Learn from researchers who will be stationed at various wheat plots to describe their specific project, its history, why it was undertaken and get a close-to-harvest view of how the project worked out during the Michigan Wheat Program’s Summer Field Day on June 25.
“We, as growers, also get to share our experiences in the field,” says Jeffery Krohn, chairman of the nine-member Michigan Wheat Program board and a wheat farmer from Owendale. “You never know what conversation will spur a good idea for the next research proposal.”
The free 13th annual Michigan Wheat Program Summer Field Day takes place at the MSU Plant Pathology Research Center, 3735 College Road in Lansing, with check-in beginning at noon. The traditional wagon rides to the fields to learn about the Michigan Wheat Program-funded research work begin at 1 p.m.
For an “extra inning,” attendees are invited to drive to the Mason Research Farm after the conclusion of the wagon tours for a walking tour of wheat research plots, staffed by researchers Eric Olson, Dennis Pennington and Manni Singh.
Following is the afternoon schedule for the 2025 MI Wheat Field Day:
Noon. Registration and check-in
12:30 p.m. Plant Diagnostic Station, with Jan Byrne, MSU Plant Diagnostics Center
1 p.m. Welcome and introductions, with Jeff Krohn, Michigan Wheat Program chairman
1:10 p.m. Round 1 of presentations via wagon tour, with 20-minute stops including the following:
- Wheat disease management and update, with Marty Chilvers, and managing FHB risk with resistant varieties, with Eric Olson
- Wheat agronomy: Optimizing planting decisions, with Patrick Copeland, Wallas da Silva, Paulo Arias and Manni Singh
2:40 p.m. Round 2 of presentations via wagon tour, with 20-minute stops including the following:
- Soil fertility: More inputs or the right inputs, with Kurt Steinke and Lane Suplito
- Fall vs. spring herbicide: What’s the best option?, with Christy Sprague and Kaddi Gewirtz
- Key growth stages and management timing with Dennis Pennington
4:10 p.m. Evaluation, RUP and CCA, with Jenna Falor and Monica Jean, MSU Extension; presentation and closing comments, with Jeff Krohn
Following closing comments, participants may choose to participate in the “extra inning” by driving to the Mason Research Farm, 1614 Okemos Road, Mason. Three research teams will be located in plots there to describe their projects and results to date.
4:30 p.m. Walking tour of plots at Mason Research Farm, including the plot presentations:
- Wheat varieties available to Michigan wheat growers, with Dennis Pennington and Eric Olson
- It’s a cover-up! Wheat canopy closure, with Manni Singh and Palo Aries
- Developing new wheat varieties for Michigan, with Eric Olson
Register for the Michigan Wheat Program 2025 Summer Field Day on the homepage of the Michigan Wheat Program at miwheat.org. Scroll down to the Action Needed/Sign Up section and click there to get signed up. There is no charge.
Questions on the Wheat Field Day may be directed to Jody Pollok-Newsom at jody@miwheat.org or call 1-888-WHEAT01.
Source: MWP