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Maximizing Drainage Efficiency for Field Crops Producers

Maximizing Drainage Efficiency for Field Crops Producers

By Phil Kaatz

Water management in field crops may be one of the most difficult things for producers to control. Over the last 18 months, there have been periods of too little precipitation and too much rainfall. Each situation brings challenges as producers struggle to manage water in their cropping system. On Sept. 5, 2024, join the Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series as we address issues associated with a tile drainage system.

Is the system performing as you had hoped for? Are you thinking of splitting the lateral spacing? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, Ehsan Ghane, a Michigan State University drainage specialist, will give you tips to consider before spending a lot of money splitting the lateral spacing. You'll also learn about a common underperformance issue that reduces the efficiency of your drainage system, as well as how to solve the issue.

Jeff Andresen, Michigan State University climatologist, will also provide a recap of the past week’s weather and an extended outlook on the weekly webinar.

The Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series is live via Zoom every Thursday morning from 7 – 8 a.m., March 21 through Sept. 19. Topics are flexible and loosely established at the beginning of the season and can change to address rapidly changing concerns such as flooding and drought. Each year brings different challenges, and this series is designed to meet the needs of our field crop producers no matter what the conditions may dictate.

Each week, restricted-use pesticide recertification (RUP) credits and certified crop advisor (CCA) continuing education unit credits will also be available. To receive recertification credits, participants must be on the live Zoom session.

After RUP and CCA credit information, attendees can leave or stay on for a less formal Q&A discussion with farmers, educators and specialists that lasts until 8 a.m. In addition to the scheduled speaker for the day, other MSU Extension campus specialists and educators with field crops responsibility are frequently part of the call and are available to answer any question related to relevant circumstances happening in their area of expertise.

Participating is easy and free! Participants must sign up to receive an email notification with instructions for joining the Virtual Breakfast Series. You only need to do this once to receive the Zoom link and call-in phone number in the weekly email reminders that are sent every Wednesday and Thursday. Participants receiving emails can opt in or out at any time.

If you cannot participate in the live session at 7 a.m., you can view the recorded version at any time. However, only the live session will be eligible for RUP and CCA credits. Recordings will be closed-captioned and available at the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast webpage and the MSU Extension field crops team social media platforms: Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Twitter

If you are unable to sign up online, call the Lapeer County MSU Extension office at 810-667-0341.

Source : msu.edu

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