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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4 events,
National Transportation in Indian Country Conference
The National Transportation in Indian Country Conference is the one-stop-shop transportation conference FOR TRIBES, BY TRIBES. NTICC offers access to relevant training and an opportunity for Tribal transportation professionals to […]
2021 North America Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Annual Conference
Each year, NAISMA hosts an annual conference connecting terrestrial and aquatic invasive species management, research, policy, and outreach initiatives and opportunities across North America. This year’s conference is a great […]
Placing Habitat with a Purpose
Placing Habitat with a Purpose
Join BJ Werk, Precision Ag and Conservation Specialist with Pheasants Forever, to learn about the precision application of conservation on marginal cropland to increase farming profits and develop essential wildlife […]
Social Science Basics for Coastal Managers
Social Science Basics for Coastal Managers
The social sciences are a valuable but often overlooked element of coastal zone management. Issues from marsh restoration to flood mitigation all involve understanding critical human elements— knowledge, values, and […]
6 events,
World Dairy Expo
World Dairy Expo serves as a forum for dairy producers, companies, organizations and other dairy enthusiasts to come together to compete, and to exchange ideas, knowledge, technology and commerce Details […]
The Business and Ecosystem Value of Biodiversity
The Business and Ecosystem Value of Biodiversity
Protecting biodiversity is a defining issue of our time as we face the prospect of mass extinction and ecosystem collapse. In this webinar, Quantis and partners will discuss what biodiversity […]
Field Day: Grazing and Forest Management as Regenerative Ag
Field Day: Grazing and Forest Management as Regenerative Ag
Join us for a pasture walk with organic farmer and conservationist Mariann Holm. She will be covering pasture renewal, grazing as conservation, and grazing livestock on pasture with trees. NRCS […]
Ten Plant Diseases NOT to Compost
Ten Plant Diseases NOT to Compost
Certain plant diseases are so horrible or so deadly that composting is not an appropriate way to get rid of affected plants. Come learn about some of these diseases and […]
4 events,
Valuing Aquatic Ecosystem Health at a National Scale: Modeling Biological Indicators Across Space and Time
Valuing Aquatic Ecosystem Health at a National Scale: Modeling Biological Indicators Across Space and Time
EPA estimates the benefits of preserving aquatic resources using the water quality index (WQI). The WQI focuses on metrics related to human use, such as recreation, but fails to fully […]
7 events,
WDNR BITS Training Webinar Series
WDNR BITS Training Webinar Series
BITS is the DNR’s online system to track BMPs implemented through certain pollution abatement programs. DNR will be hosting the following webinars to help you prepare and submit data in […]
Multi-Discharger Variance in BITS, pt. I: Applications and Plans
Multi-Discharger Variance in BITS, pt. I: Applications and Plans
This webinar will go through the process of using BITS to apply for MDV funding and submit a plan for funding you’ve received. We’ll talk strategy for applying for MDV […]
Everyone’s Earth: Conversations on Race and Environment
Everyone’s Earth: Conversations on Race and Environment
Join us for a conversation with those leading the nation’s effort to address racism and the outdoors. Together, we will explore ways we can increase diversity and equity as it […]
Economic Guidance for Coastal Management Professionals
Economic Guidance for Coastal Management Professionals
When coastal managers need to estimate project value and incorporate economic data, they have several approaches to consider. This training provides information about a benefits-cost analysis, economic impact analysis, cost-effectiveness […]
7 events,
National Farm Viability Conference
Oregon Tilth & Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems will be co-hosting the 5th National Farm Viability Conference in October 2021! Featuring an array of […]
Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Conference
Theme: "Changes in Amphibian & Reptile Populations Throughout the Midwest." Midwest PARC (MWPARC) invites you to its virtual annual conference — hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance. The conference will […]
Wild Rice in Wisconsin’s Wetlands
Wild Rice in Wisconsin’s Wetlands
Peter David is a wildlife ecologist with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. He originally hailed from a northeastern Wisconsin community best known as Titletown USA. He received his […]
Internal Phosphorus Loading: Where It Is and What It Does to Cyanobacteria During Climate Change
Internal Phosphorus Loading: Where It Is and What It Does to Cyanobacteria During Climate Change
Gertrud Nürnberg is head of Freshwater Research, a limnological company focusing on the restoration and modeling of eutrophic lakes and reservoirs. She founded this company in 1984, after completing her […]
Satellite Algal Bloom Monitoring in Pigeon Lake
Satellite Algal Bloom Monitoring in Pigeon Lake
Evan DeLancey is a Spatial Data Scientist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute working on landcover mapping and monitoring with satellite data in Alberta. He has a M.Sc. in remote […]
5 events,
Muir Park Invasive Plant Field Day
Muir Park Invasive Plant Field Day
Presentation topics include park history, invasive plant identification and control, and how to report invasive plants using your smartphone. Lunch will be provided, and after lunch we will put our […]
Vineyard Walk
Vineyard Walk
Attendees will take a walk through the station’s vineyards with UW-Madison experts and learn about cold-hardy table grape varieties, the Petite Pearl wine grape variety, disease resistance evaluations, insect monitoring […]
1 event,
2 events,
National Association of State Conservation Agencies and the National Watershed Coalition (NASCA & NWC) Conservation Conference
The National Association of State Conservation Agencies and the National Watershed Coalition would like to welcome you to our joint conference! Details here.
6 events,
Fishing for Food: Quantifying Recreational Fisheries Harvest in Wisconsin Lakes
Fishing for Food: Quantifying Recreational Fisheries Harvest in Wisconsin Lakes
Recreational fisheries have high economic worth, valued at US$190 billion globally. An important, but underappreciated, secondary value of recreational catch is its role as a source of food. This contribution […]
Phenology and YOU: Bringing Leopold into Our Time
Phenology and YOU: Bringing Leopold into Our Time
Aldo Leopold, best known as the author of A Sand County Almanac, was a keen observer of the natural world. Throughout his life, he kept daily journals recording observations of […]
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Hazel Thornton, Programme Officer for the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 2021 marks the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – a ten-year effort […]
8 events,
2021 Invasive Species Research Conference – Turning Science into Action
The 2021 Invasive Species Research Conference will take place virtually in an online event portal. Learn about current and published research from over 40 presenters in a variety of themed […]
Climate Policy Forum
The La Follette Forum: Climate Policy will feature morning and evening keynote addresses and six breakout sessions. The in-person event will feature several networking opportunities for participants, including an evening reception. “We […]
Timber Marking for Wildlife
Timber Marking for Wildlife
More often than not landowners own their properties for aesthetic and wildlife purposes. In this workshop, we will explore in-field examples of how white-tailed deer and turkey habitat components can […]
Grant-writing 101 and Grant Programs for Farmers
Grant-writing 101 and Grant Programs for Farmers
Learn about grant programs for farmers and tips for putting together a successful grant project in this 2 day webinar series. On October 6th Margaret Krome from the Michael Fields […]
8 events,
Challenges Getting There in Relation to Production and Conservation
Challenges Getting There in Relation to Production and Conservation
A part of the Yale Forest Forum: The Future of Wood Building Products in a Changing Climate Wood is a renewable resource that has wide material applications in many industries. […]
Grant-writing 101 and Grant Programs for Farmers
Grant-writing 101 and Grant Programs for Farmers
Learn about grant programs for farmers and tips for putting together a successful grant project in this 2 day webinar series. On October 6th Margaret Krome from the Michael Fields […]
PaddockTrac: A Web-Based Mobile Application for Managed Grazing Systems
PaddockTrac: A Web-Based Mobile Application for Managed Grazing Systems
Join us for this webinar in which we will discuss a new wireless sensor, tethered to a smartphone and GIS-based web application, built to improve the efficiency of measuring/monitoring/managing forage […]
North East Workshop: Establish a Conservation Plan for your Land
North East Workshop: Establish a Conservation Plan for your Land
What’s the first and the most important step to stewarding your land for generations to come? Developing a conservation plan specific to your property that blends tested strategies with the […]
3 events,
Road-Stream Crossing Tour
Road-Stream Crossing Tour
Join us for a one-day road-stream crossing tour in Hayward. The tour will stop at several road-stream crossings in the Hayward area and the National Forest to showcase common signs […]
8 events,
Multi-Discharger Variance in BITS, pt. II: Annual Reports
Multi-Discharger Variance in BITS, pt. II: Annual Reports
We’ll talk about the reporting phase of your MDV projects: how to document implemented practices and submit a report to the DNR. We’ll cover common questions and advice for submitting […]
Wood Products as Sustainable Materials
Wood Products as Sustainable Materials
A part of the Yale Forest Forum: The Future of Wood Building Products in a Changing Climate Wood is a renewable resource that has wide material applications in many industries. […]
How Climate Adaptation Helps to Manage Organizational Risk
How Climate Adaptation Helps to Manage Organizational Risk
Climate action is a planetary necessity and also a strategic organizational imperative. If progress doesn’t measure up, organizations can face consequences, including investor, employee and community activism -- as well […]
Climate Ghosts: Migratory Species in the Anthropocene
Climate Ghosts: Migratory Species in the Anthropocene
Environmental historian Nancy Langston explores how climate change and the legacies of settler colonialism threaten the future of wildlife in the Anthropocene. She focuses on three “ghost species” in the […]
Optimization in Energy and Environmental Systems
Optimization in Energy and Environmental Systems
Prof. Michael Ferris (Computer Sciences Department, UW–Madison) will discuss: Power grids across the world depend on optimization models that capture interactions between producers, transmission and consumers. The recent explosion of […]
5 events,
Wetland Butterflies in Wisconsin
Wetland Butterflies in Wisconsin
Mike Reese is a self-taught insect enthusiast. Now retired, he has been a cook, botanist, high school math teacher, golf and basketball coach, and high school librarian. While he says […]
Life Hacks over Lunch: A Meet-up Series for Watershed Professionals
Life Hacks over Lunch: A Meet-up Series for Watershed Professionals
This free, virtual meet-up series is a peer-learning opportunity for watershed professionals to share ideas and advice for solving real-life challenges of watershed projects. If you work with farmers and […]
5 events,
Black Sustainability Summit
We are unapologetically committed to Sustainable, Liberated, Lifelong Learning Communities for people of Afrikan Descent. We envision Afrikan people living in sovereign communities dedicated to returning to the ways of […]
WDNR BITS Training Webinar Series
WDNR BITS Training Webinar Series
BITS is the DNR’s online system to track BMPs implemented through certain pollution abatement programs. DNR will be hosting the following webinars to help you prepare and submit data in […]
3 events,
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) Annual Conference
ASDWA Conference Exhibitors are public and private corporations, trade associations, and assistance providers to the water community. The focus of their exhibits includes treatment technologies, especially technologies appropriate for small […]
11 events,
Esri Imagery Summit
As imagery and remote sensing continue to proliferate and diversify, your peers are developing software systems, tools, and analytical methods to harness their power. Join the remote sensing community at […]
Minnesota Water Resources Conference
Immerse yourself in innovative, practical, and applied water resource engineering solutions, management techniques, and current research about Minnesota’s water resources. The Minnesota Water Resources Conference is an opportunity to address: […]
Commodity Super-Cycle Update
Commodity Super-Cycle Update
The size of the 2021 crops is largely known as harvest progresses, with a much better handle on Chinese demand as well. What does that mean for crop fundamentals over […]
Life from the Ashes: Exploring the Impact of Prescribed & Natural Fire on Insects and Other Invertebrates
Life from the Ashes: Exploring the Impact of Prescribed & Natural Fire on Insects and Other Invertebrates
Ecosystems throughout North America evolved with wildfire. Today, prescribed fire is an important tool for managing habitat by maintaining open, early seral landscapes. Fire can greatly improve the value of […]
4-part Digital Dialogue: What are healthy agroecosystems?
4-part Digital Dialogue: What are healthy agroecosystems?
Grassland 2.0 is hosting a 4-part Digital Dialogue focusing on the question - What are healthy agroecosystems? The digital dialogues will be held on the third Tuesday of the month […]
Create your spark: How to cultivate an innovative team
Create your spark: How to cultivate an innovative team
Innovation is a term that is thrown around a lot. We want our government agencies to be innovative, to be creative, to think outside the box, but agencies are also […]
Understanding patterns of fish kill events in Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes
Understanding patterns of fish kill events in Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes
Fish kill events can serve as indicators of a changing environment, disease emergence, or stressors. Recent reviews of fish kill events in Minnesota and Wisconsin have revealed predictable patterns, which […]
13 events,
Wisconsin Sedimentation & Erosion Control Inspector (WISECI) Best Management Practices
Learn techniques to manage construction site stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) and eliminate problems before they cause higher costs and slowdowns for your project. Save time and money by avoiding […]
Clean Lakes 101: Yahara CLEAN Strategic Plan 3.0
Clean Lakes 101: Yahara CLEAN Strategic Plan 3.0
The Yahara River Watershed contributes significantly to the region’s economic vitality and quality of life. Despite years of investment in water quality improvements, the watershed’s five lakes remain highly eutrophic, […]
Soil Health Field Day
Soil Health Field Day
Come learn how you can support soil health on your farm! -How does soil health improve farm profitability, water quality, and wildlife habitat? -What soil health principles can I put […]
Leading for Racial Equity Series: Increasing racial consciousness & racial literacy
Leading for Racial Equity Series: Increasing racial consciousness & racial literacy
Racial literacy is a key skill in leading inclusive and equitable local governments. During this first session in a four-part series, you will increase your racial literacy and racial consciousness […]
SGSO Network Webinar – School Food Service and School Gardens
SGSO Network Webinar – School Food Service and School Gardens
Hear how school gardens can be intertwined with the work of school nutrition programs. We will share case studies related to school food service program funding and staffing support of […]
How to harness social messaging for better citizen engagement
How to harness social messaging for better citizen engagement
Long gone are the days where government agencies should rely on brick-and-mortar locations to respond to the needs of the constituents. Social messaging – using applications like Facebook or Twitter […]
Forestry BMPs for Invasive Species
Forestry BMPs for Invasive Species
BMPs – Best Management Practices for Forestry Invasive Species are voluntary practices that were developed to coincide and complement Legislative Rule NR 40 https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/nr/001/40.pdf which works as a way of classifying Invasive […]
WASPS: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants
WASPS: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants
Author Heather Holm will be sharing from her new book, “WASPS,” which features approximately 150 species of flower-visiting wasps that occur in eastern North America, and the specific native plants […]
11 events,
Wisconsin Science Festival
The four-day Wisconsin Science Festival features events throughout Wisconsin for people of all ages. Activities include hands-on science experiments, live Q&A sessions and interviews with scientists, demonstrations, performances, behind-the-scenes tours […]
Imagine a Day Without Water
No water to drink, or wash your hands with. No water to shower, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Hospitals would close without water. Firefighters couldn't put out fires and […]
USDA Office Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
USDA Office Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
As the Partnerships Liaison for the Office, Joe will highlight successes of the Urban Agriculture Planning and Implementation grants and Compost and Food Waste Reduction grants, both of which are […]
EddMAPs Training
EddMAPs Training
Join Invasive Species Program Coordinator Matt Wallrath of Upper Sugar River Watershed Association for this training on how to ID and report invasive plant species! Matt will explain why invasive […]
Spatial and Temporal Scaling of Biofilter Media Performance Data and Updates to WinSLAMM
Spatial and Temporal Scaling of Biofilter Media Performance Data and Updates to WinSLAMM
There are many publications reporting the performance of isolated stormwater controls, but relatively few that have examined how the use of many of these controls function at larger scales and […]
Tap Your Potential Curriculum: A Training to Grow Farmer Leadership in Watershed Management Lunch and Learn
Tap Your Potential Curriculum: A Training to Grow Farmer Leadership in Watershed Management Lunch and Learn
Learn more about Tap Your Potential: A Training to Grow Farmer Leadership in Watershed Management and how you can incorporate it into your programming to engage farmers in efforts to […]
Organic Certification and Organic Cost Share
Organic Certification and Organic Cost Share
Learn how to apply for organic cost share, how to become certified organic and about resources and assistance available to farmers pursuing organic certification. Short overview presentation with additional time […]
Using EPA’s EnviroAtlas and Recovery Potential Screening Tools to Support Sound Decision Making
Using EPA’s EnviroAtlas and Recovery Potential Screening Tools to Support Sound Decision Making
EPA’s EnviroAtlas and the Healthy Watersheds Program’s Recovery Potential Screening (RPS) Tool are decision-support tools that assist users in determining where and how to take action to ensure successful ecosystem […]
3 events,
Usable Science for Producers: Helping Cattle Producers Make More Informed Decisions about Soil Carbon and Grazing
Usable Science for Producers: Helping Cattle Producers Make More Informed Decisions about Soil Carbon and Grazing
This webinar will provide semi-arid rangeland cattle producers with supplemental grazing and soils information coupled with research data to make informed management decisions. Join us as we discuss why soils […]
9 events,
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Symposium
Please join us to learn about NE Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) research, hear about our new science plan, and discover resources and tools that support climate adaptation. The symposium […]
Aquia Engage
Engage is about you. About our community. And about our shared commitment to bringing radically innovative ideas to life. Whether you’re a marketer, an IT pro, or anyone else who […]
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Academy
The Academy goal is to provide high quality training for local government staff that maintains and improves the delivery of conservation work and meets the shared expectations of BWSR and […]
Smart Salting for WI Roads Workshop
Smart Salting for WI Roads Workshop
Free training for winter maintenance professionals who remove snow, apply road salt or maintain snow removal equipment used on roads. Learn how using the right amount of salt can save […]
Plastics Pollution
Plastics Pollution
Leah Holloway, Program Manager for Milwaukee Riverkeeper - Together we'll learn how plastics get into our environment, why they are so harmful, why they are so hard to get rid of, and […]
Enhancing Farm Revenues with Conservation Practices and Ecosystem Services
Enhancing Farm Revenues with Conservation Practices and Ecosystem Services
Farmers interested in implementing conservation practices, or providing other ecosystem services, may find themselves eligible for additional revenue streams. In this webinar, we’ll talk about NRCS initiatives that provide cost-shares […]
Recovery of the monarch butterfly: Federal and state legislation that can provide hope for this iconic animal
Recovery of the monarch butterfly: Federal and state legislation that can provide hope for this iconic animal
Monarch butterflies are one of North America’s most iconic animals. Weighing less than a penny, monarchs can fly up to 3000 miles from summer breeding grounds to overwintering sites in […]
8 events,
Considering Root Traits for Improved Native Plant Development and Restoration
Considering Root Traits for Improved Native Plant Development and Restoration
Trait-based ecology aims to link specific plant traits, or characteristics that affect fitness, to community assembly, biodiversity, and ecosystem function. Trait-based approaches are increasingly being used to understand plant establishment […]
Techniques and Concepts for Improving Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency to Benefit Both People and Wildlife
Techniques and Concepts for Improving Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency to Benefit Both People and Wildlife
Join us as we discuss the value of nature-based solutions for improving coastal habitats while adding to the resiliency of these valuable ecosystems to the increased risks associated with climate […]
6 events,
Smart Salting for Parking Lots and Sidewalks
Smart Salting for Parking Lots and Sidewalks
Free training for winter maintenance professionals who remove snow, apply road salt or maintain snow removal equipment used on roads. Learn how using the right amount of salt can save […]
WiWiC Conservation Educator Network: Launch Meeting
WiWiC Conservation Educator Network: Launch Meeting
Are you a conservation educator working with women landowners in Wisconsin? You’re invited to the launch of an inclusive new network of conservation educators to collaboratively support each other in […]
Environmental Impact of Buildings
Environmental Impact of Buildings
A part of the Yale Forest Forum: The Future of Wood Building Products in a Changing Climate Wood is a renewable resource that has wide material applications in many industries. […]
The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative: Regional Coordination, Adaptive Management, and New Treatments for an Invasive Grass
The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative: Regional Coordination, Adaptive Management, and New Treatments for an Invasive Grass
The Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic weeds (FICMNEW) represents an unprecedented formal partnership between 18 federal agencies with direct invasive plant management and regulatory responsibilities […]
4 events,
New Farmer U
New Farmer U covers farm financial and business management for intermediate beginning farmers—3-6 years of farming experience—or anyone who is ready to plan for future success. Info here.
Monitoring Pollinators in Wetlands: Opportunities for Citizen Scientists
Monitoring Pollinators in Wetlands: Opportunities for Citizen Scientists
Many Wisconsin volunteers participate in monitoring projects to track the distribution and abundance of pollinators. These projects collect data crucial to conservation research and land management, but wetlands are underrepresented […]
National Farm Viability Conference
Oregon Tilth & Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems will be co-hosting the 5th National Farm Viability Conference in October 2021! Featuring an array of […]
National Association of State Conservation Agencies and the National Watershed Coalition (NASCA & NWC) Conservation Conference
The National Association of State Conservation Agencies and the National Watershed Coalition would like to welcome you to our joint conference! Details here.
Smart Salting for Parking Lots and Sidewalks
Free training for winter maintenance professionals who remove snow, apply road salt or maintain snow removal equipment used on roads. Learn how using the right amount of salt can save […]
WiWiC Conservation Educator Network: Launch Meeting
Are you a conservation educator working with women landowners in Wisconsin? You’re invited to the launch of an inclusive new network of conservation educators to collaboratively support each other in […]
Environmental Impact of Buildings
A part of the Yale Forest Forum: The Future of Wood Building Products in a Changing Climate Wood is a renewable resource that has wide material applications in many industries. […]
The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative: Regional Coordination, Adaptive Management, and New Treatments for an Invasive Grass
The Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic weeds (FICMNEW) represents an unprecedented formal partnership between 18 federal agencies with direct invasive plant management and regulatory responsibilities […]
New Farmer U
New Farmer U covers farm financial and business management for intermediate beginning farmers—3-6 years of farming experience—or anyone who is ready to plan for future success. Info here.
Monitoring Pollinators in Wetlands: Opportunities for Citizen Scientists
Many Wisconsin volunteers participate in monitoring projects to track the distribution and abundance of pollinators. These projects collect data crucial to conservation research and land management, but wetlands are underrepresented […]
Pest Management Update Meeting
UW–Madison Division of Extension, Outagamie County Place: Liberty Hall 800 Eisenhower Dr, Kimberly Cost: $50/person – meeting & meal CEUs: The meeting counts towards three hours of CEU credits in pest management […]
Discovery Farms Conference
The Discovery Farms Annual Conference is back. This year we will utilize our robust dataset from water quality monitoring over the last 20 years to assess tradeoffs of on-farm management […]
Conservation News
Northern Soil Compaction Conference
Do you feel like soil compaction is squeezing your yields? Are you wondering what you can do about it? The University of Minnesota Extension is proud to partner with Manitoba Ag and Resource Development and North Dakota State University to bring you the Northern Soil Compaction Conference. This virtual event will be held on June 22nd and 23rd from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm CT.
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