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Philip Kaatz

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Field Crops Educator
Lapeer County Extension Office

Email:
kaatz@msu.edu

Related Work

Authored Articles

Safety first: Forage harvesters and balers pose significant safety risks, June 2, 2025
Optimizing your forage quality is the topic for the May 1 Virtual Breakfast Series, April 23, 2025
An Overview of Farm Labor in Michigan, March 4, 2025
2025 Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference focuses on agriculture sustainability, climate variability and change, February 28, 2025
Fall harvest safety tips, September 3, 2024
Mole drains field day for improving soil drainage scheduled in St. Clair County on Sept. 9, August 26, 2024
Help! My alfalfa field may be slowly starving!, July 11, 2024
Fall field crop update for Michigan’s Thumb region, October 6, 2023
Managing the top five toughest weeds in Michigan hay fields, April 20, 2023
Mycotoxins in Michigan silage corn: Status and lessons learned, July 28, 2022
Mycotoxins in Michigan corn silage: 2019-20 data and call for 2021 samples, August 24, 2021
Classic weather pattern for potato leafhopper outbreak is here, June 2, 2021
Agricultural professionals in extension services worldwide build new relationships between culturally diverse systems, February 9, 2021
Details for excellence in agriculture, January 28, 2021
Hot field crops topics for a winters’ day, January 27, 2021
Farmers needed to help guide direction of future MSU Extension field crop programming, October 23, 2020
Thinking about cover crops after corn silage?, September 8, 2020
Protecting yourself and your farm employees from COVID-19, March 27, 2020
Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference to feature Mike Rankin as keynote speaker, February 13, 2020
Recommendations for selecting hay and pasture forages for Michigan, November 12, 2019
Harvesting soybeans for forage, September 5, 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
Early career agribusiness professional development training available, May 8, 2019
Nitrogen rate trial results in Michigan’s Thumb, February 28, 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
Alfalfa management calendar for Michigan, May 8, 2018
The importance of first cutting alfalfa: Quality versus yield, 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
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
Harvest schedule for first cutting alfalfa, May 19, 2015
Helpful tips for scouting alfalfa during the growing season – Part 1: Insects, 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
Nitrogen use efficiency is the stewardship goal for this critical soil nutrient, February 13, 2014
Palmer amaranth will cause challenges for forage producers, 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
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
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
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
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
The benefit of shorter alfalfa rotations, April 18, 2011
How should Roundup Ready alfalfa be used on your farm?, April 18, 2011
Assessing your alfalfa stands for winter injury, April 1, 2011
Selecting the right alfalfa variety, March 3, 2011
Planning for forage success this spring, March 3, 2011

Articles Featuring

CANR members honored with 2025 MSU All-University Awards, April 11, 2025
Managing your hay needs in a drought year, June 30, 2023
MSU Extension hosts dairy nutrition webinar for Ukrainian dairy farmers and professionals, March 28, 2023
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

Cover Crop Recipes: Post Corn Silage, Going to Corn: Use Cereal Rye, August 18, 2020
Cover Crop Recipes: Post Corn Silage, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye, August 18, 2020
Cover Crop Recipes: Post Soybean, Going to Corn: 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 Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye, August 23, 2019
Emergency Hay and Silage Forage Crops, July 12, 2019
Cover Crops for Prevented Planting, June 26, 2019

Videos

Forage Production 101
MSU Extension Field Crops Video Tips S4E2 - Starter Fertilizer

Philip Kaatz

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