Thumb Agriculture Research Group Formed to Study Local Field Crop Issues
Thumb Agriculture Research Group Formed to Study Local Field Crop Issues
6/4/08
Contact: Laura Probyn
517-432-1555, ext. 171
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Agricultural research that explores practices and tests new seed varieties and potential inputs is good. Research that does all of those things on farms where successful studies will be put into action is even better, and it’s at the heart of what organizers of the Thumb Ag Research and Education (TARE) program intend to accomplish.
TARE was formed in 2007. Its members include growers and agribusiness representatives from seven Thumb region counties: Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, Lapeer, Saginaw, St. Clair and Genesee. Their work is supported by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), the plant industry initiative at MSU and local agribusinesses.
MSU Extension agriculture educators from Tuscola, Sanilac and Huron counties have teamed up to establish local research and education plots on a number of area farms. Two corn plots and one soybean plot have been planted in each of the three counties.
Cooperators for the corn plots are Zwerk & Son Farm, of Vassar; Bob and Randy Humpert, Quanicasee; Brian Stamp, Marlette; John Tanton, Deckerville; the Huron Corn Growers at the Bob Ross farm, Pigeon; and Merle and Don Koth, Filion.
Cooperators for the soybean plots are Rob Foster, of Fairgrove; Ron Gerstenberger, Sandusky; and Randy Sturm, Pigeon.
Three wheat plots have been established in Sanilac County at the Al and Clint Stoutenburg farm near Sandusky.
“These locations give us a good representation of the variability in soils and weather patterns we have in the Thumb area,” said David Pratt, MSU Extension agriculture educator in Tuscola County.
The studies will include evaluations of 94 corn hybrids, 78 soybean varieties and five wheat varieties. Additionally, an in-row population trial has been established at each of the six corn sites, and an inoculant study and foliar fungicide trial have been established at each of the three soybean sites. A wheat foliar nitrogen trial and foliar fungicide trial have also been established.
The Extension educators will provide updates on the research during the growing season and will publish the results of the research in a report and on the Web following harvest.
For more information about the research, contact David Pratt at 989-672-3870; Martin Nagelkirk in the Sanilac County MSU Extension office at 810-648-2515; or Bob Battel in the Huron County MSU Extension office at 989-269-9949.
#lp/bb#