Experts

Michigan State University Extension's vegetable production team consists of MSU faculty and MSU Extension educators who serve Michigan’s diverse commercial vegetable industry. Extension educators respond to grower questions, plan educational meetings and programs based on their knowledge of the industry and industry stakeholder input. MSU faculty research problems and develop opportunities in the Michigan vegetable industry. Major program initiatives include: setting research priorities; leveraging industry, university and government grants; pest, nutrient, and irrigation monitoring; disease and pest management recommendations; identifying pesticide registration needs; supporting new and emerging commercial vegetable producers; creating presentations and demonstrations for statewide and local lecture-style and on-farm meetings; print and digital educational materials; weekly regional crop reports during the growing season. We envision a profitable vegetable industry in Michigan that is environmentally responsible and competitive on a global scale.

Looking for someone to talk to about commercial vegetable production? Contact our Vegetable Experts below.

Looking for gardening help? Direct your attention toward the Gardening in Michigan website, and send questions to “Ask an Expert” or call our toll-free garden hotline at 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Looking for a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) certification? Call the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MDARD) at 1-800-292-3939 or visit the MDARD online RUP exam scheduler. Looking for RUP credits? Search MDARD's list of approved RUP seminars.

Daniel Brainard

Professor
brainar9@msu.edu
517-353-0417
Christina Curell

Cover Crop and Soil Health Educator
curellc@msu.edu
231-745-2732
Christopher Galbraith

Vegetable Extension Educator
galbra53@msu.edu
734-240-3178
Mary Hausbeck, Ph.D.

Associate Chairperson, University Distinguished Professor and Extension Specialist
hausbec1@msu.edu
517-355-4534
Zachary Hayden

Associate Professor
haydenza@msu.edu
(517) 353-0410
Lyndon Kelley

Water Management and Irrigation Educator
kelleyl@msu.edu
269-467-5511
Chris Long, M.S.

Potato Extension Specialist
longch@msu.edu
Saltanat Mambetova

Vegetable Educator for Eastern Michigan
mambetov@msu.edu
Benjamin Phillips

Vegetable Crops Educator
benp@msu.edu
269-944-1477 x 207
Zsofia Szendrei

Professor - Vegetable Entomology
szendrei@msu.edu
517-974-8610
Benjamin Werling

Commercial Vegetable Production
werlingb@msu.edu
231-873-6843
Jaime Willbur, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor - Integrated disease management in potato and sugar beet production
willbur1@msu.edu
517-355-4754
Bernard Zandstra

Professor emeritus
zandstra@msu.edu
(517) 353-6637