2026 Montcalm County Field Day
August 6, 2026 8:00AM - 3:30PM
Registration Deadline: August 3, 2026 - 11:45PM
Montcalm Research Center, 4629 W McBride Rd, Lakeview, MI
Contact: Steve Whittington: whitti34@msu.edu or 309-502-9595; or Nicolle Ritchie: ritchi67@msu.edu or 269-858-8739
This year’s field day will focus on irrigation management efficiencies and post-harvest handling topics. The irrigation management breakout session will share resources on how to improve irrigation management in potato systems, and will also include a mobile irrigation lab demonstration. The field day will also go in-depth on pre and post-harvest handling topics including: bin piler considerations, bruise impact device showcase, and a storage pathology discussion. Potato breeding objectives and processes will also be discussed.
New this year for the Potato Field Day will be the 1st Annual “Dig and Drinks”! Dig and Drinks will showcase potato agronomy at the MRC structured like a field visit. This unstructured time will give participants the opportunity to dig up plants of interest for hands-on learning and engage with MSU researchers who will be on- site to answer and discuss topics such as potato soil fertility, weed management, pest management, pathology,
and more.
Lunch will be provided after field day. The field day will conclude following lunch. The MPIC research meeting will take place at the Douglas Township Hall in Entrican, MI immediately following the field day. We hope to see you there!
Agenda:
Date: Thursday, August 6th 2026
Location: Montcalm Research Center: 4629 W. McBride Road, Lakeview, MI 48888
8:00-8:45am Check-in: Please register prior to attending the event!
8:45 – 9:00am Welcome & Introduction by Steve Whittington, MSU Extension Field Crops Educator
9:00 – 9:45am Breakout Session 1: Irrigation Management & Improving Efficiencies
• Irrigation pivot improvements
• Irrigation scheduling and timing
• Mobile Irrigation Lab Demonstration
10:00 – 10:45am Breakout Session 2: Pre-Harvest Considerations & Post-Harvest Handling
• Pre-harvest Considerations: crop age, thermal age, chemical maturity, sucrose & glucose levels, specific gravity, field pathogen load, genetic components, vine kill timing.
• Harvest Considerations: mechanical process, tuber physical condition, conditions are harvest, impact bruising, physiology of bruising, ventilation strategy, refrigeration effect
• Includes an impact bruise measurement (IRD) demonstration, postharvest demonstrations and more.
11:00am – 12:00pm Dig & Drinks Educational Mixer: Showcase potato agronomy in open format to allow participants to dig potatoes, discuss and engage with researchers about various topics, and participate in fellowship with potato industry members.
Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm Immediately following Dig & Drinks, we will break for lunch to wrap up the field day.
1:30 – 3:30 Michigan Potato Industry Commission Meeting & Research Update (Optional)
• Douglas Township Hall
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