Strategies for Land Stewardship Summit
2022-06-21 - 2022-06-22 | WI
Join farmers, farm advisors, conservation professionals, and others for this peer-to-peer learning opportunity to get practical insights and ideas about how to be successful and profitable with cover crops, no-till, and other soil and water conservation practices.
Summit activities will include

Farmer-led tours of two southeast Wisconsin farms that are demonstrating cover crops, no-till, strip till, and nutrient management strategies
Presentations about research and programs that can support farmers’ success with conservation practices
The opportunity to connect and share ideas with peers about the practicalities and profitability of practices to improve soil health and water quality
The opportunity to share ideas with regional U.S. EPA and NRCS staff on how to make programs and policies aimed at supporting farmers’ adoption of conservation practices more accessible and effective

Info here.

Engineering Ethics for Professional Engineers webinar
2022-06-21 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Professional Engineers (PEs) registered in the state of Wisconsin are required by WI Chapter A-E 13, Continuing Education for Professional Engineers to obtain 30 PDHs of professional engineering continuing education, per biennium. Two professional development hours (PDHs) must be in the area of professional conduct and ethics.
Engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Join us where we’ll watch and discuss three YouTube videos on ethics. The course will conclude with a quiz based on the videos.
1 PDH will be awarded to those who complete both the live Zoom session and the quiz.
Please register for this free webinar at https://conta.cc/3FU97vF by Friday, June 17.

Great River Graziers/Kickapoo Grazing Initiative pasture walk
2022-06-21 10:30 - 11:30
Pasture establishment with NRCS including fencing & water lines using Keyline design. Taylor will also cover direct marketing to consumers (pork, chicken and beef).
Info here.

Innovative Stormwater Management: How Using Biochar-Amended Iron-Enhanced Sand Filters Can Reduce the Flow of Bacteria (E. coli) and Phosphorus Into Our Water Bodies
2022-06-22 09:00 - 10:00
As rainfall events become more frequent and intense, watershed management becomes paramount. Elevated bacteria levels in the nation’s surface waters are a public health issue–leading to sick pets, beach closures, and posing immediate health risks to anyone who recreates in or consumes the water. Until now, there have been limited, cost-effective ways to reduce bacteria levels in stormwater. Biochar in stormwater filter media could provide safer, cleaner recreational waters for humans, pets, and wildlife. During this presentation, Stantec will discuss the biochar- and iron-enhanced sand filters (BIESF) Large-scale Demonstration Projects. These BIESFs are the largest known stormwater treatment systems designed to remove bacteria from urban runoff with far-reaching implications for the industry. Key takeaways to be presented include biochar- and iron-enhanced sand filter design considerations and specifications, site constraints and challenges, preliminary performance results, and lessons learned along the way.
Info here.

Maintaining your Landscape with Pollinators in Mind w/ Melinda Myers
2022-06-22 15:00 - 16:00
You can have a landscape that you and pollinators enjoy. A few changes to the way we maintain our plants and manage insect pests and diseases can help create a safe environment for pollinators. We’ll cover pollinator-friendly care to keep your landscape healthy and looking its best throughout the year. Then we’ll explore ways to manage the space without harmful chemicals to keep plants and visiting pollinators healthy.
Info here.

Bee-utiful Planting for Pollinators
2022-06-22 18:30 - 19:30
While wildlife gardening is now one of the biggest gardening trends, the decline of pollinators and other insects still remains urgent. Learn how to help pollinators thrive and create refuge for them, and how to enhance local food productivity by adding native plants to urban and suburban yards.
Info here.

Enhancing Pollinators
2022-06-23 12:00 - 13:00
We’re buzzed up talking about pollinators this session, digging into what you can do to increase the population of bees, butterflies, beetles and why pollinators are so vital to creating and maintaining a healthy habitat and ecosystem. Learn about identifying what pollinators are already on your land along with resources to increase the population. Connect with conservation experts, meet other inspiring Wisconsin women that share your love for the land and pollinators, and learn about NRCS resources to support your conservation goals.
Info here.

Real time monitoring and control of green infrastructure for improved stormwater management
2022-06-23 16:00 - 18:00
Stormwater green infrastructure (GI) provides many benefits to our society and helps to protect our precious ecosystems Being passive and natural systems, GI exhibit natural variability in their performance. As such, significant effort has been dedicated to reducing this variability, and improving performance through optimised design; e.g. careful plant and media selection and the inclusion of a submerged water zone in stormwater bioretention systems. However, research shows that improvements made through design optimisation were marginal as compared to the intra and inter variability in performance that can still exist for many GI. As such, it was hypothesised that simple, real-time monitoring and control of these systems can reduce this variability and improve the hydrologic and water quality treatment performance for GI. This presentation will provide an overview of our laboratory experiments that show how bioretention and wetlands can be easily and simply controlled to significantly improve their treatment and hydrologic performance.
Info here.

Rural Resilience and Our Water and Climate Challenges
2022-06-23 17:00 - 19:30
Agriculture and Rural Resilience are Vital to Meeting our Water and Climate Challenges Speakers: Scott Leaser, Clean Water Wisconsin and Michael Tiboris, River Alliance of Wisconsin Water has been an important topic across Wisconsin for many years but legislative efforts to protect and clean-up our water resources have been limited at best. Climate change will only exacerbate our water challenges and efforts to address them, but working in concert to address climate change and protect our water resources can and must diversify and strengthen rural communities and agricultural systems.
Info here.

Starry Nights Farm- Pasture Walk
2022-06-23 18:00 - 19:00
Pasture Walk with an emphasis on Beef Grazing and soil health. Will include a Rain Fall Simulator
Info here.

Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), The Energy Fair
2022-06-24 - 2022-06-26
Organized by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), The Energy Fair is the nation’s longest-running event of its kind and brings over 11,500 attendees together to learn about sustainability and clean energy, connect with others, and take action toward a sustainable future.
Info here.

Warmer, Wetter, and Wilder with Bart De Stasio
2022-06-24 19:00 - 20:30
Bart De Stasio, Ph.D., professor of biology and environmental studies at Lawrence University, will explain projections for climate change in Door County and discuss the effects on the county’s ecology and surrounding waters in Green Bay and Lake Michigan. These will include more intense rainfall, more and larger algae blooms, an expanded “dead zone” in Green Bay and consequences for fish and other aquatic life. He’ll also explain how resilience and adaptability strategies can make a difference for our future
Info here.

Fields Restored – General Tour
2022-06-25 10:00 - 11:30
Join Savanna Institute for a walking tour of the Fields Restored Demonstration Farm. We’ll explore the benefits of incorporating trees into agricultural systems to support water quality, carbon sequestration, soil health, and wildlife habitat. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and connect with Agroforestry Technical Service Providers.
Info here.

Rising Sun Farm and Orchard Farm Tour
2022-06-26 11:00 - 14:00
Join Wisconsin Farmers Union at Rising Sun Farm and Orchard. See what Ryan Browne and Lindsey Baris have been up to on their organic CSA/market farm- with maple syrup, U-pick apples, cider, meat and veggies – they offer a small farm diversity that many aspire to. Learn about what the Wisconsin Farmers Union is focusing on this year and share your concerns, issues, goals, and hopes for our county and our rural communities.
Info here.

Aquatic Plant ID Training
2022-06-28 - 2022-06-29
This is a one-day training repeated twice. Training will consist of an introduction to aquatic plant ecology and identification, ID practice with live plants, a review of the point-intercept survey method and vouchering, and an optional Aquatic Plant Taxonomic Assurance exam will be offered to those who wish to take it. There is no field ID practice component at the Delafield location, but there WILL be a field ID practice on Lake Tomahawk for the Kemp Station workshop option (bring your own watercraft).
Info here.

Streambank Design
2022-06-28
This training will review the planning, design, and construction requirements of various streambank protection practices. This is a half-day classroom and half day field event.
For more information contact: Penny Pohle at penny@wisconsinlandwater.org or Drew Zelle at drew.zelle@wisconsin.gov

Rapid-fire Research: Key Takeaways from the MJV Monarch Research Review
2022-06-28 13:00 - 14:00
Get up to speed on the latest monarch and pollinator research with Jennifer and Laura from the MJV science team. The Monarch Research Review is a volunteer-driven, annual compendium of published articles available to everyone on the MJV website.
Info here.

Soil Health Dos and Don'ts
2022-06-28 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for this webinar during which soil health techniques such as cover crops, crop rotations, pest management, nutrient management, cash crop establishment, and water management will be discussed.
Participants will be instructed on several soil health topics. These include:
• Cover Crop selection, seeding, termination and benefits
• Benefits to soil health by using crop rotations and crop rotations to avoid.
• Pest Management techniques including scouting and monitoring of pests, beneficial insects, pesticide carry-over and breaking the cycle of non-essential pesticide use.
• The 4-Rs in soil health system concerning nutrient management techniques.
• Cash crop establishment techniques in cover crop systems. Discuss benefits of planting green or planting after chemical termination.
• Benefits of soil health systems on water management. Specifically reductions in irrigation amounts and management techniques.
Info here.

Water Security
2022-06-28 13:00 - 14:00
EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and Office of Water (OW) host this webinar series to communicate the latest information on solutions for challenges facing small drinking water systems. The series allows EPA to communicate directly with states to provide training and foster collaboration and dissemination of information. This, in turn, provides states with information and resources needed to communicate the latest scientific advancements and current guidance to their small systems. It also provides a forum for states to share information with each other.
Info here.

Organic Advisor Call Series
2022-06-29 08:00 - 09:00
The Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s OGRAIN, and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) have launched two new opportunities for organic advisors and ag professionals to connect and learn from each other. These are perfect for ag professionals who work with organic and transitional farmers.
The Organic Advisor Call Series are free, monthly Zoom discussions and Q&As with farmers and experts focused on all aspects of organic grain farming. Join us for the following sessions:

June 29, 8-9am CT – “Managing Weeds with Organic Crop Rotations and Technology” with Dr. Adam Davis, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
July 27, 8-9am CT – “Cover Crops, Inter-seeding, and 60-inch corn in Organic Management” with Dr. Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL
August 24, 8-9am CT – “Reduced Tillage in Organic Systems: No Till Soybeans into Cereal Rye” with Dr. Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Register here.

NFIP Compliance
2022-06-29 09:00 - 10:00
Communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are required to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that meet minimum NFIP floodplain management criteria. Compliance problems may be program deficiencies or violations that occur on individual properties. Program deficiencies and violations are considered to be substantive if they could result in increased flood damage or flood heights during base flood conditions. The webinar will cover common compliance issues and steps community officials can take to remedy violations and/or program deficiencies. If a community with identified program deficiencies, violations, or both does not take action to restore compliance with NFIP criteria, FEMA’s Community Compliance Program provides the mechanism for action. Unresolved compliance issues could result in a community’s probation or suspension from the NFIP.
Info here.

Farmscape and Landscape Features
2022-06-29 13:00 - 14:00
The Role of Birds on the Farm Course: Lesson 8 – Farmscape and Landscape Features
Upon successfully completing this lesson, participants will be able to:

Explain why farms with semi-natural and natural habitat support more avian pest control than intensive farms.
Recommend hedgerows and edge habitat for supporting beneficial birds.
Discuss with farmers or neighbors the different types of vegetative habitat.
Recommend funding sources for establishing and conserving bird habitat.

Info here.

Plant ID Workshop
2022-07-06 09:00 - 11:30
Join Alex Graeff, botanist for the National Ecological Observatory Network’s Great Lakes Domain, for an outdoor-based plant identification workshop. The session will emphasize recognition of common vascular plant species found in typical north woods plant communities, and terminology and morphological features important for plant identification. While exploring the forests and bog at Kemp Station, we will apply identification techniques to the plants we encounter while discussing tidbits of north woods ecology.

UW Small Grains Field Day
2022-07-06 10:00 - 12:00
Small grain resiliency trial plot tour: What can we effectively grow? – Haleigh Ortmeier-Clarke Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Agronomy
Disease management in Wisconsin: What works and what doesn’t! Damon Smith Professor & Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology
UW winter wheat variety trials: Tour and management update Shawn Conley Soybean & Small Grains Extension Specialist, Department of Agronomy

Info and registration here.

Where have all the Mayflies gone?
2022-07-06 12:00 - 13:00
Bob Miltner, Ohio EPA, and Kevin Goodwin, Michigan Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, discuss recent research from Great Lakes states into the toxic impacts of road salts on native freshwater species. Their findings suggest that state-level understanding of salts may help better protect vulnerable species.
Info here.

UW Cover Crop Management in Conventional Corn-Soybean Production Systems Plot Tour
2022-07-06 13:00 - 15:30
Join us on July 06 from 1:00PM-3:30PM at Arlington Ag Research Station to visit our cover crop research plots, check equipment and exchange knowledge with University Specialists and fellow farmers adopting cover crops in their crop production systems.
Meet at 12:45PM
Public Events Building, Arlington Agricultural Research Station
N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, WI
Need additional information? Please feel free to contact me (rwerle@wisc.edu) and/or Nick Arneson (njarneson@wisc.edu).

Invasive Species Management Techniques
2022-07-07 08:00 - 11:00
Join Lars Higdon, Dane County Botanist/Naturalist, for a guided walk through the park followed by an optional stewardship activity. Participants will learn how to distinguish native plants from pesky weeds and discuss approaches for managing some of our worst invasive species. Come ready with questions about wrestling weeds or how to promote some of your favorite native wildflowers. Following the walk, we will roll up our sleeves and get experience removing invasives using the parsnip predator.
Info here.

Project RED (Riverine Early Detection) Volunteer Workshop
2022-07-07 09:00 - 12:00
Join us to learn how to protect your favorite river or stream from invasive species! Project RED volunteers learn to identify, search for, and document invasive species while they paddle or wade. This monitoring helps to track changes in invasive species populations and identify new invasions, so that any issues can be quickly addressed.
Info here.

Septic Systems 101
2022-07-07 13:00 - 14:30
In this free 90-minute webinar training hosted by The Private Well Class you’ll learn about septic system management as part of a larger strategy to protect the water in your private well. We will provide answers to common questions, such as:

What is safe to flush down my drains?
Do I need to put additives in my septic tank?
How do I prolong the life of my system?

Info here.

Understanding Weed Life Cycles
2022-07-07 18:30 - 20:00
For sustainable and organic farmers, weed prevention is key to keeping your farm productive and profitable. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to weed control requires digging in at the micro level while keeping the big-picture in mind.
Dr. Carolyn Lowry from Penn State will discuss using plant ecology to inform your decision-making process on everything from selecting appropriate cultural methods, to identifying the correct timing for intervention. She’ll also cover tools and techniques like tarping, stale seed bedding, flame weeding, and more.
Info here.
