LANSING, Mich. – Wheat Growers planning to attend the Michigan Wheat Program’s 12th annual Summer Field Day, which returns this year to the Michigan State University Saginaw Valley Research & Extension Center (SVREC), 3775 S. Reese Rd., Frankenmuth, need to register soon. The program is June from 8:15 a.m.-2 p.m.

“Our Summer Field Day program is a great way for wheat farmers to see for ourselves what’s happening with our grower-funded research,” said Jeffery Krohn, chairman of the nine-member Michigan Wheat Program board and a wheat farmer from Owendale. “We visit the SVREC plots to see new varieties and high-management practices, along with plots on weed control, clover as a cover crop, wheat canopy research and a new way to control the soybean cyst nematode.”

One presentation this year is the announcement of the research results by Dr. Marisol Quintanilla. Her research shows that wheat is proving to be a trap crop for soybean cyst nematode. She will be presenting in the field and will share the details of her work and answer questions from growers.

The morning is filled with the popular wagon tours of research plots out in the SVREC fields, and the afternoon includes harvest reminders. The full agenda is:  

8:15 a.m.         Registration, Coffee & Donuts

8:15 a.m.         Plant Diagnostics – Dr. Jan Byrne, MSU Plant Diagnostics Center (Bring your troubled plants)

9 a.m.              Welcome & Introductions Jeff Krohn, MI Wheat Program Chairman

9:05 a.m.         Morning Plot Presentations via wagon tour (20-minute stops)

Weed Control – Dr. Christy Sprague 

High Management & Plant Growth Regulators – Dennis Pennington 

Clover Cover Crop & Herbicide Interactions – Monica Jean

Fertility and Disease Management – Kurt Steinke & Marty Chilvers

Late Morning Plot Presentations via wagon tour (20-minute stops)

Wheat agronomy: setting up a high yield potential – Dr. Manni Singh

Variety Releases – Dr. Eric Olson

Nematode Trap Crop work – Dr. Marisol Quintanilla

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

1:30 p.m.        Michigan Wheat Crop Harvest Expectations/Reminders, Dennis Pennington

2 p.m.             Awarding of (2) RUP & (2) CCA Credits & Adjourn 

There is no cost to attend the field day. To ensure an accurate count for lunch, seating and handout materials, please RSVP at www.miwheat.org under the “Action Needed: Sign Up” section on the home page, or you may register by calling 1-888-WHEAT01 (888-943-2801).

The MWP is a check-off organization funded by the state’s wheat farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties. The program promotes the state’s wheat industry by funding and supporting the strategic priorities of wheat farmers by working with input suppliers, seed producers, millers, end users and consumers.  Research and grower education are top priorities for the organization.