Providing timely and relevant information to field crop growers through the Virtual Breakfast Series
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EmailThe Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series is a weekly morning webinar that provides timely crop and pest management updates and shares information to farmers, agribusiness professionals and others throughout the growing season.
Michigan State University Extension has a long history of providing research-based knowledge to address the needs of field crop producers and agronomists across Michigan. Since its inception in 2018, the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series has done just that by providing timely crop and pest management updates throughout the growing season during a weekly morning webinar.
Farmers, agribusiness professionals and others who join the Virtual Breakfast Series can hear weekly crop and pest updates as well as a detailed weather forecast from MSU’s climatologist, earn pesticide recertification credits and certified crop adviser credits, and have ample opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session. Producers and agronomists can access the sessions through various channels such as participating in the live session via Zoom, listening to podcasts, viewing recorded YouTube videos or through Facebook live.
“I am learning everything from weed control to marketing the season’s crops and responding to the change of weather. Also how to plan for different insect challenges and soil nutrient management.” – Virtual Breakfast Series participant
In 2025, the Virtual Breakfast Series reached 5,556 live participants over 26 weeks. In addition to live viewing, the series garnered more than 10,342 views on YouTube, 1,311 podcast views with additional views off social media and the MSU Extension website. The live sessions reached participants in 19 states and nine countries in addition to those from 61 Michigan counties.
The financial and educational impacts of the program were evaluated through a follow-up survey distributed six weeks after the last weekly session of the season. The 238 participants that provided a survey response represented 74,245 acres and indicated they planned to make changes producing a projected additional cost savings or income of $715,438 in 2025.
“I used the information to refine my planting rates, plant spacing and harvest while also considering what crops to plant and when.” – Virtual Breakfast Series participant
There's still time to attend the 2026 Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series with free timely information to help you wrap up the growing season and opportunities to earn pesticide recertification credits. Coming up yet this season:
- Best Management Practices for Establishing New Hayfields (Aug. 20)
- Irrigation Investment Economics (Aug. 27)
- Farmland Valuations (Sept. 3)
- Precision Agriculture (Sept. 10)
- Late-Season Weed Control (Sept. 17)
Join us for one of the final Virtual Breakfasts of the season or catch up on a session you missed.
