This meeting brings together industry representatives from FarmDroid, Morgan Composting Inc., West Michigan Agroforestry Partnership, and MSU researchers to update growers on the latest challenges and opportunities in asparagus and tree fruit production.

Speakers will provide insights on various topics such as irrigation scheduling, nematode management, agroforestry and silvopasture, soil quality, soil health and microbiology, and evaluation of profitability of farming practices through partial budgeting. We will hold the first demonstration of the FarmDroid in Michigan. The FarmDroid is a fully automatic field robot. It is an autonomous seeder and weeder that uses solar energy and GPS to plant vegetable seeds and mechanically weed during the growing season. In addition, we will demonstrate soil amendment applications with compost spreading equipment in partnership with Morgan Composting.

Registration includes morning refreshments, lunch, afternoon refreshments and a promotional item.   Michigan Pesticide Re-certification credits in the categories private core, commercial core or 1C, Certified Crop Advisors’ Continuing Education Units and MAEAP Phase 1 credits have been requested.

The 2024 Farming for the Future Field Day will be held on August 13, 2024 at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, MI 49420, from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm. Registration begins at 9:00 am. This event is also sponsored by West Central Michigan Horticultural Research, Inc.

 Early registration is $15 by August 12. Registration is $20 on August 13.  To register, you can visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/FarmingfortheFutureFieldDay2024/ , call the Oceana County MSU Extension office at 231-873-2129, or stop by the office at 844 South Griswold St., Hart, Michigan 49420.