Philip Kaatz
kaatz@msu.edu
Telephone: 810-667-0341
Fax: 810-667-0355
MSU Extension
Forage Management and Field Crops Educator
Commercial Agriculture
Food and Animal Systems
Lapeer County Extension Office 1800 Imlay City RoadSuite 1
Lapeer, MI 48446
Coverage Area
Alcona County, Alger County, Allegan County, Alpena County, Antrim County, Arenac County, Baraga County, Barry County, Bay County, Benzie County, Berrien County, Branch County, Calhoun County, Cass County, Charlevoix County, Cheboygan County, Chippewa County, Clare County, Clinton County, Crawford County, Delta County, Dickinson County, Eaton County, Emmet County, Genesee County, Gladwin County, Gogebic County, Grand Traverse County, Gratiot County, Hillsdale County, Houghton County, Huron County, Ingham County, Ionia County, Iosco County, Iron County, Isabella County, Jackson County, Kalamazoo County, Kalkaska County, Kent County, Keweenaw County, Lake County, Lapeer County, Leelanau County, Lenawee County, Livingston County, Luce County, Mackinac County, Macomb County, Manistee County, Marquette County, Mason County, Mecosta County, Menominee County, Midland County, Missaukee County, Monroe County, Montcalm County, Montmorency County, Muskegon County, Newaygo County, Oakland County, Oceana County, Ogemaw County, Ontonagon County, Osceola County, Oscoda County, Otsego County, Ottawa County, Presque Isle County, Roscommon County, Saginaw County, Sanilac County, Schoolcraft County, Shiawassee County, St. Clair County, St. Joseph County, Tuscola County, Van Buren County, Washtenaw County, Wayne County, Wexford County
Tags: agriculture, agriculture and agribusiness, alcona, alger, allegan, alpena, antrim, arenac, baraga, barry, bay, benzie, berrien, branch, calhoun, cass, charlevoix, cheboygan, chippewa, clare, clinton, cover crops, crawford, delta, dickinson, eaton, emmet, field crops corn, forages, genesee, gladwin, gogebic, grand traverse, gratiot, grazing crops, hillsdale, houghton, huron, ingham, ionia, iosco, iron, isabella, jackson, kalamazoo, kalkaska, kent, keweenaw, lake, lapeer, leelanau, lenawee, livingston, luce, mackinac, macomb, manistee, marquette, mason, mecosta, menominee, midland, missaukee, monroe, montcalm, montmorency, msu extension, muskegon, newaygo, oakland, oceana, ogemaw, ontonagon, osceola, oscoda, otsego, ottawa, presque isle, roscommon, saginaw, sanilac, schoolcraft, shiawassee, soybeans, st. clair, st. joseph, tuscola, van buren, washtenaw, wayne, wexford
Authored Articles
- Field Crops Virtual Breakfast recordings are available for viewing online, November 18, 2019
- Recommendations for selecting hay and pasture forages for Michigan, November 12, 2019
- Michigan Hay Listing Network to expand outreach and include other forages, September 26, 2019
- Harvesting soybeans for forage, September 5, 2019
- Field Crop Virtual Breakfast to address challenges associated with managing immature corn silage, August 15, 2019
- Baleage is different than all other forage making practices, June 18, 2019
- Summer annual forage seeds may not be available if you wait too long to order seed, June 18, 2019
- Wet spring, wet soils, and wet hay…what should a dry hay producer do?, June 5, 2019
- Field Crop Virtual Breakfast on May 16 focuses on assessing alfalfa stands for winter damage, May 8, 2019
- Early career agribusiness professional development training available, May 8, 2019
- Michigan Hay Sellers List helps buyers locate scarce hay, April 4, 2019
- Nitrogen rate trial results in Michigan’s Thumb, March 1, 2019
- 2018 Michigan Forage Variety Test Report now available, February 27, 2019
- 2019 Great Lakes Forage & Grazing Conference to focus on mixing forages for sustainability, February 13, 2019
- Where can farmers go to get their ticket for making money?, January 28, 2019
- Results from 2018 growing season will be available at Winter Ag Reviews, November 27, 2018
- Are there molds and mycotoxins in your 2018 corn crop?, October 2, 2018
- Make a plan for drought-stressed corn silage in 2018, August 28, 2018
- Leafhopper season has arrived for 2018, June 28, 2018
- The importance of first cutting alfalfa: Quality versus yield, May 8, 2018
- Alfalfa management calendar for Michigan, May 8, 2018
- Forages poised to be shining star for field crop profitability in 2018 for Michigan, February 16, 2018
- 2017 Michigan Forage Variety Test Report now available, February 14, 2018
- Results from 2017 growing season trials available at Thumb Ag Reviews, November 22, 2017
- Horseweed concerns are mounting for farmers, October 27, 2017
- Potato leafhopper population levels raise concerns for alfalfa growers, June 19, 2017
- Early career agribusiness professional development training series available, May 19, 2017
- Michigan alfalfa scouting report and cutting schedule – May 18, 2017, May 18, 2017
- Common alfalfa cutting questions, May 15, 2017
- Michigan's Thumb area field crop update – May 4, 2017, May 4, 2017
- What will climate change mean to my alfalfa stands this year?, February 27, 2017
- Vet-to-vet, farmer-to-farmer mentoring available in agriculture, February 21, 2017
- Thumb Ag Reviews offer research results to field crop growers, November 10, 2016
- Why should you consider a summer alfalfa seeding?, July 28, 2016
- Potato leafhoppers causing problems in Michigan alfalfa fields, July 18, 2016
- Tips for a successful forage harvest, May 24, 2016
- Nitrogen:corn ratio indicates farmers should calculate risks, May 13, 2016
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – May 12, 2016, May 12, 2016
- Michigan alfalfa tissue test survey provides fertility snap-shot, March 21, 2016
- Focus on Forages winter meetings slated for February and early March, January 11, 2016
- 2015 Thumb Ag Research and Education Field Trials Report is now available, December 18, 2015
- 2015 Thumb Ag Review meetings scheduled for December, November 18, 2015
- Prussic acid in forages poses a threat to livestock following a frost, October 2, 2015
- Helpful tips for scouting alfalfa during the growing season – Part 2: Diseases, June 9, 2015
- Helpful tips for scouting alfalfa during the growing season – Part 1: Insects, May 19, 2015
- Harvest schedule for first cutting alfalfa, May 19, 2015
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – May 7, 2015, May 7, 2015
- Assessing sulfur fertility levels for alfalfa, April 27, 2015
- Managing bunk silos for maximum forage quality - Ukrainian style, March 23, 2015
- How can forages be used to improve soil health?, February 10, 2015
- 2014 Michigan Forage Variety Test Report now available, January 30, 2015
- 2014 Thumb Ag Research and Education Field Trials now available, December 8, 2014
- Will my alfalfa survive the coming winter?, October 24, 2014
- What happens to corn silage quality due to an early frost?, September 23, 2014
- Timing is right for summer alfalfa seeding, August 5, 2014
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – July 10, 2014, July 10, 2014
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – June 19, 2014, June 19, 2014
- Alfalfa that appeared to have winter injury is now being confirmed as winterkill, May 16, 2014
- Choosing the right corn hybrid when planting is delayed, May 16, 2014
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – May 15, 2014, May 15, 2014
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – May 8, 2014, May 8, 2014
- Dairy producers have a decision to make concerning close-up dry cow forages, April 24, 2014
- Excellent forage starts with planning, not the finished product: Variety selection, April 1, 2014
- Forage quality starts with the planning process, not the finished product: Field selections, March 19, 2014
- Forage quality starts with the planning process, not the finished product, March 10, 2014
- Palmer amaranth will cause challenges for forage producers, February 13, 2014
- Nitrogen use efficiency is the stewardship goal for this critical soil nutrient, February 13, 2014
- Earlier planting dates are key for higher soybean yields, February 3, 2014
- Soil sampling in the fall is a good time to analyze for soybean cyst nematodes, October 9, 2013
- Fall harvest safety tips, October 4, 2013
- Michigan hay prices trend lower in 2013 compared to 2012, October 4, 2013
- Proper bunker silo management is key for high quality forage, September 3, 2013
- Preparing for corn silage harvest using growth stages as a guide, July 25, 2013
- Forage cost of production has significant impact on 2013 hay prices, June 26, 2013
- Michigan’s Thumb area field crop regional report – June 13, 2013, June 13, 2013
- Proper IPM for alfalfa weevils provides a basis for treatment, May 3, 2013
- Good pasture can provide economical feed for horses, April 3, 2013
- Paying attention to soybean planting dates results in higher yields, March 25, 2013
- Hay supplies tighter than earlier reports due to 2012 summer drought, January 16, 2013
- Forage cost of production regional workshops, January 10, 2013
- Precision ag technology continues to thrive, January 7, 2013
- Fall pasture walk provides great opportunity for learning new ideas, November 1, 2012
- Pasture walk at Shupe Dairy Farm will emphasize fall pasture management, October 4, 2012
- Late season nitrogen applications for forage grasses are not recommended, September 24, 2012
- Figuring the cost of corn silage is no small task, September 4, 2012
- Managing your alfalfa crop following a hectic spring season, June 26, 2012
- Scouting for potato leafhoppers in alfalfa, June 18, 2012
- Alfalfa weevil proving to be a worthy adversary in 2012, June 7, 2012
- Alfalfa weevil pressure in alfalfa stunted by frost injury, May 17, 2012
- Should producers consider an early first cutting harvest on alfalfa fields being rotated to corn?, April 27, 2012
- Proper hay sampling holds the key to accurate forage testing, April 12, 2012
- Freezing temperatures following record warmth may pose threat to alfalfa, March 30, 2012
- Corn silage expert to speak at Michigan Forage and Grazing Conference, February 24, 2012
- Horse owners may be able to save money by using large round bales, February 10, 2012
- Soybean planting date research in 2011 shows a big difference to bottom line, January 30, 2012
- Thumb Ag Research and Education 2011 Field Trial results available, January 6, 2012
- Calculating corn nitrogen needs for late season purchases of inputs, December 22, 2011
- Thumb Ag Review educational meetings are set for Michigan’s Thumb Region, October 28, 2011
- True or False: Taking the last alfalfa cutting will not hurt my stands?, October 26, 2011
- Horse owners may want to lock in hay supplies for winter and spring, October 3, 2011
- Managing round bales to minimize losses, September 23, 2011
- It’s time to get ready for corn silage harvest, August 30, 2011
- Variations in corn fields adds variability to silage plans, August 19, 2011
- Cutting management for cool-season forage grasses, August 4, 2011
- Late-summer seedings of alfalfa, July 28, 2011
- Rough-stalk bluegrass in Michigan challenges alfalfa and hay producers, June 23, 2011
- Alfalfa weevil and potato leafhoppers in alfalfa will cause problems, June 17, 2011
- Emergency Meeting Concerning Corn & Soybean Planting Decisions, June 1, 2011
- Setting the cutting schedule for your alfalfa, May 23, 2011
- What’s the real cost of fertilizing alfalfa?, May 23, 2011
- How should Roundup Ready alfalfa be used on your farm?, April 18, 2011
- The benefit of shorter alfalfa rotations, April 18, 2011
- Assessing your alfalfa stands for winter injury, April 1, 2011
- Selecting Corn Hybrids and Soybean Varieties for 2011, March 9, 2011
- Selecting the right alfalfa variety, March 4, 2011
- Planning for forage success this spring, March 4, 2011
Articles Featuring
- Visit Israel to learn about dairy with an MSU twist, July 17, 2019
- Food@MSU hits the road for Our Table discussion, June 16, 2019
- Lapeer County supporting food and agriculture 2018, January 22, 2019
Authored Documents
- Field Crops Point of Contact, September 9, 2019
- Cover Crop Recipes: Post Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye, August 23, 2019
- Cover Crop Recipes: Post Wheat, Going to Soybean or Corn: Use Oats and Radish Mix, August 23, 2019
- Cover Crop Recipes: Post Soybean, Going to Corn: Use Cereal Rye, August 23, 2019
- Emergency Hay and Silage Forage Crops, July 12, 2019