Spring field management: Can better soil management get you in the fields earlier?
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EmailThe 2026 Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series kicks off the season on March 26 with guest speaker Anna Cates, associate Extension professor with University of Minnesota.
Join the Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series season kickoff on Thursday, March 26, 2026, featuring guest speaker Anna Cates, PhD, with the University of Minnesota. Cates is an expert in soil health and the first state soil health specialist in the Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH).
Cates will dive into the topic of field workability and how to know if fields are fit for field work in the springtime. Cates will discuss the evidence that long-term soil health practices like cover crops and reduced tillage can alter how your soil processes water, leaving you more flexibility for when you are able to get into the field. Given shrinking windows of time to accomplish work when we get extreme weather, building resilience is a critical part of a profitable farm operation in this era. You don’t want to miss this timely topic at the season kickoff for Virtual Breakfast!
The Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series sessions are held every week during the growing season via Zoom video or phone conference. These virtual meetings take place every Thursday morning from 7–8 a.m. March through September. The Virtual Breakfast Series is flexible, fluid and able to adapt when issues arise due to unforeseen growing conditions. There will be an open 20-minute Q&A session following the presentations with MSU specialists and educators. Participants are encouraged to log into the Zoom meeting 5 minutes prior to the start time for a tech check and to receive announcements.
Restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits and certified crop adviser (CCA) continuing education units are available for participants who attend the live session.
Participating is easy and free! You can join the live meeting via Zoom using a computer, tablet, mobile device or regular phone line. If you are new to Zoom, simply download the Zoom app and you will be ready to join online every week to see visuals shared by presenters. A call-in by phone option is also available but you will only hear the audio portion.
Sign up for the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series
Participants must sign up to receive an email notification with instructions for joining the Virtual Breakfast. You only need to do this once and you will receive the Zoom link and call-in phone number, as well as weekly reminders every Wednesday and Thursday. Participants receiving emails can opt in or out at any time.
If you cannot participate in the live session at 7 a.m., you can view the recorded version at any time. However, participants who attend the live session only will be eligible for RUP and CCA credits. Recordings will be closed-captioned and available at the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast webpage and the MSU Extension Field Crops Team social media platforms: Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Twitter/X.
If you are unable to sign up online, call the Montcalm County MSU Extension office at 989-831-7500.
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