Webinars & Conferences

Te interesa aprender sobre el manejo y adiminstracion de tu granja o rancho? Ven para obtener los conocimientos y las herramientas básicas en éste Invierno y Primavera del 2023. El propósito de este curso es el de introducir a pequeños productores agrícolas Latinos a métodos y herramientas básicas para mejorar su capacidad en el manejo de sus cultivos. Las clases serán dictadas en español y todos los materiales también estarán en español para facilitar el aprendizaje y comprensión de los materiales que serán presentados.

Meet virtually with a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Inspector as she answers questions that pertain to Michigan's Cottage Food Law. MSU Extension Food Safety Educators and an MSU Product Center Innovation Counselor will also be available to answer food safety and business questions.

The 10 Cents Evaluation Report Mini-Webinar Series consists of five short webinars covering the key findings in the 2020-2021 10 Cents a Meal Evaluation Report. This series is perfect for 10 Cents grantees, food program managers and staff, and supporters and advocates of the 10 Cents program and farm to school. Farmers and food business owners interested in selling to schools are also encouraged to attend.

The 10 Cents Evaluation Report Mini-Webinar Series consists of five short webinars covering the key findings in the 2020-2021 10 Cents a Meal Evaluation Report. This series is perfect for 10 Cents grantees, food program managers and staff, and supporters and advocates of the 10 Cents program and farm to school. Farmers and food business owners interested in selling to schools are also encouraged to attend.

Germinate, Regenerate, Agitate not only follows the process of many farmers and advocates, but it also follows our perspective as we look to shaping the future of agricultural policy with the 2023 Farm Bill. This is an impactful point in time where we can empower a system where family farmers can thrive, fair and transparent markets can prosper, and people, the soil, and the environment can be healthy and sustainable. Sometimes that takes planting seeds, rebuilding our community, and shaking some things up.

Learn how to prepare and sell foods to the public under Michigan’s Cottage Food Law. This two-hour workshop combines education about the Michigan Cottage Food Law and the food safety aspects of preparing and selling cottage foods safely and successfully. Michigan Cottage Food Law allows residents to manufacture foods in home kitchens and storing those products at home. Topics include preparing, packaging, labeling, storing, and transporting cottage foods.

Branch County Farmers Day has been a staple for the agriculture community in Branch County for over 50 years. The event brings farmers, agribusiness vendors, and MSU Extension agriculture educators and specialists together for a day of networking, hearing about new ag products and services, conversations over a light lunch, and educational opportunities on a wide range of topics.

Experts from Michigan State University Extension, will provide you with the best information to help you evaluate your risk and make decisions regarding PLC, ARC sign up with the FSA and new crop insurance options.

Learn about common methods for disease control, their pros and cons, and how you can adapt these techniques for use in your own home garden.

The Michigan Family Farms Conference is more than just a conference. Year after year, farmers, educators, and food system professionals gather to network, learn, and share resources and experiences. We also come together to celebrate diversity, expand our knowledge of sustainable agriculture, and strengthen the supportive network of farmers that we know is essential for building resilient farms. The Michigan Family Farms Conference offers beginning, small-scale, and culturally diverse farmers a chance to network, learn, and build sustainable family farms. It is an energizing, hands-on event featuring multiple tracks of breakout sessions plus a youth track to engage the whole family.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension invites you to attend the 2023 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference, held virtually, February 27 - March 10, 2023. This unique event was created in 2021 to provide an opportunity for education encompassing many aspects of the agricultural industry and offering a full array of educational sessions for farmers, homeowners, gardeners and others interested in food production and those considering agricultural endeavors.

As a decision-maker on a farm, beginning farmers will need to manage many risks. Production risk brought on by weather is one of the most challenging risks to manage. It can not only significantly damage potential yields but also affect markets and revenues. Crop insurance was created as a cost-effective means to aid farmers in managing or reducing the impact of these risks.

The 2023 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference will be held virtually, February 27-March 10, 2023. This two-week program encompasses many aspects of the agricultural industry and offers a full array of educational sessions for farmers and homeowners interested in food production and other agricultural endeavors.

The 10 Cents Evaluation Report Mini-Webinar Series consists of five short webinars covering the key findings in the 2020-2021 10 Cents a Meal Evaluation Report. This series is perfect for 10 Cents grantees, food program managers and staff, and supporters and advocates of the 10 Cents program and farm to school. Farmers and food business owners interested in selling to schools are also encouraged to attend.

Schools provide a reliable market, with an advantage for crop planning of having specific agreements on volume and timing of product. By working backwards from your delivery commitments, you can plan out your planting needs well in advance. Learn how to schedule plantings, factor in yield loss and consider fluctuations in timing and weather. Additionally, explore how recordkeeping can help you maintain good communication with the school and better plan for future years.

Schools operate on strict budgets, so it’s important for farmers to determine if the price schools can pay will work for their business. This session will provide tools for farmers to understand their costs of production and break-even price points, including enterprise budgets and cost calculators.

The 2023 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference will be held virtually, February 27-March 10, 2023. This two-week program encompasses many aspects of the agricultural industry and offers a full array of educational sessions for farmers and homeowners interested in food production and other agricultural endeavors.

Farming is a complex business, and succession planning can be a daunting proposition. Luckily, there are many tools and techniques available for transferring the farm’s assets, operations, and management to the next generation. In this presentation, we will discuss how farmers can customize a plan that utilizes these tools and techniques to meet the unique needs of their family business.

The 10 Cents Evaluation Report Mini-Webinar Series consists of five short webinars covering the key findings in the 2020-2021 10 Cents a Meal Evaluation Report. This series is perfect for 10 Cents grantees, food program managers and staff, and supporters and advocates of the 10 Cents program and farm to school. Farmers and food business owners interested in selling to schools are also encouraged to attend.

Minimal processing may make the difference between whether a school buys directly from a local farm or sources from a distributor. In this session, farmers will learn about various options for on and off-farm processing, from the conventional to the creative. An example of a creative processing partnership between Montague Schools, FARM in Muskegon and ValleyHUB will be presented.

There is significant untapped market potential for farms in Michigan to sell to early care and education (ECE) settings like preschools, child care centers and head start programs. ECEs provide a nice variety of scales, from home-based childcare settings to large center-based programs, that can be a good match for farms of various sizes. In this session, farmers will learn how to connect with ECEs that are seeking locally-grown products and what specifications or requirements you may encounter when selling into this market.

Learn about Brian Hudelson’s predictions of what diseases will be prevalent and of importance in 2023. Keep in mind however, that if Brian were actually able to predict accurately, he would not be giving this talk, but would be relaxing on a beach somewhere, drink in hand, having made millions playing the stock market.

The 2023 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference will bring together public and private sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other agricultural professionals to share ongoing and emerging successful risk management education efforts that target agricultural producers and their families. Conference participants will learn about what is working to help producers effectively manage the financial, production, marketing, legal and human risks associated with their agribusinesses. This conference will be held in-person in Chicago on March 27-29, 2023.

The program also boasts a pitch competition with the Michigan Good Food Fund, and the Marketplace Tradeshow. This is brought in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Learn about the fascinating and complex process involved in identifying plant diseases. Learn about how to visually assess for plant disease symptoms, as well as about the range of lab tests that are often needed to confirm the identity of plant diseases.

Learn about plant diseases that have recently arrived in Wisconsin and have potential economic and/or regulatory impact, as well as more established diseases that have the potential to significantly impact the state in the near future.

Learn about common diseases that can adversely affect the plants in your home vegetable garden. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Learn about common diseases that can adversely affect the herbaceous plants in your home garden. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Learn about common diseases that can adversely affect the trees and shrubs around your home. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Certain plant diseases are so horrible or so deadly that composting is not an appropriate way to get rid of affected plants. Learn about some of these diseases and their proper management.

As gardening moves indoors for the winter, growing houseplants can prove challenging. Learn about common houseplant diseases that adversely affect your indoor gardening efforts. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Learn about common diseases that can adversely affect the evergreens around your home. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Learn about ten fascinating plant diseases with such distinctive signs and symptoms that you can identify them by eye. This presentation will cover the biology of the organisms that cause these diseases and tidbits of disease control information as well.