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The Aug. 24 event will provide an opportunity to see MSU’s research on these crops.

August 5, 2021

2 Min Read
field of sugarbeets
FIELD DAY: The Aug. 24 field day provides an opportunity to see the research MSU and its industry partners are doing on dry beans and sugarbeets. Jennifer Kiel

What issues are affecting dry beans and sugarbeets? Michigan State University and industry researchers will tackle those issues from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth, Mich.

The event will begin with breakfast, registration, and a brief introduction from Michigan Bean Commission and Michigan Sugar Co. 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 a sugarbeet track for the remaining three presentations. The event will conclude with a catered lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m.

"Both sugarbeets and dry beans are important for Michigan agriculture,” says Daniel Bublitz, Extension specialist and director of Sugarbeet Advancement, a partnership between MSU, Michigan Sugar Co., producers and agribusinesses. “This field day is an excellent opportunity to see the research MSU and its industry partners are doing on these crops.”

Dry beans and sugarbeets

These events from 9 to 10:30 a.m. will feature a combined focus:

Weed control in dry beans and sugarbeets. Christy Sprague, Extension specialist and professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences 

Soil fertility in dry beans and sugarbeets. Kurt Steinke, associate professor in PSM

MSU dry bean performance trial and Sugarbeet Advancement updates. Scott Bales, dry bean systems specialist, and Bublitz 

Pick a track

From 10:30 a.m. to noon, participants will choose between events with a sugarbeet focus, and events with a dry bean focus. The following events focus on sugarbeets:

Sugarbeet fertility and research updates. Steinke and graduate students

Current pathology concerns. Linda Hanson, research plant pathologist with USDA's Agricultural Research Service, 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 Co. agronomy and research update. Dennis Bisher and Corey Guza, directors of agronomy and research at Michigan Sugar Co.

The following events focus on dry beans:

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 insect and nematode concerns.

Growers and members of the agribusiness community can register online for this free event. Restricted-use pesticide and certified crop adviser credits will be offered. For more information on registration or credits, email Renae Latoski at [email protected].

Source: MSUE, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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