MSU Extension Beginning Farmer

Fruit & Nuts

• 

  Join the Managing Risk Through Diverse Specialty Crop Marketing Strategies program to learn about risk strategy options

  Published on December 23, 2024
  A virtual program from MSU Extension aimed at helping you navigate risk in your marketing channels.

• 

  Learn more about the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant program webinar in January 2025

  Published on December 20, 2024
  Find out if this grant opportunity is a fit for your value-added farm business.

• 

  Farm financial management – Getting started

  Published on December 20, 2024
  Beginning farmers should manage their finances to strive for profitability. Implementing a good accounting system and developing beginning and end of year balance sheets is an important start.

• 

  MSU Extension to host restricted use pesticide review and testing January 21 at Great Lakes Trade Expo

  Published on December 17, 2024
  MSU Extension, in partnership with MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program and MDARD, will host a restricted use pesticide (RUP) review and testing at the 2025 Great Lakes Trade Expo. RUP credits are available.

• 

  What are tariffs and how could they impact farm prices?

  Published on December 16, 2024
  A review of potential tariff impacts on input purchasing decisions.

• 

  Free online courses on pollinator protection offer a restricted use pesticide (RUP) credit for Michigan certified pesticide applicators

  Published on December 6, 2024
  Pesticide applicators in Michigan can take a free, self-paced, online course on pollinator protection to earn one RUP credit in categories 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 6, 7A, Commercial Core or Private Core.

• 

  MSU Extension to host restricted use pesticide review and testing on MSU campus December 19

  Published on December 4, 2024
  MSU Extension, in partnership with MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will host a restricted use pesticide (RUP) review and exam session at the MSU Pavilion on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.

• 

  Michigan State University Extension to host Planning for Profit Workshop for farmers

  Published on December 3, 2024
  Michigan State University Extension will host a two-day workshop focused on budgeting and marketing in order to maximize producer profit.

• 

  Feedback sought on new resource for new and beginning farmers at 2024 GLEXPO

  Published on December 3, 2024
  The Beginning Farmer Resource and Decision Making Guide is a new jointly created resource in the works from MSU Extension and USDA.

• 

  Tree fruit sessions at the 2024 Great Lakes Expo

  Published on November 22, 2024
  Learn about integrated pest management, drones, cider and more this December at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo.

• 

  Preparing vines for winter: Research-driven approaches to cold hardiness in vineyards

  Published on November 19, 2024
  Essential strategies and best practices to protect grapevines from winter stress and ensure a thriving growing season.

• 

  Entrenamiento sobre la Seguridad del Manejo de los Pesticidas y la Protección del Trabajador ofrecido en inglés y en español 12 de diciembre en Great Lakes Expo 2024

  Published on November 14, 2024
  Por la tarde, los participantes podrán tomar el examen RUP de certificación para la aplicación de Pesticidas de Uso Restringido de MDARD y también podrán recibir la capacitación sobre el Estándar de Protección al Trabajador requerida por la EPA WPS.

• 

  Common apple pests and diseases poster in Spanish and English now available

  Published on November 8, 2024
  Available in print and PDF, this poster serves as a quick ID guide for common apple pests and disease and the damage they can cause.

• 

  Common Apple Pests and Diseases/Plagas y Enfermedades Comunes del Manzano

  Published on November 8, 2024
  This poster serves as a quick ID guide for common apple pests and disease and the damage they can cause.

• Farm Financial Wellbeing Worksheet walkthrough

  MSU Extension farm business management educator Florencia Colella provides a walkthrough across a sample farm financial wellbeing worksheet.

• 

  Understanding farm financial wellbeing

  Published on November 8, 2024
  Skilled farm decision-making considers overall farm and household wellbeing, of which finances are an important component.

• 

  Negotiating reasonable land rent in times of low market prices

  Published on November 5, 2024
  How can you, the farm manager, help your landowners understand the impacts of lower prices and high input costs on profits?

• 

  New to crop insurance? See the ‘Beginner’s Guide to Crop Insurance’ by USDA

  Published on October 30, 2024
  The “Beginners Guide to Crop Insurance,” recently released by the USDA Risk Management Agency, is available in Spanish and English.

• 

  Fall-time farm management decisions and how Michigan State University Extension can help

  Published on October 30, 2024
  Fall is a great time to review your farm production year’s status and outlook. Free education and resources are available to help make difficult decisions or adjustments for successful farm management.

• 

  Crop insurance for fruit growers: Update for the 2025 crop year

  Published on October 30, 2024
  There have been a number of recent updates to the crop insurance policies available to Michigan fruit farmers.