The lineup of speakers for the Michigan Wheat Program’s eighth annual Winter Grower Meeting is once again filled with industry experts. With less than a month remaining until the event, wheat growers need to register for this winter tradition.

MWP’s Winter Grower Meeting will be from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 18 at the Eagle Eye Golf Course and Banquet Center, 15500 Chandler Road, Bath Township (just north of Michigan State University). The free, one-day conference is a popular annual tradition for nearly 300 farmers each March.

This year’s lineup includes nine sessions, featuring a dozen speakers and a mini-trade show of ag businesses that support Michigan wheat farmers and their needs. Eight restricted-use pesticide and 4½ certified crop adviser credits will be available at day’s end.

“With this year’s annual meeting, the board really wanted to emphasize the future — what we can anticipate in the marketplace, on the production side, with the weather, and also new varieties coming through the pipeline,” says David Milligan, chairman of the Michigan Wheat Program, vice president of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and a Cass City, Mich., farmer.

“We know that markets and weather conditions have been rough for wheat growers in the Great Lakes region," Milligan says. "Our goal with this winter meeting is to set our collective thinking to what’s coming down the road. The Michigan farmer has always been creative and resilient, and the 2020s will be no different."

The marketing keynote speaker is Angie Setzer, Citizens Elevator’s vice president of grain. Setzer, who manages five elevator locations and an innovative on-farm program for Citizens Elevator, also is a nationally known grain markets commentator on such media as AgDay, U.S. Farm Report, Market to Market and the Weather Channel. She recently launched “The Business End of Farming,” a resource for farmers looking to improve their marketing.

Setzer’s “Cash is King” weekly column focuses on the developments in the cash grains market and ways producers can take advantage of developing opportunities. Setzer has more than 23,000 Twitter followers, where she’s known as the @GoddessofGrain.

At the Michigan Wheat winter meeting, Setzer will speak on market conditions and provide an overview of what can be expected in the months and years to come.

In addition to markets, growers have faced weather challenges, too. Mark Torregrossa, MLive weather expert, will be speaking about what’s happening in weather and what that means for the future — including what this growing season will be like for farmers.

The annual meeting kicks off with an industry production panel discussion, including Jacob Hecht, plant manager for Star of the West; Clay Martz, manager of Nutrient Ag Solutions; and Ben Wilson, agronomist with Helena AGRIntelligence. The session is moderated by Dennis Pennington, Michigan State University Extension wheat systems specialist.

A national perspective on wheat policy and wheat issues will be delivered by Josh Tonsager, vice president of policy and communications for NAWG, which is based in Washington, D.C. The day wouldn’t be complete without a look at new seed varieties expected for future release from Eric Olson, MSU wheat breeder.

The full agenda is available online at miwheat.org at the top of the “What’s Hot” column on the left side of the page. Farmers may register by phone by calling 1-888-943-2801. 

Vendors wishing to join the trade show should email Jody Pollok-Newsom, Michigan Wheat Program executive director, at [email protected], or call 1-888-943-2801, as booths are available on a first-come basis in the limited space.

The Michigan Wheat Program is funded by nearly 8,000 farmers who grow wheat in 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties.

Source: Michigan Wheat Program, 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.