Provided photo Director of NMU’s Center for Rural Health, Elise Bur, addresses participants at the Agriculture for Tomorrow Conference in 2023.

ESCANABA — Michigan State University Extension will once again host the annual Agriculture for Tomorrow Conference in Escanaba. The event will take place Thursday, March 12th, 2026 from 9:00am to 4:00pm ET at the Joseph Heirman University Center, Room 952, at Bay College in Escanaba, MI. Online registration for the event is open now with early bird pricing of $30 per person only available until March 1st. Participants registering before March 1st will save $10 and reserve their spot for a delicious local food lunch at the conference.

A keynote address from Northern Michigan University Assistant Professor, Lehren Olk-Szost, will kick-off the event highlighting how NMU’s Controlled Environment and Indoor Agriculture programs engage students in the future of food production through interdisciplinary training in multiple aspects of indoor growing. Afterward, four concurrent educational tracks focused on crops (commodity and specialty), livestock, local marketing and homesteading topics will be offered. Attendees have the option of staying in a single track or floating among the individual sessions/topics. Up to four MDARD restricted use pesticide applicator recertification credits will be available to participants. A conference trade show will feature local agencies and companies serving agriculture in the Upper Peninsula.

There is a $30 per person registration fee for attending this event, which includes educational materials and lunch. After March 1st through the day of the conference, the registration fee will increase to $40 per person, with only cash or check accepted at the door. Agricultural companies and organizations are invited to sponsor the conference and/or exhibit at the event trade show. Sponsorships of $50+ are eligible for one complimentary trade show booth and conference registration. Non-profit organizations are eligible for a free trade show booth. Visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/2026Ag4Tomorrow/ for more information and to register. Contact James DeDecker at dedecke5@msu.edu or (906) 439-5114 with questions.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.