News

Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 24, 2025

Published on July 24, 2025
Hot and dry conditions hit crops hard in areas of southwest Michigan. Potato harvest began, and wheat harvest is wrapping up.
Applying water at the right time and in the right amount

Published on July 24, 2025
Strategic irrigation scheduling ensures water application matches the crop water needs while maximizing crop water productivity.
Fertigation: A midseason option for fertilizer application to irrigated fields

Published on July 22, 2025
Applying fertilizer through irrigation, also known as fertigation, allows irrigators to apply the last increment of nitrogen to their growing crops.
Drive-by crop identification in southwest Michigan

Published on July 17, 2025
Michigan has a diverse agricultural landscape. Learn to identify five of southwest Michigan’s field crops from the comfort of your vehicle.
Will an improved PLC program pay more often?

Published on July 17, 2025
Testing PLC updates against historical prices and looking forward to future support.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 17, 2025

Published on July 17, 2025
Corn is in early reproductive stages, and detasseling in seed corn is in earnest. High temperatures and little precipitation have resulted in spider mite infestations in soybeans.
Southwest Michigan field crops update – July 10, 2025

Published on July 10, 2025
Tar spot was confirmed in Cass County. With corn starting to tassel, scout for tar spot and western bean cutworm. Wheat reached physiological maturity, and harvest began.
Fusarium research under watch: How science and regulation work together to protect U.S. agriculture

Published on June 5, 2025
The plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum has recently gained media attention, but why all the fuss?
Southwest Michigan field crops update – June 5, 2025

Published on June 5, 2025
Wheat is ending pollination and starting kernel development. Corn and soybeans reached early vegetative stages, but cool weather slowed development. Dry, windy conditions allowed lots of field work, including forage raking and baling.
Continuous corn in Michigan: Popular practice, but is it sustainable?

Published on June 3, 2025
Many Michigan livestock and dairy producers rely on corn-on-corn cropping systems to meet feed demands, but is this short rotation approach truly effective? Here are some considerations for corn-on-corn production systems before sticking with it.