New year, new crop and pest information

Nicolle Ritchie<ritchi67@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - January 07, 2026

Get the latest and greatest research-based recommendations for field crops management in southwest Michigan on January 22. Four RUP and CCA credits available.

Green bucket insect trap mounted on a white PVC stand at the edge of a young corn field, with evenly spaced rows of short corn plants extending into the background. — Bucket traps like this one at a cooperator field in Berrien County can help monitor pest moth flights. Photo by Nicolle Ritchie, MSU Extension.

The annual southwest Michigan Crop and Pest Management Update will be held Jan. 22, 2026, at the Dowagiac Conservation Club, 54551 M 51 N, Dowagiac, MI. Join Michigan State University Extension at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and light refreshments. The program will start at 9 a.m. and wrap up around 3 p.m. You will hear from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension field crops specialists on various topics with a southwestern Michigan focus.

Four restricted use pesticide (RUP) and certified crop adviser (CCA) credits are available (3 PM, 0.5 CM, 0.5 PD).

Agenda

8:30 a.m. Check-in/Registration
9:00 a.m. Welcome and commodity update
9:15 a.m. Pesticide Strategies, Nicolle Ritchie
9:45 a.m. Marketing, Jon LaPorte
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Weed Update for Corn, Erin Burns
11:15 a.m. Weed Update for Soybeans, Christy Sprague
12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Insect Update, Chris DiFonzo
1:15 p.m. Disease Update, Marty Chilvers
2:00 p.m. Wheat, Dennis Pennington
2:45 p.m. Wrap-up, evaluation, and credits

The registration fee is $40 per person, which includes lunch and the 2026 Weed Control Guide. Additional Weed Control Guides can be purchased on-site.

For help registering, contact the Van Buren County MSU Extension Office at 269-657-8213. Other questions can be directed to Nicolle Ritchie at ritchi67@msu.edu or 269-858-8739.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).