Farm Loans: How and When to Use Debt to Finance Your Farm Business
2021-12-01 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Chicago)
Growing a food and farm business often requires taking on debt. Upfront capital requirements and seasonal operations expenditures can leave enterprises strapped for cash and vulnerable to disruptions. The right loans can help, but it is important to know when and where to seek funding, and which lending opportunities best suit your purpose. Let’s talk about how to decide whether debt financing is the right tool for you, and how to get approved.
Info here.

Floodplain 101
2021-12-02 08:00 - 12:00
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be hosting a virtual Floodplain 101 Workshop. All community floodplain zoning administrators, community officials, building officials and other development professionals are encouraged to attend.

Floodplain management & federal, state & local roles
WI minimum standards
Floodplain zones and types
Permitting of structures in the floodplain & development scenarios
Mitigation options & funding sources
Letters of map change
Hydrologic & hydraulic analyses
Dam failure analyses
Program updates
Q&A session

Info here.

Mass Timber Case Study
2021-12-02 10:30 - 11:30
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. Wood products sourced from sustainably managed forests store carbon and can play an important role in combating climate change. Recent innovations in the use of wood have led to the development of new products that can replace traditional fossil-based carbon-intensive materials, particularly in the construction and energy sectors. Understanding the potential environmental impacts and societal implications of increases in both conventional and emerging wood products across their respective life cycles, as well as their possible reuse in a circular construction economy, is critical in assessing the climate mitigation potential of wood vs. other materials.
What is the future role of forest products in addressing climate, resources, societal, and environmental challenges? What are the environmental, economic, and societal implications for using more forest products? Hear from speakers representing forestry, industrial ecology, architecture, conservation, and academia.
Info here.

Organic Confluences Conference: Connecting Organic and AgTech
2021-12-02 11:00 - 16:30
The conferences will examine potential opportunities for technology to support the organic sector, pitfalls when it comes to access and equity in AgTech, historical and current examples of AgTech exacerbating the pre-existing structures of racism in the food system, and methods for analyzing AgTech’s fit within organic ideals.
Info here.

Cash Flow Projections for 2022
2021-12-02 12:00 - 13:00
As we wrap up 2021, our financial management experts will share important tips to finish 2021 strong. They’ll also provide an outlook for 2022 cash flows. Episode presenters will be:
· Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, PhD, Professor of Agribusiness at University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Agriculture and Farm Management Specialist with UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability
· Gary Sipiorski, Independent Business and Financial Consultant
Info here.

Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms
2021-12-02 12:00 - 14:30
The Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms (HCBs) training reviews key information found in the ITRC Guidance Document, Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms.
Cyanobacteria are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that occur naturally in all aquatic systems but most often in freshwater systems. Under certain conditions, cyanobacteria can multiply and become very abundant, discoloring the water throughout a water body or accumulating at the surface. These occurrences are known as blooms. Cyanobacteria may produce potent toxins (cyanotoxins) that pose a threat to human health. They can also harm wildlife and domestic animals, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies by disrupting drinking water systems and source waters, recreational uses, commercial and recreational fishing, and property values. It is likely that continued population growth, land use change, increases in nutrient inputs to our waterways, and the warming climate will favor proliferation of these problematic species. Providing a range of practical approaches to minimize these blooms and their likely societal and wildlife effects is critical to our future vitality, health, and economic prosperity.
Info here.

Start Your 2022 Grant Strategy Off Right!
2021-12-02 14:00 - 15:00
As the calendar year begins to wind down and you think about the new year, are you also thinking about how to strengthen your grant-seeking strategy in the upcoming year?
Starting your year off with a strong plan and clear goals in place will ensure that you secure the funding necessary to achieve your goals for grant revenue.
Participating in “Start Your 2022 Grant Seeking Off Right!” will provide you with a strong understanding of your success in 2021 and how to set goals for 2022 that will help expand your grant-seeking strategy and revenue. We will also discuss how to increase the engagement of your colleagues in being part of the grant planning process to further increase your success.
Info here.

Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need
2021-12-02 15:30 - 17:00
Dr. Mike Hoffmann, will give a presentation based on his new book, “Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need,” and the companion website. Written by Hoffmann and Carrie Koplinka-Loehr and Danielle L. Eiseman, the authors “offer an eye-opening journey through a complete menu of before-dinner drinks and salads; main courses and sides; and coffee and dessert. Our Changing Menu is a celebration of food and a call to action―encouraging readers to join with others from the common ground of food to help tackle the greatest challenge of our time. Their story is rounded out with a primer on the global food system, the causes and impacts of climate change, and what we can all do.” Come prepared to consider how we can start a climate change social movement using food – we all eat.
Info here.

International Nature Farming Convergence
2021-12-02 17:30 - 23:00
The focus of this event goes far beyond Nature Farming as a series of recipes, instead bringing in natural philosophy and going back to the traditional roots of farming. As the world gets increasingly connected by technology, it is also causing cultural amnesia as homogenous forces of consumerism cause the domesticated and industrialized to forget how to live harmoniously in their own ecosystems. Fermentation as an art form, has largely been forgotten due to the convenience of electricity, and so human microbiomes have suffered. Microbial based agriculture can help heal the soil, fostering greater ability for human health, empowering us all through food sovereignty. Nature Farming as a spiritual worldview allows us to remember we are part of the natural world and can foster diversity in our bioregions.
Info here.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and YFA Conference
2021-12-03 - 2021-12-06
The annual meeting brings together Wisconsin farmers, agriculture business professionals and supporters to discuss top issues impacting agriculture.
One of the most important items of business at each WFBF Annual Meeting is the grassroots policy development process. County Farm Bureaus elect voting delegates who will participate in a resolution session during Monday’s program to establish policy positions to guide WFBF staff throughout 2022.
Info here.

2021-12-03 09:00 - 10:00
Join for this webinar series focused on the biology and human dynamics of pollinator conservation in urban settings.
11/29 Reed Johnson, Honey Bees in the City
11/30 Gerardo Camilo, The City as a Refuge for Insect Pollinators
12/1 Mary Gardiner, Vacant Lots as Urban Bee Habitat
12/2 Scott MacIvor, Constructed Green Infrastructure to Support Wild Bees: Does it Work?
12/3 Damon Hall, Policy Dimensions of Insect Pollinator Conservation
Info here.

Anticipating the hydrologic consequences of Emerald Ash Borer invasion in tribal forested wetlands through a sapflux network
2021-12-03 10:30 - 11:30
Tribal communities maintain significant landholdings, including Black ash-dominated forested wetlands. These systems have not been a priority for management, but anticipated mortality induced by emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) has prompted tribal managers to seek strategies and prioritize areas for mitigation. Join Angela Waupochick as she shares details about how her tribal-scale research will direct local management by capturing a refined picture of environmental and atmospheric controls. She’ll also share how the data from this work will better determine how site hydrology changes following black ash loss and direct specific management areas for tribal managers.
Angela Waupochick is Ph.D. student in forest and wildlife ecology at UW-Madison. She is using bioacoustic monitoring in a forest-wetland research project in the Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Lands near Keshena, in northern Wisconsin. Her goal is to find the best conservation strategies for these black ash–dominated ecosystems because they are widespread in the area and a culturally significant tribal land resource.
Info here.

Great Lakes PFAS Summit
2021-12-06 - 2021-12-10
The goals of the Summit are to provide the most current and reliable science and policy, facilitate information sharing, and explore current and future research topics related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Info here.

SCIENCE x Socioeconomic Dimensions of Land Management
2021-12-06 - 2021-12-10
The SCIENCEx webinar series brings together scientists and land management experts from across U.S. Forest Service research stations and beyond to explore the latest science and best practices for addressing large natural resource challenges across the country.
These webinars will be primarily management focused, but with applicability for participants from across sectors. SCIENCEx will typically be organized as week-long webinar ‘blitzes’ around salient topics, allowing for deep-dives into subtopics or dynamics within specific geographies.
Info here.

How Do State and Local Governments Interact to Fight Climate Change?
2021-12-06 19:00 - 20:00
Please join for a panel discussion on ways that state and local governments can work together to address climate change.
The panel will feature these speakers:

Kathy Kuntz, Director, Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change
Jessica Price, Madison Sustainability & Resilience Manager
Maria Redmond, Director, Wisconsin Office of Sustainability & Clean Energy

Info here.

Great Lakes Expo 2021
2021-12-07 - 2021-12-09
Over three days, the program includes sessions on fruit crops, vegetable crops, other specialty crops, greenhouse crop production and marketing, farm marketing ideas and operations, farmers’ markets and organic production and marketing. There will also be sessions covering a diversity of general interest topics, including food safety and labor.
Presentations will be made by researchers and Extension educators from Michigan State University, other Land Grant universities and industry. Many of the education sessions will offer credits for Michigan and Ohio Private and Commercial Pesticide Applicators and Certified Crop Advisors.
Info here.

Intertribal Agriculture Council Annual Conference
2021-12-07 - 2021-12-09
Join us as the IAC highlights Tribal producers and land stewardship efforts that lend important modeling and direction to all sectors of agriculture and land management.
The Intertribal Agriculture Council is excited to announce our 2021 Annual Conference theme “Original Land Stewards.” As the original land stewards, Native peoples have actively managed the ecosystems from which much of the modern world food supply originates since time immemorial. Our practices, lifeways, and foodways provide frameworks that are being drawn upon to address many of the climate issues currently present.
Info here.

Angler Instructor Training Workshop
2021-12-07 - 2021-12-09
Join to learn tips and best practices to teach fishing. At this workshop, you will get certified to lead learn-to-fish programs for adults, families and youth in your community or the students in your classroom. We may be in a virtual world, but your hands will be busy as you brush up on your own basic fishing skills like fish identification, knot tying, casting and more!
This workshop combines the Angler R3 programs, Angler Education and Fishing for Dinner so you can pick and choose to suit your audiences.
Info here.

Pesticide Applicator Training Program
2021-12-07 09:00 - 12:30
The UW Pesticide Applicator Training Program has created multiple formats for private applicator trainings to address increased training demand.
A private applicator is someone that applies restricted use pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity on their own property or the property owned or rented by an employer. Examples of agricultural commodities are grain and forage crops, fruit crops or horticulture products. A restricted use pesticide can be identified by checking the label of the product you wish to use.
A Private Applicator Certification is valid for 5 years. There are three steps toward certification: purchasing the training manual, training and taking the test.
Info here.

Evaluation of Different Sulfur Sources for Corn and Soybeans
2021-12-07 11:00 - 12:00
Sulfur supplementation has recently received greater interest from the crop production community. The growing desire to supplement sulfur is driven by decreased sulfur deposition from rainfall, increased yields for multiple crops, and lower sulfur content in phosphorus-containing fertilizers. Traditionally there have been only a few sulfur sources that producers have relied upon for their sulfur fertilization needs. Today there are more options available to farmers. This webinar will explore these options and compare new and traditional sulfur products.
Info here.

4-part Digital Dialogue: What are healthy agroecosystems?
2021-12-07 12:00 - 13:30
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 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM CT this fall with the following schedule:
Tuesday, September 21st – Dan Smith
Tuesday, October 19th – Stephan van Vliet
Tuesday, November 16th – Thelma Heidel-Baker
Tuesday, December 7th – Adam Abel
The format will be a 45-minute presentation followed by a facilitated questions and answer session.

Groundwater and Well Construction 101
2021-12-07 13:00 - 14:30
In this webinar, you’ll learn about how water moves through the ground to your well and how well construction can increase contamination vulnerability. Additional questions that may be answered include:

Types of wells and well construction,
The basic components of a well system, and
Water treatment options.

Info here.

Helping Farmers to be Good Neighbors
2021-12-08 11:00 - 12:00
As rural areas become more developed it is so important for farmers to be good neighbors. New neighbors may have never been exposed to production agriculture might complain about a farm’s noise, pesticide application, odors, dust or a newly constructed farm building. This session will discuss many aspects of how to be a good neighbor from the appearance of their farm to community involvement.
Info and registration.

Brine on a Budget
2021-12-08 12:00 - 13:00
Matt Wittum, Highway Superintendent with the Town of Linn, joins us again to advise smaller municipalities or anyone interested getting into brine but running into budget issues.
Info here.

Black Farmer Justice: Past, Present, and Future
2021-12-08 12:00 - 13:00
Black farmers have a rich history and promising future in the United States, even though the Black history of agriculture is often reduced to slavery and cotton plantations. In Farming While Black (2018), Leah Penniman argues that justice for Black people, farmers and otherwise, requires learning about Black histories of agriculture, creating new experiences in the natural world, and getting in touch with our food systems. With a panel of Black scholars, farmers, and activists, in this webinar we explore what justice for Black farmers is today, what it has been in the past, and what it can be in the future.

Habitat Management and Monitoring
2021-12-08 12:30 - 14:30
This workshop will provide practitioners with technical guidance for the successful stewardship of habitat including what to expect and recommended management actions over time. This module will also provide a better understanding of the importance of monitoring to evaluate the success or need to adapt management plans, as well as include specific monitoring methodologies.
TOPIC 1: Long-term management considerations and strategies.
Dan Zay, State Resource Conservationist, USDA/NRCS
TOPIC 2: Disturbance, prescribed fire, and the importance of managing succession.
Joe Robb, Ph.D., Project Lead, USFWS, Big Oaks and Muscatatuck Nation Wildlife Refuge Complex
Quanit Ali, Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Angela VanWinden, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, USFWS, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
TOPIC 3: The importance of monitoring: Incorporating the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) into Your Project.
Jennifer Thieme, Science Coordinator, Monarch Joint Venture
Info here.

History of Racism in US Agriculture and Organic
2021-12-08 13:00 - 14:00
Organic organizations have recognized the need for training providing baseline knowledge and common language around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organic community.
This presentation, delivered by Beth Schermerhorn and Asha Carter from Cambium Collective with the input of the steering committee and focus groups, will provide an overview of systemic racism in organic agriculture systems, data on current demographics surrounding organic farmers, consumers, and service providers, and existing policies contributing to or remediating discrepancies.
Info here.

Winter Tree Identification
2021-12-08 13:00 - 15:00
Identifying trees without their leaves can be difficult. However, knowing how to use their twigs, buds, and bark can make it a lot easier. In this program, we will cover the basics of winter tree identification through a combination of presentations, in-field tree identification, and twig identification practice. Join us as we explore the winter beauty of Schmeeckle’s trees and learn how to:

use dichotomous keys,
apply key terminology to identify trees and twigs, and
identify trees by bark, twig, and buds.

Info here.

How (and How Not) to Apply for Agricultural Grants
2021-12-08 19:00 - 20:30
With a wave of new grant opportunities and emergency funding for farmers, it can be tough to know where to start—or if you even should.
Grants can help your farm upgrade, innovate, and grow. But the application process can have a steep learning curve and a quick turnaround. With no guarantee of funding, it’s important to ask yourself if a grant is right for your farm and worth the work.
In this webinar you’ll hear from a farmer who successfully—and unsuccessfully—applied for funding, a grants administrator, and consultants from Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. You’ll learn how to identify funding sources that make sense for your farm’s goals. You’ll also learn about the ebb and flow of funding cycles, the differences between grants and emergency funds, strategies for getting prepared to apply for grants, and resources for getting help.
Info here.

Activate Soil Microbes to Unlock Nutrients and Improve Profitability
2021-12-09 10:00 - 11:00
Regardless of how many nutrients we apply, without healthy soil they may never make it to the plant due to timing or severe weather. It’s not uncommon to experience nitrogen loss of 30-50% and up to 80% of applied phosphorus can get bound to elements in the soil, leaving little in a form that plants actually use. This webinar will help you learn how to wake up your soil’s microbiome, maximize profits, and take back control.
Info here.
