The Conservation Professional Training Program is a program of UW–Madison Division of Extension providing conservation training courses to help you deliver smarter solutions to farmers and rural landowners. From introductory courses for new employees to advanced training for conservation advisors, we provide diverse trainings to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed.
Conservation Calendar
We offer face to face, online and blended training to conservation agencies, private sector consultants and landowners across Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the US. View conservation-related events and trainings offered by us and our partners throughout the state.
Events Key
Extension Events
Partner Events
Calendar of Events
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SWCS Annual Conference
This year’s conference theme, “Expanding Horizons: Where Conservation Meets Innovation,” evokes images of the expansive views of the region and the deep and varied soil horizons that make Iowa’s farmland some of the most productive in the world.
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2 events,
’Ques
’Question, Persuade, Refer’ Virtual Training Sessions
As part of its efforts to provide resources to help address farmer mental health wellness, the Wisconsin Farm Center is hosting a series of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) virtual training […]
1 event,
Soil Health: The Foundation for Regenerative Agriculture
This free virtual event is to advance the opportunity that improving soil health offers to address climate change, water quality, food production, biodiversity, and many other pressing issues. Among the meeting […]
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3 events,
2020 Online Ti
2020 Online Tile Drainage Design and Water Management Workshop
Join the University of Illinois Extension for the online drainage design and water management workshop. Register for one of two days. View the agenda and register here.
Innovation in
Innovation in Forest Carbon Sequestration
Join us for a conversation on the role of forests in addressing climate change and how technology can make forest carbon projects more credible. Topics being presented are as follows: […]
Watershed Appl
Watershed Applications of ACPF Workshop
The workshop is designed for watershed practitioners, county conservation staff, watershed planners, NRCS professionals, and private consultants who are interested in learning more about using the ACPF to improve their small watershed-based planning and implementation projects.
1 event,
2020 Online Ti
2020 Online Tile Drainage Design and Water Management Workshop
Join the University of Illinois Extension for the online drainage design and water management workshop. Register for one of two days. View the agenda and register here.
1 event,
Watershed Appl
Watershed Applications of ACPF Workshop
The workshop is designed for watershed practitioners, county conservation staff, watershed planners, NRCS professionals, and private consultants who are interested in learning more about using the ACPF to improve their small watershed-based planning and implementation projects.
1 event,
Integrating Sh
Integrating Sheep and Vegetables
Join Carmen, Maja, and the rest of the crew at Sundog Farm to learn how they are addressing challenges on their farm. You will see how the team manages sheep […]
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8 events,
Turf Reinforce
Turf Reinforcement Mats
Riley Stenzel from the American Excelsior Company will talk about the different permanent erosion blankets out there and what they can hold up to. The second part of the presentation will […]
Cover Crop Tec
Cover Crop Tech Field Day
Field demonstrations and drill calibration examples include: No-till planters Vertical tillage Air seeders Drill calibration
Producer-Led W
Producer-Led Webinar: No-Tilling in Heavy Red Clays
Live from Redline Dairy Farm LLC in Belgium, Wisconsin, Matt Winker will discuss no-tilling for the past seven years in heavy red clay soils that make-up their farmland.
Manure Compost
Manure Composting Workshop
Online content and videos will be posted on August 4. There will be a live online discussion on August 11. This training will cover every aspect of turning manure into […]
Watershed Appl
Watershed Applications of ACPF Workshop
The workshop is designed for watershed practitioners, county conservation staff, watershed planners, NRCS professionals, and private consultants who are interested in learning more about using the ACPF to improve their small watershed-based planning and implementation projects.
’Ques
’Question, Persuade, Refer’ Virtual Training Sessions
As part of its efforts to provide resources to help address farmer mental health wellness, the Wisconsin Farm Center is hosting a series of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) virtual training […]
Silvopasture &
Silvopasture & Supply Chain Food Safety for Beginning and ESL Farmers
Topics include how to safely incorporate livestock and tree crop production, food safety best practices and common questions for beginning and ESL farmers, and how we can work towards a […]
Organic Field
Organic Field Day: Organic Corn, Soybeans, & More
Join us for an Organic Field Day focused on organic corn, soybeans, and insights from the 2020 crop year. You’ll see organic and transition crops, hear about boundary-pushing new approaches, […]
3 events,
Pheasant Branc
Pheasant Branch Conservancy: Protect, Restore, Preserve
We'll hear from representatives of the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Dane County, and City of Middleton about the recently purchased, 160-acre farm directly north of Pheasant Branch Conservancy.
2020 USDA-NRCS
2020 USDA-NRCS Public Conservation Virtual Meeting
The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Wisconsin has announced this year, we will be holding one statewide virtual Local Working Group (LWG) meeting with a feedback survey to follow. Input gathered will help set […]
Badger Crop Co
Badger Crop Connect
Badger Crop Connect is a new crop production webinar series developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Crops and Soils Program for the 2020 growing season. Badger Crop Connect’s goal is […]
3 events,
Measures of So
Measures of Soil Carbon Cycling and Storage
In this presentation, the Soil Health Institute will focus on explaining measurements and assessments of soil health associated with soil-carbon dynamics.
NFSAM Circular
NFSAM Circular Guidance on Joint Agency Memorandum to the Field for Food Security Act and Clean Water Act Implementation
Participate in this training to learn about NRCS staff responsibilities from the Agency signing the 2020 Memorandum to the Field with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection […]
Wheat: A Gatew
Wheat: A Gateway Crop to Soil Health, Resilience, and More
Adding wheat (or other small grains) into crop rotations opens the door to possibility. Not only do these crops invite you to plant a diverse cover crop and graze it, […]
2 events,
The Impact of
The Impact of Climate Change on the Great Lakes
Explore the impacts of changing weather and climatic patterns on the Great Lakes and specifically on the Lake Michigan migratory flyway. Our keynote will provide an overarching overview of the […]
No-Till &
No-Till & Covers
Rod Nelson has been no-till farming for the past 40 years near Chatfield, MN, and has been recently incorporating cover crops. This spring, he no-tilled corn into standing rye with […]
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Inventory and
Inventory and Design Opportunities for Pollinator Habitat on Working Lands
In this webinar, planners will learn about inventory tools and whole-farm conservation planning approaches to enhance pollinator and other wildlife habitats.
40 Plus Years
40 Plus Years of Cover Crop Experience
David Brandt will share his extensive knowledge of how to integrate cover crops into a corn-soybean rotation. Do not miss the chance to learn from one of the most experienced farmers in the world!
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1 event,
Using the Actu
Using the Actually Restorable Wetland Tool
A large portion of the Rock River Basin consists of wetlands that were converted to croplands. The Actually Restorable Wetland (ARW) map helps locate suitable wetland restoration sites based on both property boundaries and ecological factors.
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Weather-Ready
Weather-Ready Farms
The University of Nebraska Extension has developed a program in which farmers are certificated at different tiers for their use of practices science knows to promote resilience to extreme weather […]
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1 event,
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’Question, Persuade, Refer’ Virtual Training Sessions
As part of its efforts to provide resources to help address farmer mental health wellness, the Wisconsin Farm Center is hosting a series of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) virtual training […]
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Producer-Led Webinar: No-Tilling in Heavy Red Clays
Watershed Applications of ACPF Workshop
Badger Crop Connect
Weather-Ready Farms
Conservation News
DATCP TO HOST ‘QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER’ TRAINING
As part of its efforts to provide resources to help address farmer mental health wellness, the Wisconsin Farm Center is hosting a series of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) virtual training sessions for agriculture service providers, farmers, and the agricultural community. QPR is an intervention method designed to help trainees identify and interrupt mental health crisis situations and direct individuals to proper care.
All of the sessions will be facilitated by Jeff Ditzenberger, a certified QPR trainer and agriculture/mental health advocate, farmer, and member of many ag-related organizations.
Learn MoreWEBINAR RECORDING: HOW COVID-19 IS IMPACTING FARMS
On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, the Conservation Professional Training Program organized a webinar to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wisconsin farms.
The webinar featured Dr Mark Stephenson, Ag Economist, Director of the Center for Dairy Profitability, Megan Nelson, Livestock Extension Outreach Program Manager, and John Shutske, Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist, Dept of Biological Systems Engineering.
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