UBLY, Mich. – A growing number of Michigan farmers with crop damage from deer could find answers to their problems during an upcoming trade show in the state.

Thumb Ag Day on Dec. 11 will feature numerous vendors and educational presentations, including one about the findings of a recent experiment with deer repellent to protect crops.

Jenna Falor, a Michigan State University Extension educator, said several types of deer repellent were used in soybean fields in different parts of the state over the summer.

In some fields, deer repellent wasn’t used while others were protected only by extraction cages to keep deer from gaining access to the fields.

She said the findings on whether those efforts made or did not make a difference in crop damage from deer were not in yet, but will be available to share and discuss at the trade show.

“We’re still crunching the numbers,” she said.

Falor said crop damage from deer in Michigan is more widespread than it used to be and greater in severity based on complaints in recent years from producers. Some growers have suffered enough yield losses in their soybeans to plant other crops like bearded wheat that are less appealing to the taste buds of deer.

“A lot of farmers are struggling with it and trying to work through different management techniques to try and help control the deer damage,” she said.

Her presentation about the findings and other farm related matters during the trade show will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Another speaker be Alex Thomas, a precision farming expert and graduate student at Ohio State University.

Beginning at 9 a.m., he will discuss the use of drones for replanting pastures worn down by things like standing water and trampling by grazing livestock.

Thomas will also speak at 10:30 a.m. about the various ways drones can be used in field crops.

The tradeshow features vendors offering products like farm machines and equipment, along with seed. It will be at the Ubly Heights Country Club from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.

There will be an optional lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $10.

Ubly is a community with less than 1,000 people in the thumb-shaped part of the state just west of Lake Huron.

Falor said vendors are charged $150 to help offset the cost of providing the show. 

She said there was still room for additional vendors who can register until the beginning of the show as long as there’s available space.

“We accept people until we’re full,” she said.

Shelley Sowles, an MSU Extension assistant helping coordinate the event, said the hope is to have about 50 vendors in attendance.

She said the show is an opportunity for farmers to meet any product needs they might have and learn about the latest practices and findings in the industry.

Sowles said the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issues credits applied toward obtaining a pesticide license for people wanting to spray commercially who attend the educational sessions.

Falor said the annual Thumb Ag Day started over 40 years ago with corn and other row crops, initially, being the primary focus. Two years ago, livestock and dairy were added to the program.

Falor said the show was started to provide a much closer option for residents in the Thumb part of the state who have to drive much greater distances to trade shows.

Session schedule:

9 a.m. - Crop and livestock marketing panel

9:45 a.m. - Soil health metrics and practices with Monica Jean, MSU Extension field crops educator

10:30 a.m. - Drone technology in field crops with Alex Thomas, Ohio State University graduate student

1:30 p.m. - Thumb ag update: on-farm soybean research, tar spot in corn silage, deer damage trial, and insect pressure in 2024 with Jenna Falor and Phil Kaatz, MSU Extension field crops educators

Second classroom area

9 a.m. - drone use for pasture remediation with Alex Thomas, OSU graduate student

9:45 a.m. - A decision tool for comparing JBS fed cattle contracts with Jerad Jaborek, MSU Extension feedlot educator

10:30 a.m. - “Employee development: Is it a priority on your farm?” with Martin Manguel and Phil Durst, MSU Extension dairy educators

For more information visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/thumb-ag-day-2024