 2019. We

compare the results of the survey to a large database of observed transactions of

agricultural land and generally find similar values between survey responses and

observed transactions.