Michigan State University (MSU) and industry researchers will discuss current issues impacting dry beans and sugarbeets at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth, Michigan, on Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. with breakfast, registration, and a brief introduction from Michigan Bean Commission and Michigan Sugar Company representatives.
Presentations start at 9 a.m. with three demonstrations providing a combined overview of both dry bean and sugarbeet research. At 10:30 a.m., participants will have the option to choose a dry bean track or sugarbeet track for the remaining three presentations. The event will conclude with a catered lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m.
“Both sugar beets and dry beans are important for Michigan agriculture,” said Daniel Bublitz, Extension specialist and director of Sugarbeet Advancement, a partnership between MSU, Michigan Sugar Company, producers, and agribusiness. “This field day is an excellent opportunity to see the research MSU and its industry partners are doing on these crops.”
9 a.m.to 10:30 a.m.: dry bean and sugarbeet (combined focus)
- Weed control in dry bean and sugarbeet – Christy Sprague, Extension specialist and professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences (PSM)
- Soil fertility in dry bean and sugarbeet – Kurt Steinke, associate professor in PSM
- MSU dry bean performance trial and Sugarbeet Advancement updates – Scott Bales, dry bean systems specialist, and Bublitz
10:30 a.m.to noon: Pick a track
Option A (sugar beet focus)
- Sugarbeet fertility and research updates – Steinke and graduate students
- Current pathology concerns – Linda Hanson, research plant pathologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) adjunct associate professor in PSM; Jaime Willbur, assistant professor and director of MSU’s Potato and Sugarbeet Pathology Program; Rachel Naegle, plant research geneticist with USDA ARS
- Michigan Sugar Company agronomy and research update – Dennis Bisher and Corey Guza, directors of agronomy and research at Michigan Sugar Company
Option B (dry bean focus)
- USDA dry bean breeding – Karen Cichy, adjunct associate professor in PSM
- MSU dry bean breeding – Francisco Gomez, assistant professor and director of the MSU Bean Breeding and Genetics program
- Dry bean pathology – Martin Chilvers, field crops pathologist and associate professor in PSM
Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with Chris DiFonzo, field crops entomology specialist and professor in the Department of Entomology, and Marisol Quintanilla, applied nematologist and professor in the Department of Entomology, about current insect and nematode concerns.
Growers and members of the agribusiness community can register online for this free event. RUP and CCA credits will be offered. For more information on registration or credits, contact Renae Latoski at latoskir@msu.edu.
