Integrated Crop and Pest Management Update for Agribusiness 2026

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET

MSUFCU Headquarters #2
Lower Level Community Room 
3899 Coolidge Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48823


The Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Team will host the 2026 Integrated Crop and Pest Management Update on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Having received positive feedback from attendees about both in-person and online formats, we will be offering the meeting as a hybrid of the two formats again this year with the in-person meeting being held at the MSUCFU Headquarters. The virtual program will be held simultaneously via Zoom. The audience will include agribusiness representatives, retail sales and service professionals, private crop consultants, and farmers. Out-of-state participants are also invited to attend.

Program:

The program will include:

Time

Topics

Speakers

7:45-8:30 a.m.

Registration and Light Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

Welcome

MSU Extension Field Crops Team

8:35 a.m.

Michigan Check-off Program Updates

Mark Seamon, Director of Research, MI Soybean
Jody Pollok-Newsom, Executive Director, MI Wheat
Kristin Poley, Director of Research and Agronomy, MI Corn

9 a.m.

2025 Michigan Soybean On-farm Research Program Update

Eric Anderson, MSU Extension Senior Soybean Educator

9:30 a.m.

Agronomy Research Update  Manni Singh, MSU Cropping Systems Agronomist

10 a.m.

Wheat Program Update

Dennis Pennington, MSU Wheat Systems Specialist

10:30 a.m. 

Break 

 

10:50 a.m. 

Forage Management Update Kim Cassida, MSU Forage Specialist

11:25 a.m. 

Insecticide Modes of Action

Chris Difonzo, MSU Entomologist

12 p.m. 

Lunch

12:50 p.m.

Commodity Input Market Outlook for 2027 Jon LaPorte, MSU Extension Farm Business Management Educator

1:20 p.m.

Soil Health Tests: Options and Applications Christine Charles, MSU Extension Field Crops Educator 

1:50 p.m.

Break

2:10 p.m.

Diseases and Fairy Rings

Marty Chilvers, MSU Pathology

2:50 p.m.

Weed Management Updates for 2026

Christy Sprague and Erin Burns, MSU Field Crops Weed Specialists

3:50 p.m.

Program Evaluation, Credits and Adjourn

 



Credits Available:

  • 5.5 continuing education units (CEU's) for Certified Crop Advisors (0.5 SW, 2 PM, 2.5 CM, 0.5 PD)
  • 5 pesticide re-certification (RUP) credits (Private Core, Field Crops 1A)
    • Individuals registered for the virtual event must participate via their own device (If a group views the program from one location/device, only one person will be eligible for credits)

Cost:  

  • $75 per person for the in-person event, includes light breakfast, hot lunch, refreshments, and the 2027 MSU Weed Control Guide (distributed at the event)
  • $85 Onsite in-person registration. Onsite registration will be limited by space available.
  • $45 per person for the online version, includes the 2027 MSU Weed Control Guide (mailed after the event)
  • No refunds for onsite registrations after Dec. 10, 2026, and Dec. 15, 2026, for online registrations

Registration:

Registration is now open through Dec. 10. Registrants for the online version will receive information on how to join via Zoom. For those who have not used Zoom before, instructions will be sent on how to download the free app to your computer or mobile device.

Parking Information:
Free parking is available onsite.

In Person Registration

Registration for Integrated Crop and Pest Management Update for Agribusiness is open.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 10, 2026.

There are 350 openings available.

Virtual Registration

Registration for Integrated Crop and Pest Management Update for Agribusiness is open.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 15, 2026.

There are 499 openings available.

Accommodations

Michigan State University Extension programs, services events, and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the event contact two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.  

Contact Information

For help with registration, please contact ANR Event Services at events@anr.msu.edu or Megghan Honke Seidel at honkemeg@msu.edu or 989-666-3773.
For program questions, please contact Madelyn Celovsky at celovsk2@msu.edu or 517-768-2048 or Christine Charles at charl122@msu.edu or 973-255-6097.