Organic field days are coming up soon – don’t miss them!

Join us September 6 and September 18 for two separate field days, exploring several organic variety trials.

On September 6 and September 18, organic farmers will have an opportunity to evaluate several organic variety trials. This year, the Ceres Trust funded the Michigan State University Extension cover crop program to evaluate 51 non-GMO soybean varieties in four locations across Michigan. Three of these sites will be on the September 6 field day and one on September 18 field day. You will also have an opportunity to see organic dry bean and corn varieties and hybrids on September 6.

Organic soybean, dry bean and corn variety plots and dry bean production systems Evaluation Tours

On Thursday, September 6, over 50 non- GMO soybeans, 36 black and navy beans and nearly a dozen corn varieties are being compared under organic production systems in our area at multiple sites. These varieties are a mix of tried and true brands, new industry releases and experimental lines from university breeding programs. You are invited to join other organic producers to view and voice your preference about characteristics that are desirable for you (pod set, plant height, canopy closure, competitiveness, etc.).

Below are the details of the times and the places where we will meet. Feel free to come to one, two, three or all seven of the stops. Call 989-875-5233 if you want to carpool from Ithaca, Mich. Food and refreshments will be available at each site.

9 a.m. Soybeans – Don Brockriede Farm, Columbiaville, Mich.
Field location is 0.5 miles west from DKB Farm processing facility on Hollenbeck Road to North Lake Road and 0.75 miles south (about 2 miles northwest of Columbiaville, Mich.) (view map).

10:45 a.m. Dry beans variety trials, 36 black and navy varieties – Mike Findlay Farm, Caro, Mich.
Field is located at the farm at 140 West Elmwood Road, Caro, Mich. (view map).

11:15 a.m. Soybeans varieties and dry beans production systems (navy and black) – Mark and Steven Vollmar Farm, Caro, Mich.
We will meet at Organic Bean and Grain on 1795 W. Akron Road, Caro, Mich. (view map), then travel to the field trial sites. A lunch will be provided at this stop.

3:30 p.m. Soybeans – Tom Nelson Farm, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Field location is 0.25 miles west of US-127 on Isabella Road, 1/8 mile north of south Mission Road (just on the south east edge of Mt Pleasant, Mich.) (view map).

4:30 p.m. Dry beans production systems (navy and black) – Richard Stuckey Farm, Alma, Mich.
Field is located on Smith Road, 0.5 miles south of M-46 just west of Alma, Mich. (view map).

5:30 p.m. Corn variety trial – Chaffin Farms, Ithaca, Mich.
Field is located on Alger Road, 0.5 miles north of Washington Road (south of Alma and west of Ithaca, Mich.) (view map).

Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Organic Tour

On September 18, a field day will start at 10 a.m. at the Kellogg Biological Station, south of Hickory Corners, Mich. Participants will view presentations on:

  • Cover crops and their impact on greenhouse gases in organic farming systems by MSU Extension’s Dean Baas
  • 51 non-GMO organic soybean variety trial by MSU Extension’s Dale Mutch
  • Cover crops and dry bean production system trial by MSU Crop and Soil Sciences student Erin Taylor
  • Organic vegetable systems by MSU Department of Horticulture’s Dan Brainard and Carolyn Lowry

Lunch is provided. The event will conclude at 2 p.m.

Call 989-875-5233 to carpool from Ithaca, Mich. We will meet at the MSU/KBS Farming System Center, just south of B Ave on 40th Street on the east side of the road (view map). We will have a sign out front.

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