Southeast Michigan vegetable and field crop winter meeting set for Feb. 4 in Dundee

Vegetable growers across the Midwest can sharpen their production and pest management knowledge at the upcoming 2026 Southeast Michigan Vegetable Grower and Field Crop Grower Winter Meeting.

The all-day event is scheduled for Feb. 4 at the Old Mill Museum in Dundee, Michigan.

Hosted with support from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, the meeting brings together Extension specialists, university researchers and growers to address timely challenges facing today’s vegetable and field crop industries. Topics range from pest and weed management to precision agriculture, labor policy and emerging technologies.

The program begins at 9 a.m. with a series of general sessions relevant to all growers. Highlights include a presentation on wildlife control in crop production by MSU Extension’s Nicolle Ritchie, followed by an overview of precision agriculture tools and applications from Rich Price.

Growers will also hear an important update on farm labor trends and policy from Michigan State University’s Zach Rutledge, as well as a Lake Erie water quality and EPA pesticide strategy update, a timely topic for operations impacted by evolving regulatory requirements.

Another notable session focuses on farmer mental health resources, underscoring the growing recognition of wellness and stress management in agriculture.

Following a catered lunch, the program breaks into two specialized afternoon tracks: vegetable production and field crops.

The vegetable session features practical insights on weed management strategies, a vegetable disease update from plant pathologist Mary Hausbeck and an in-depth look at key insect pests affecting cabbage and other brassicas. The session concludes with a forward-looking presentation on robotic weed control developments.

The meeting runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with check-in beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event is free to attend, but online pre-registration is required. Due to limited space, growers are encouraged to register only if they plan to attend.