Branch County Michigan State University Extension

06/16/2026

Join us for an informative Pasture Management Webinar featuring Tom Guthrie and Kable Thurlow on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Learn practical strategies for maintaining healthy, productive pastures, including identifying common weeds and toxic plants, understanding pasture maturity and its impact on livestock nutrition, and implementing best management practices during dry and drought conditions. Whether you work with horses, cattle, sheep, or goats, this session will provide valuable insights to help you improve pasture health and livestock well-being.

Register at: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TzveGdspR9OBhZ6xuWvLGQ

06/11/2026

06/09/2026

Supporting Michigan farmers means more than helping with crops and livestock.

Today, members of the MSU Extension team testified before a Michigan House subcommittee to discuss the impact of farm stress programming and the importance of supporting the people who keep Michigan agriculture strong.

We're proud to share the stories, challenges, and successes of the communities we serve.

06/09/2026

ServSafe® (In-person)
Earn ServSafe® Manager certification with help from MSU Extension. ServSafe® is a national food safety certification program. This class is designed for anyone working in the foodservice industry, including non-profit organizations. MSU Extension offers an 8-hour ServSafe® training and exam proctoring, with a class fee of $75. MSU Extension will also be offering proctoring of the ServSafe® Manager Certification Exam by appointment.
Contact your local MSU Extension Food Safety staff for more information or for a list of upcoming classes, visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/servsafe/events

06/09/2026

Dial Gauge Pressure Canner Testing
Contact your local MSU Extension Office to schedule an appointment to have your dial gauge pressure canner tested.
Use the link below to find your local County MSU Extension office: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county

06/09/2026

Selling Michigan Honey & Maple Syrup Safely
Food safety is key to successfully selling honey and maple syrup in Michigan. Learn how to safely handle, package and store honey and maple syrup, and understand the exemption guidelines for selling these products in Michigan. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development allows for collection and production of honey and maple syrup that can be sold without a license, and there is an expectation that this is done safely. Personal hygiene, food safe containers, storage, cleaning and sanitizing methods, and MDARD’s exemption guidelines are topics covered on this workshop.
To learn more and to register, visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/cottage_food_law/events

06/09/2026

Safe Food = Healthy Kids (Online, Free Session)
Safe Food = Healthy Kids is an interactive workshop designed for childcare providers. Learn what the best practices are for food safety to help keep kids safe.
• June 16, 6 p.m. EDT

To learn more and to register, visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/SFHK26/

06/09/2026

Michigan Cottage Food Law (Online, Free Sessions)
Learn how to safely prepare and sell allowable foods to the public made in home kitchens. The Michigan Cottage Food Law workshop reviews the food safety aspects and guidelines of preparing and selling cottage foods. The MSU Product Center joins us to cover the business aspects of the Cottage Food Law. A Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Inspector will be available for the Q&A portion of this workshop.
• June 18, 10 a.m. p.m. EDT
To learn more and to register, visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/CLF26/

06/09/2026

Safe Food = Healthy Kids – Tuesday, June 16, 6 p.m.
Safe Food = Healthy Kids is an interactive workshop designed for childcare providers. Learn what the best practices are for food safety to help keep kids safe.
https://events.anr.msu.edu/SFHK26/

Michigan Cottage Food Law – Thursday, June 18, 10 a.m.
Learn how to safely prepare and sell allowable foods to the public made in home kitchens. The Michigan Cottage Food Law workshop reviews the food safety aspects and guidelines of preparing and selling cottage foods. The MSU Product Center joins us to cover the business aspects of the Cottage Food Law. A Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Inspector will be available for the Q&A portion of this workshop.
https://events.anr.msu.edu/CLF26/