Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE: Coffee and Conservation
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Save the Date for Coffee and Conservation hosted by the Farmer-Led Conservation Group and Monroe Conservation District. This is an informal event where farmers have the chance to connect with other farmers in their county.
Details and registration to come soon!
Past Events
Cover Crop Boot Camp
February 7-8, 2024 | Lansing, MI
The first Cover Crop Boot Camp was brought to you by the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, the Michigan Soybean Committee and the Michigan Pork Producers Association. The Cover Crop Boot Camp was a deep dive into innovative cover crop use, with topics including cover crop blends, precision technology, integrating livestock, seed production and more!
Michigan's Inaugural State of the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | Adrian, MI
EGLE and its partners hosted Michigan’s inaugural State of the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference, where featured speakers discussed topics related to phosphorus management in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Attendees also heard about updates to Michigan’s 2023 Domestic Action Plan for Lake Erie. The Western Lake Erie Basin Science Panel shared their findings and recommendations for the Domestic Action Plan and participated in a panel to answer questions from conference attendees.
This event, which was open to the public, was a forum for networking, discussion, and updates on phosphorus management in Michigan's portion of the Western Lake Erie Basin. Attendees included Conservation Districts, watershed councils, local and state government officials, agricultural organizations, environmental non-governmental organizations, and community members.
Field Day: Sustainable Cropping Systems for the Future
Friday September 15 | Hickory Corners, MI
What could a more sustainable rowcrop system look like?
Five-crop rotation, cover crops, precision decisions, no-till & residue management
But can this be profitable?
The dirty details: how do we do it?
Precision farm management & prairie strips
Fine-tuning conservation practices (crop diversity, double cropping, etc.)
Tools at Twilight: Soil & Water Management Field Day & Demonstrations
Wednesday September 13, 2023 | Monroe, MI
Attendees expanded their knowledge and awareness of topics like strip tillage, cover crop timing, and field drainage through demonstrations and education from extension specialists and growers who have integrated improved farming methods into their operations. The pros and cons of different management practices were discussed and seen in action.
Agenda:
Conservation Tillage: Matt Burkholder, Burkholder Healthy Farms and Dan Brainard, Michigan State University
Drainage: Ehsan Ghane, Michigan State University
Cover Crops: Madelyn Celovsky, Michigan State University and Matt Burkholder, Burkholder Healthy Farms
This event is supported with partial funding from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
2023 Nutrient Management Field Day
Thursday, August 17th, 2023 | Waldron, MI
The 2023 Nutrient Management Field Day was hosted by Jay and Kelli Williams on Thursday, August 17th, 2023 at Stoney Ridge Farms. Michigan State University Extension, Hillsdale Conservation District, Hillsdale County Farm Bureau, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NCRC) partnered to present the field day.
This year's the event featured Mitchell Hora as the keynote speaker. Mitchell Hora is a seventh-generation farmer and the founder of Continuum. Mitchell has built their footprints to 40 states and 50 countries, launching the first soil health data tool TopSoil in 2020. In the afternoon, there was be a farm safety and grain bin rescue demonstration.
Washtenaw County Conservation District Field Day
Thursday August 10, 2023 | Saline, MI
Washtenaw County Conservation District hosted an amazing Field Day at Noble Organics Farm located at 6760 Noble Rd. Saline, MI 48176. Four expert speakers spoke at this event. There was also be a weed zapper demonstration by Pond Hill Sales.
This event is supported with partial funding from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
Center for Excellence Field Day
Wednesday August 9, 2023 | Clayton, MI
The Center for Excellence Field Day, was hosted by Lenewee County District at Bakerlads Farm. The field day offered a variety of speakers and presenters that included topics such as soybeans, phosphorous management, new crop data, and singulation.
This event is supported with partial funding from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
WLEB FLG Annual Meeting and Farm Tour
Thursday July 20, 2023 | Tipton, MI
The Western Lake Erie Basin Farmer-Led Watershed Conversation Group met for the Annual Meeting and Farm Tour on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Heath and Bob Platt's Paragon Farms.
FEATURED Presentations from:
USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service Staff
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Staff
Michigan State University - Institute for Water Research
MI Climate Smart Farm Project
This event is possible through the support of the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
Conservation Technology Information Center's Conservation in Action Tour
July 10- July 11, 2023 | Frankenmuth, MI
2023's tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, helped connect the circle from farmer to consumer. At this event, perspectives of farmers, input suppliers, and processors to dig deep into sustainable, climate-smart food production.
Frankenmuth Michigan was the perfect place for this tour—farmers around “Little Bavaria” produce not only corn, soybeans and dairy, but also potatoes, sugar beets, dry beans and more. Beyond the crops, there’s the people: every year, the CTIC Conservation in Action Tour brings a wide variety of attendees from different backgrounds and experiences.