Conservation Professional Training Program

Forest Management and Biochar: Building Resilient Ecosystems
2021-03-18 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
Dr. Debbie Page, research soil scientist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station, will talk about forest management and woody biomass-derived biochar, its properties and how it helps to build resilient ecosystems. To learn more about the event, click click here.

Community Redevelopment Projects and DNR Grant Funding Opportunities
2021-03-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
This Sustainable Strategies Webinar will provide an overview of the following WDNR grant programs. Learn more about grant eligibility and application instructions, as well as examples on how local governments can leverage their resources with these grants. Attendees will also be joined by representatives from the Cities of Janesville and Eau Claire. For more information, visit this website.

Conservation Resources for your Farm
2021-03-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join Wisconsin FSA for a four-part webinar series providing information about tools and resources available to producers. Each session will target a specific subset of resources, and producers and industry members are encouraged to attend all that apply to their operation. All events are free to participate in and will include a Question & Answer Session following program presentations.
Pre-registration is not needed. Utilize the virtual meeting links or call in numbers listed below to join each session. Please email katie.demrow@usda.gov or call 608-662-4422 with any questions.

Farm Ready Research Webinar Series
2021-03-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
Farm Ready Research is Extension’s agriculture winter webinar meeting series for farmers and ag professionals.
Join the webinars to learn the most up-to-date information on topics from dairy and livestock production to farm management resources. Sessions begin December 2020 and run through April 2021.
Review the program topics and descriptions below. Click the “Register Now” button to pick your meetings of interest and receive connection information and meeting reminders.
Register here.

Wisconsin Farmers Union Budget Organizing Workshop
2021-03-19 11:00 - 16:00 | Online
This year, instead of our annual Farm and Rural Lobby Day, Wisconsin Farmers Union is engaging members in the biennial budget process. The state budget funds a wide range of public programs and services from education to transportation to conservation. This is a great opportunity for WFU members to advocate for state investment in family farms and rural communities. We are holding three budget organizing workshops throughout the month of March to let you know how you can get involved. During these workshops we will provide an overview of the state budget process, share WFU budget priorities and talking points, and help you prepare to get involved through public testimony, meetings with legislators, and media work. The same content will be covered in each workshop. Click here for more information.

Wisconsin Cover Crops & Conservation Conversations
2021-03-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
The Cover Crops Research and Outreach Project (CCROP), UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agriculture, the UW-Madison Nutrient and Pest Management Program, and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute are pleased to offer three virtual lunch hour programs highlighting current cover crop and conservation research and outreach efforts around Wisconsin.
The 3 programs are designed for farmers, agronomists, conservation professionals—and anyone else interested in cover crops and soil health! Meetings details are below. Registration is free but required.
Questions? Contact Dan Smith at dhsmith@wisc.edu or 608-219-5170.

Let's Get Green and Growing
2021-03-20 09:20 - 13:40 | Online
“Let’s Get Green and Growing” is a free on-line event sponsored by the Columbia County Master Gardener Association, Inc. It begins at 9:20 am and concludes by 1:40 pm on March 20, 2021. It features four presentations: Zannah Crowe, “Creating a Garden of Four Season Interest”; Ann Pearce, “Addressing Invasive Species with Citizen Science”; Carol Shirk, “Minor Fruits – Major Impact”‘; and Pat Trapp “Daylilies – The Perfect Perennial.”
For more information, visit this page.

Tracing Connections Between Water and Climate
2021-03-24 12:00 - 13:15 | Online
Register today for the next event in the Climate & Energy Series! Join us at noon on March 24th as we welcome Gary Besaw (Former Tribal Chair, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin) and Bill Davis (Senior Legal Analyst, River Alliance of Wisconsin). Join us online as the two discuss the integral role that “systems thinking” plays in creating a bold agenda on water in Wisconsin, and how this kind of thinking relates to climate change.
To learn more and register, follow this link.

Badger Crop Connect Spring Series
2021-03-24 12:30 - 13:30 | WI
The Division of Extension is hosting Badger Crop Connect Spring Series for timely crop updates for Wisconsin. All meetings will be on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month starting at 12:30. Each meeting will be approximately one hour.
One hour of continuing education units will be available for CCAs.
March 10: Wheat Management with Shawn Conley & Carrie Laboski
March 24: Early season weed control with Rodrigo Werle and Mark Renz
April 14: Planting field conditions and planter set-up with Francisco Arriaga and Brian Luck
April 28: Wheat fungicides with Damon Smith & TBD
May 12: Corn update with Joe Lauer & insect update with Bryan Jensen
May 26: Soybean update with Shawn Conley & TBD

Evaluating Soil Health and Soil Carbon Dynamics in Midwestern Cropping Systems
2021-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
The March Soil Health Digital Cafe will feature Brian Doughtry from Iowa State University, where he will discuss how different management practices affect soil health corn and soybean systems.
For more information, visit this website.

The Message Box: Communicating Your Science Effectively
2021-03-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
It’s a complex world, and the need for clear communication has never been greater. This learning series provides opportunities to build your science communication skills and reflect on how to tell meaningful stories about your work. Hosted by the Lake Superior Reserve’s Coastal Training Program and the Lake Superior Collaborative, this series is designed to help you gain confidence in your communication skills whether you are a scientific researcher, government employee, or in any line of work related to science or Lake Superior coastal management. This series will alternate between virtual workshops and webinars from January through May of 2021.
The March 24th and March 25th session will explore what makes people sit up and pay attention and how to build a meaningful connection with your audience. Whether you’re engaging with community members, journalists, distilling the latest report, policymakers, or just explaining what you do on a virtual happy hour, this workshop will help you communicate clearly, concisely, and compellingly.
In this interactive virtual workshop, COMPASS Science Communication Coach Sarah Sunu will introduce tools and strategies to help you understand and communicate to diverse audiences. Workshop attendees will learn how to use the Message Box, COMPASS’ fundamental tool for breaking down complex topics into digestible messages. This workshop will involve hands-on practice, feedback, and interactive exercises, so please join using a webcam and be prepared to actively participate.

River Country Grazing Network Virtual Meetings
2021-03-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
These meetings feature topics on: how to get up and going with your grazing operation; fine tuning and optimizing the grass on your existing operation; and grazing cover crops, how do they fit into the grazing operation.
For more information on the talks and speakers, make sure to follow this link.

Wednesday, March 24, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Featuring Vance Haugen: How to Get Up and Going with Your Grazing Operation
Saturday, March 27, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Featuring Vance Haugen: Fine Tuning and Optimizing the Grass on Your Existing Grazing Operation
Wednesday, March 31, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Featuring Jason Cavadini: Grazing Cover Crops: How do they fit into the grazing operation?

Farm Forest Initiative: Engaging Farmers in Woodlot Management
2021-03-25 10:00 - 10:45 | Online
UW-Madison Division of Extension Natural Resources Educator, Tony Johnson, will provide an overview of the ‘Farm Forest Initiative.’ The initiative is a systematic effort to deliver forestry outreach and resources tailored to agricultural producers in Wisconsin. This talk will outline key findings from a recent statewide needs assessment, cover the most important forestry resources currently available to assist producers, and outline opportunities for conservation professionals to get involved.
Contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org if you have any questions or if you do not receive a confirmation after registering.

Improving Water Quality and Soil Health on Tile Drained Lands in Minnesota and Wisconsin
2021-03-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
The Discovery Farms Programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin concluded a conservation innovation grant project focused on water quality and soil health on tile drained fields in the fall of 2020.
They are ready to bring to you key lessons learned from this project and how the data can be used in future strategies to meet water quality and soil health goals. Join us March 31 from 12:00pm-1:00pm for this virtual event.

Growing Through Change - Sourcing Climate Resilient Seed for Ecologic Restoration
2021-03-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Despite being The Prairie State the Illinois and neighboring states’ prairies have been heavily converted due to human use, and many of those that remain are degraded. Research in the relatively new discipline of restoration ecology provides insights that practitioners use to restore diversity, function and resilience to these landscapes influenced by anthropogenic change. A critical function of many restoration projects is the promotion of a diverse plant community, which frequently requires the introduction of plant material such as seeds and plugs. The availability of appropriate material, in terms of species, origins and quantity, is a limiting factor. Climate change further complicates the matter as land managers try to locate seed to best match future conditions in an effort to increase the resilience of managed sites. Land managers are aware of the complexity of the issue, but the current literature is extensive and often inaccessible. A general review and synthesis of the current state of the science would bring needed guidance to practitioners and inform seed suppliers and researchers about gaps in native plant materials supply and research.
For more information, follow this link.

Weed Management When Establishing Pollinator Plantings
2021-03-31 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Join Dr. Mark Renz to learn more about weed management for greater success of your pollinator plantings! He will share his research about the impact of cover crops, herbicides and mowing on establishing native plants for pollinators. Results from over 30 pollinator plantings in Wisconsin will provide insight as to what factors you should consider when planning a pollinator planting.
Presented by Mark Renz (PhD), professor and weed specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With over 20 years of experience with management of invasive plants, Dr. Renz provides technical information and educational opportunities for agency staff, consultants, companies, and citizens concerned about invasive plants. He also is the president of the Midwest invasive Plant Network whose mission is to reduce the impact of invasive plants in the Midwestern United States.

Sharing Climate Science: Lessons Learned from a Climate Change Communicator
2021-04-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
It’s a complex world, and the need for clear communication has never been greater. This learning series provides opportunities to build your science communication skills and reflect on how to tell meaningful stories about your work. Hosted by the Lake Superior Reserve’s Coastal Training Program and the Lake Superior Collaborative, this series is designed to help you gain confidence in your communication skills whether you are a scientific researcher, government employee, or in any line of work related to science or Lake Superior coastal management. This series will alternate between virtual workshops and webinars from January through May of 2021.
This session will focus on communicating how a changing climate affects conservation and management goals sometimes feels like a complex and difficult challenge to overcome, but with some practice and a few tips and tricks, everyone can take steps to effectively engage partners and stakeholders on this topic. In this presentation, Danielle Shannon from the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science will share a basic recipe for creating meaningful messages and communications related to climate change, land management, and conservation practices in Northern Wisconsin. Attendees will learn how to make clear connections between the places we care about and the many potential climate related risks and impacts.

Groundwater and Well Construction 101
2021-04-08 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
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. To learn more, follow this link.

Stormwater Workshop
2021-04-20 08:00 - 23:30 | Online
The workshop has a focus on BMP maintenance, TMDL compliance, and more. Experts from around the state will share their experiences in building and maintaining BMPs. Also included are updates on technical standards, restoring ecosystems, green infrastructure, working with CAFOs, and water quality trading. 8 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be offered. The registration deadline is Thursday, April 15, on this page. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org to get registered.

Social and Digital Media Strategies for Scientist
2021-04-27 08:00 - 12:00 | Online
It’s a complex world, and the need for clear communication has never been greater. This learning series provides opportunities to build your science communication skills and reflect on how to tell meaningful stories about your work. Hosted by the Lake Superior Reserve’s Coastal Training Program and the Lake Superior Collaborative, this series is designed to help you gain confidence in your communication skills whether you are a scientific researcher, government employee, or in any line of work related to science or Lake Superior coastal management. This series will alternate between virtual workshops and webinars from January through May of 2021.
This session will focus on social and digital media. Even if you’re not especially tech savvy or don’t have an interest in becoming a social media maven, basic skills are necessary to navigate this new (and likely long-lasting) digital environment. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to communicate in a clear and compelling fashion via digital and social media. Skills you’ll learn from AGU’s Sharing Science team will include how to:

Establish and cultivate an online presence
Choose between mediums for online science communication
Use different tools and techniques based on the platform
Incorporate storytelling via multimedia into your messaging

The American Geophysical Union’s Sharing Science program provides scientists with the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to communicate science with any audience. Learn more about the program, follow them on Twitter, and join the Sharing Science Community.

Amplifying Indigenous Knowledges and Sovereignty in Research and Communication
2021-05-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
It’s a complex world, and the need for clear communication has never been greater. This learning series provides opportunities to build your science communication skills and reflect on how to tell meaningful stories about your work. Hosted by the Lake Superior Reserve’s Coastal Training Program and the Lake Superior Collaborative, this series is designed to help you gain confidence in your communication skills whether you are a scientific researcher, government employee, or in any line of work related to science or Lake Superior coastal management. This series will alternate between virtual workshops and webinars from January through May of 2021.
In this session, Dr. Andrea Reid will discuss the importance of creating space for multiple ways of knowing in our research and science communication efforts, specifically focusing on creating room for Indigenous values, practices and pedagogy as a pathway to a plural coexistence.

The Art of the Chart: Simple Tips to Improve Your Data Viz Game
2021-05-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
It’s a complex world, and the need for clear communication has never been greater. This learning series provides opportunities to build your science communication skills and reflect on how to tell meaningful stories about your work. Hosted by the Lake Superior Reserve’s Coastal Training Program and the Lake Superior Collaborative, this series is designed to help you gain confidence in your communication skills whether you are a scientific researcher, government employee, or in any line of work related to science or Lake Superior coastal management. This series will alternate between virtual workshops and webinars from January through May of 2021.
This session will borrow lessons from cognitive brain science and graphic design best practice to help us improve the way we display data to our audiences. This short course will provide you with some quick pointers and tips to help you improve your charts and graphics design. In this mini-workshop, you will learn to:

Recognize common chart design pitfalls
Use handy tricks to “cut the clutter” from charts and focus your audience’s attention
Think about every element of chart as part of a clear story

Conservation Considerations for Resiliency in a Changing Climate
2021-05-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
In agricultural watersheds, shifting climate patterns present an immediate and localized risk to both farm productivity and downstream aquatic ecosystems. During this webinar, Dr. Mark Williams of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service will present research exploring long-term trends in rainfall amount, intensity and timing within the Maumee River-Western Lake Erie Basin. The research findings indicate that increasing rainfall amount and intensity, combined with increasing hydrologic connectivity and accumulating nutrient stores in the Maumee watershed over the past four decades, create significant challenges for contemporary approaches to dissolved phosphorus load mitigation.
No registration is required. Access the webinar shortly before 3:00 pm ET at https://nrcs.adobeconnect.com/ceap2/
Questions? Contact Liz Marshall at elizabeth.marshall@usda.gov

Non-Metallic Mine Reclamation: Financial Assurance–Part II
2021-06-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
On Wednesday, June 2, from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Wisconsin Land+Water will be leading the second webinar in a three-part series on non-metallic mine reclamation. Non-Metallic Mine Reclamation: Financial Assurance-Part II will discuss the following financial assurance areas:

Amount and duration
Determining the amount
Disputes
Certificate of completion and release

Register by Tuesday, June 1, at 10:00 a.m., at https://conta.cc/2M4rnLl
More information: https://wisconsinlandwater.org/training/statewide-training-events

MOSES Organic Field Day: Mhonpaj's Garden
2021-06-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Take a virtual tour of the newly constructed high tunnel at Mhonpaj’s Garden, the first farm in the Hmong community in Minnesota to be certified organic. MOSES Organic Specialist Mhonpaj Lee offers tips on high tunnel selection, building, and vegetable production in a protected environment.
Register here.

Online Course: Culvert Design for Stream Connectivity and Aquatic Organism Passage
2021-06-03 | Online
This course is intended to offer culvert designers consistent information for developing public waters culvert projects with respect to aquatic organism passage (fish passage) and stream connectivity. Attendees will learn how to apply best practices and appropriate calculations, starting from the basis of field-identified stream metrics.
This is a free workshop. Once registered, it begins with a self-paced learning component, available to participants for two weeks, followed by an instructor-led interactive online session.
Learn more.

Webinar Series: Cultivating Local Farm Economies: Planning, Zoning and Emerging Issues in Agritourism
2021-06-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
MSU Extension is pleased to present a new webinar series focused on education around local planning and zoning, the Michigan Right to Farm Act and emerging Agritourism strategies.

June 7 – Introduction to Agritourism and Local Planning and Zoning
June 14 – Understanding Local Zoning, RTF, and Farm Market GAAMPS
June 21 – Agritourism and Value-Added Processing
June 28 – Emerging Issues in Agritourism

Webinars will feature speakers from MSU Extension’s Land Use and Community Food Systems Teams as well as testimonials from farmers who have successfully navigated the local planning and zoning environment to ensure successful agritourism ventures. This series is intended for many different audiences including local planning and zoning professionals and board members, new and existing agritourism operators, local tourism promoters and professionals and anyone else with an interest in this timely and relevant topic.

Follow this link to learn more.

Wetlands as Solutions to our Water Issues in Wisconsin
2021-06-07 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
Learn about what wetlands are, why they’re important, their current state, and what you can do to care for these natural treasures. Historically viewed as wastelands, wetland loss was rampant in Wisconsin for many decades. The legacy of wetland loss has contributed to many of our current natural resource and societal problems such as increased flooding, decreased water quality, and loss of fish and wildlife habitat. Tracy Hames will present wetlands from a new perspective, showing how we can use them as solutions to the water-related issues we face, especially flooding.
Follow this link to learn more.

Wisconsin Plant Condition Inventory and Evaluation Training
2021-06-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Starting June 8 from 10:00am–12:00pm, this course provides an introduction to the pasture evaluation approach known as Pasture Condition Scoring (PCS). You’ll learn about the ten indicators of pasture health commonly used in PCS and some tools for evaluating the indicators. You will also learn how to complete the PCS scoresheet, which guides pasture condition scoring in the field.
The course will include the virtual Microsoft Teams portion as well as a 3-hour field portion (location and dates are TBD).
Register by Friday, June 4, at https://conta.cc/3yI9sOg
Course information here.

Planting Green
2021-06-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
This edition of the Producer-Led Webinar Series will cover agronomic and management considerations in planting corn into rye as well as planting corn into alfalfa. We will look at cover crop planting dates and seeding rates, herbicide programs, nitrogen management and more.
Follow this link to learn more.
