Summer 2026 Bus Tour and Technology Demonstration Day

Collaboration of the Benzie Manistee Hort Society, Northwest MIHorticultural Research Center Foundation, MSU Extension and AgBioResearch
About this Event

Summer 2026 Bus Tour and Technology Demonstration Day Tentative Agenda

August 27, 2026

Collaboration of the Benzie Manistee Horticultural Society, Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center Foundation, MSU Extension and AgBioResearch

Meet at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center

6686 S. Center Highway, Traverse City, Michigan

8:00-8:30 Coffee and Donuts

Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center

6686 S. Center Highway, Traverse City, Michigan

8:30 Board bus for Grand Traverse/Antrim County

8:30-9:15 Travel to Bratschi Orchards

9511 Elk Lake Road, Williamsburg, Michigan 49690

9:15-10:15 Irrigation Trial in Premier Honeycrisp, Bratschi Orchards

Jack Sinnaeve, Dept. of Horticulture, MSU

Dr. Younsuk Dong, Dept. of Biosystems Engineering, MSU

Dr. Nikki Rothwell, NWMHRC

10:15-10:45 Electric Weeder Demonstration

Dr. Joshua Miranda, Dept. of Horticulture, MSU

10:45-11:15 Travel to Cherry Ke Orchards

9636 Western Road, Rapid City, Mi, 49676

11:15-12:00 LandLady Platform Demonstration

Talon Felker, Cherry Ke Orchards

Mark Evans, Evans Brothers Company

12:00-12:45 LUNCH

12:45-1:30 Demonstration of Commercial Smart Sprayer and 2.0 USDA Sprayer

Dr. Mike Reinke, SWMREC and MSU Extension

Talon Felker, Cherry Ke Orchards

1:30-2:15 Demonstration of LJ Tech Autonomous Sprayer

Dr. Mike Reinke, SWMREC and MSU Extension

2:15-3:00 Fendt Tractor Demonstration

Talon Felker, Cherry Ke Orchards

3:00-3:45 Travel to NWMHRC

3:45-4:30 Drone Demonstration and Honeycrisp Thinning Trial

Dr. Keith Ackerman, Airway Ag

Dr. Mike Reinke, MSU Extension

Dr. Nikki Rothwell, NWMHRC, MSU

Emma Megill, Cherry Bay Orchards

4:30-5:00 Using UV Light to Reduce Pseudomonas and Erwinia Populations

Dr. Nikki Rothwell, NWMHRC, MSU

4:45-5:30 Rears power blast with sonic spray demonstration

Craig Gillison, Gillison’s Variety Fabrication

5:30 Happy Hour and Dinner (Registration for just the happy hour and the annual dinner at the NWMHRC is not required, and is open to all)