MSU Extension Beginning Farmer

Soil Fertility & Health

• Presenter Panel Discussion of the Week's Pest Topics

  Attendees submitted questions to the expert panel of presenters from the week's fruit sessions. The panel spent the Friday hour answering attendee submitted questions based on the week's topics.

• Key Wildlife Pests of Fruit and How to Promote and Protect Pollinators in Fruit Systems

  Learn more about key wildlife pests to be on the lookout for as well as how you can promote and protect pollinators on your operation.

• Key Insect Pests and Diseases of Small Fruits

  Diseases and pests can show up quickly to ruin fruit crops. This video will help you learn the basics, including management strategies, for important small fruit diseases and pests common in our region.

• Key Insect Pests and Diseases of Tree Fruits

  Diseases, and pests can show up quickly to ruin fruit crops. This session will help you learn the basics, including management strategies, for important tree fruit diseases and pests common in our region.

• What is IPM and How do you do it?

  Learn more about integrated pest management and how to implement IPM practices on your farm.

• Fruit Presenter Panel Discussion of the Week's Horticultural Topics

  Attendees at the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference who participated in the fruit track, week 1 with horticultural topics were able to hear from an expert panel of presenters from the week's sessions. This panel spent the Friday hour answering attendee submitted questions based on the week's topics.

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  Tips for improving the performance of your drainage system

  Published on March 2, 2022
  Learn which pipe removes water the quickest and which pipe properties increase water entry into the pipe.

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  Compost handling in agriculture systems: Right-to-Farm coverage of on-farm compost production

  Published on March 2, 2022
  Part six of a six-part series on compost utilization and management on farms.

• Digging in: How to pick and prepare a site for a fruit planting

  Join Emily Lavely to learn more about how to pick the best location and prepare it for planting fruit.

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  Compost handling in agriculture systems: Land application

  Published on February 19, 2022
  Part five of a six-part series on compost utilization and management on farms.

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  Compost handling in agriculture systems: compost transfer and equipment calibration

  Published on February 14, 2022
  Part four of a six-part series on compost utilization and management on farms.

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  Upper Peninsula project monitors water conditions on clay soils

  Published on February 11, 2022
  Using high-tech monitoring equipment, MSU Extension worked with local farmers in 2021 to explore effectiveness of innovative approaches to improving soil drainage on challenging clay soils.

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  Compost handling in agriculture systems: Appropriate storage options

  Published on February 8, 2022
  Part three of a six-part series on compost utilization and management on farms.

• Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Varieties in Michigan

  Bill Shane and Cheyenne Sloan will discuss the varieties of tree fruit and small fruit best suited for growing in Michigan.

• The Why and How for Training, Pruning, and Crop Management in Small Fruit and Tree Fruit

  Learn more about the reasons for training and pruning, as well as examples on how to train, prune and manage the crop in small fruit and tree fruit

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  Compost handling in agriculture systems: Disease-suppressing and growth-promoting composts

  Published on January 14, 2022
  Part two of a six-part series on compost utilization and management on farms.

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  Compost handling in agriculture systems: How is compost made?

  Published on January 12, 2022
  Part one of a six-part series on compost utilization and management on farms.

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  USDA grant will engage Michigan farmers to create trainings for beginning farmers

  Published on November 3, 2021
  This collaborative project is engaging community-based beginning farmer programs and beginning farmers to create educational resources and trainings for educators in Michigan.

• Measuring Soil Health

  MSU Extension provides an opportunity for users to review soil health and how to measure it.

• Safe Use of Animal-based Soil Amendments

  MSU Extension offers the option for participants to learn and understand the safest use of animal-based soil amendments.