Previous Year Session Recordings

• Commercial Hydroponic Production: Essential Information for Equipment Purchases

  Published on March 1, 2024

  Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can be a profitable and fulfilling business pursuit for farmers looking to diversify their income streams. Learn the fundamentals of CEA equipment and how to reach profitability faster.

• Becoming an Insect Investigator

  Published on March 1, 2024

  You can sleuth out what’s eating your vegetables by gathering evidence at the “scene of the crime,” using the same evidence-based approach. It’s not only fun, it also will help you protect your vegetables from future issues.

• Pasture Poultry

  Published on February 29, 2024

  The presentation will focus on small-scale broiler chicken and turkey production on pastures using chicken tractors. Pasture management, manure management, and mortality disposal will be key areas of discussion.

• The World Under Our Feet: Biological Soil Health in Vegetable Production

  Published on February 29, 2024

  Organic matter plays a critical role in soil health. Learn about how the interactions between organic and plant matter influences soil biological health and in turn successful crop production.

• Grain Processing and its Effects on Rumen Health in Beef Cattle

  Published on February 28, 2024

  Learn more about the different grain processing options, primarily for corn, including how that affects grain and overall diet digestibility and the rumen environment. Discuss various scenarios and their appropriateness for different cattle types.

• What's Wrong with my Vegetables

  Published on February 28, 2024

  This presentation will cover abiotic and biotic abnormalities in vegetables. The goal of this presentation is to give specific examples of vegetable abnormalities that will help identify what is wrong with your vegetable.

• Farm Budgets: Growing Your Farm into a Business (2024)

  Published on February 28, 2024

  How important is a business mindset and farm profits to your opportunities for growth and success? Join as we discuss how attention to details and effective planning can help your farm continue its growth into a successful business.

• Management over Medication: Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Livestock Herd on Your Small Livestock Farm

  Published on February 27, 2024

  This presentation will share tips and tricks for sheep, goats, swine, dairy, and beef cattle herds. Some management ideas will be given on keeping animals healthy on the farm and decreasing the use of medication and vet calls to your farm.

• Small Batch Cheese Making

  Published on February 27, 2024

  We will be talking about making small batch cheeses: Topics covered will include where to get supplies; some processes, and storage of cheese.

• The Prairie River Water Use Issue – State Agency and User Group Round Table

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Expansion of large volume water use in the Prairie River is at a standstill with DNR and private funded temperature studies ongoing; what is the future of the water use in the Prairie River?

• Upgrades to older pivot control systems and 360 Rain- A Quick Look at a Robotic Irrigation and Nutrient Application System

  Published on February 27, 2024

  One of the newest irrigation ideas is 360 Rain. Explore how it may fit into Midwest crop production with over half of our center pivots over 20 year in age. Explore how this can be used to breathe efficiency into old equipment.

• Building Your Skills with Michigan’s Large Volume Water Use Registration and Reporting tools.

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Learn the ins and outs of the programs from the State Agency staff who rely on the Michigan Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (MIWWAT) and the Michigan Large Volume Water Use Reporting Tool.

• Review of 2023 Irrigation Research

  Published on February 27, 2024

  What did we learn from irrigation research in 2023?

• Soil Health for Beginners: Caring for Your Farm from the Ground Up

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Soil health is a critical part of farming. If you are new to farming or new to the land, this is a perfect time to make a long-term plan. Discover approaches to learn about your soil and how to support better crop production.

• Irrigation Electrical Safety

  Published on February 27, 2024

  How do we safely operate electric pumps and center pivots?

• The Value of Irrigation Uniformity and Sprinkler Choice

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Center pivot irrigation sprinklers - should you use old or replace with new? A look at the economics of upgrades and replacement.

• What Do Plants Crave?

  Published on February 27, 2024

  What Do Plants Crave?

• The Art of Irrigation Scheduling

  Published on February 27, 2024

  Irrigation scheduling is not a game - but it could be.

• Managing small laying hen flocks

  Published on February 26, 2024

  This session will delve into key practices to successfully manage small flocks of laying hens for peak production.

• An Introduction to Grazing Management

  Published on February 26, 2024

  Be introduced to the difference between conventional continuous grazing and managed grazing systems. Learn how to assess pasture conditions and soil health. Plus, see where small changes can make big impacts.