Life Hacks over Lunch: A Meet-up Series for Watershed Professionals
2021-12-17 11:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago)
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 communities on watershed-scale projects to improve water quality and have ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t want to recreate the wheel,” this meet-up series is for you.
In each meet-up, one person will kick things off by presenting a challenge or issue to the group to “hack.” Conversation, collaboration, and commiseration will ensue.
Join us for these informal gatherings of peers who share a passion for watershed work – and bring your lunch!
Info here.

The Interplay Between Manure and Compaction
2021-12-17 14:30 - 15:30
Manure is an extremely valuable input to soil health and crop production because it supports so many functions including water movement, microbial growth, nutrient cycling, and adds micronutrients. However, because of its bulk and weight, when applied at the wrong time/conditions compaction issues can offset manure’s value. Join us to see how we can manage our manure application better to minimize compaction effects and maximize manure’s capability to help combat compaction.
Info here.

Farm Finance Check Up
2021-12-20 09:00 - 10:00
Financial management is a topic often identified as a stressor for farm businesses. This session will discuss end of the year financial activities that you can do now to plan for 2022.
Info here.

The Scoop on Snowfall in the North Central US
2021-12-20 13:00 - 14:00
Are your dreams of a White Christmas likely to come true? What is the snowiest month of the year? How far into spring do you need to keep that snow shovel handy? This webinar will look at past snowfall and winter weather data for the north central US, share tools and resources to help you track current and past winter conditions, and provide the latest seasonal weather outlook.
Info here.

Eco-literacy and Conservation: The Convergence of Research, Policy and Education
2021-12-21 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a brief foray into the intersections of science, policy and education. This webinar will explain how ecologists and conservation biologists use the scientific process, how those results inform policy decisions, and what you need to know to be an informed member of the public.
Info here.

Manure Mondays
2022-01-03 15:00 - 16:00
Manure Mondays is a webinar series that continues where the Manure Expo left off and provides the opportunity to share new technology and information about managing manure. A series of educational sessions will be presented by OMAFRA and NAME (North American Manure Expo). Registration is free and includes access to all sessions.
Sessions will run Mondays from November 8 to March 21, 2022 from 3 – 4 pm (CT). Please note that all webinar events will be recorded.
Info here.

2022 Online Nutrient Management Training Dates
2022-01-04
The DATCP and the Nutrient and Pest Management team is excited to announce the 2022 Online Nutrient Management Trainings. They will be offering four different 10 am – 3 pm sessions:

January 4
February 7
March 1
March 15

You only need to attend one of the four training session to be certified to write a nutrient management plan for your operation. To view the training agenda please visit the 2022 Online Nutrient Management Training Agenda. Pre-registration is required to attend any of these sessions. To register click the following link: https://go.wisc.edu/2024y1.
For questions about the Nutrient Management Trainings or registration assistance, contact Andrea Topper at Andrea.Topper@wisconsin.gov or 608-405-0235. For more information about the nutrient management program, please visit DATCP’s Nutrient Management webpage.

2022 Agronomy Update Meeting
2022-01-04 09:00 - 12:00
The 2022 Agronomy Update Meetings will be virtual this year due to COVID-19. The meetings will present the latest information on hybrid/variety performance, an analysis and discussion of last year’s growing season, and updated recommendations for field crop production. CEUs will be offered in Crop Management for Certified Crop Advisers. There is no charge for this event, but registration is required. There are two sessions to choose from, both sessions will present the same information. Please choose the one that best fits your schedule.
Presentations:
Joe Lauer, UW-Madison Corn Agronomist

The 2021 growing season

How did we get so much yield with so little water?
How did the late May frost affect corn yield?

25+ years of Transgenic (GMO) corn: Are we making progress?
Maximum corn yields: How do we set the bar?

Shawn Conley, UW-Madison Soybean and Small Grain Agronomist

Soybean and Wheat Performance Trial Results
Planting Soybean Green Pros and Cons
Soybean Yield Response to Sulfur in WI
Something Else that is Totally #Coolbeans…Trust Me!

John Grabber, USDA-ARS Research Agronomist, Dairy Forage Research Center

Forage Focus: Alfalfa establishment techniques in corn silage

Register by January 3, 2022 at https://go.wisc.edu/aqnh77 .

NR 151: Background, History, and Intent (Abridged)
2022-01-06 10:00 - 11:00
Do you know the history, background, and intent of the standards in Administrative Code NR 151, Wisconsin’s runoff management rule? Chances are, even if you have been around for a while, or are tasked with interpreting or enforcing the rule, you still have some questions. With the passage of time, and the recruitment of many new conservation practitioners, it’s time we remind ourselves collectively how we arrived where we are today. Join us in a one-hour online session, and the first in a series of webinars to re-calibrate our NR 151 lenses.
If you do not receive a confirmation email upon submission of your registration, please contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org to get registered.
Contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org with any questions.
Register by January 4.

2022 Master Naturalist Trainings: Registration Opens
2022-01-10
Registration will open Monday, January 10 at 9:00am! Registration is first come, first serve. We do have a waiting list once a training fills, but it’s best to register as soon as possible to guarantee a spot. Please check out the Master Naturalist website to see the full descriptions and times.

St. Croix Valley, March 19-August 27; Carpenter Nature Center, St. Croix County Parks, The Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks
Franklin, March 28-June 6; Wehr Nature Center
Madison, April 7-April 30; Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area
Bayfield County, June 6-11; Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and Cable Natural History Museum
Middleton, June 9-July 9; Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Eagle River, July 10-15; Trees for Tomorrow
Madison, July 16-August 20; Friends of Urban Nature (FUN)
Waukesha, July 18-23; Retzer Nature Center
Fall Creek, July 31-August 5; Beaver Creek Reserve
Sarona, August 13-August 19; Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary
Milwaukee, August 16-Sept 29; Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Manitowish Waters, August 18-September 7; North Lakeland Discovery Center

If you have any questions, please feel free to email info@wimasternaturalist.org or call 608-262-0020.

Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic
2022-01-11 - 2022-01-13
The Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic is Wisconsin’s premier agribusiness industry event drawing interest and participation from all confluences of the industry from throughout the Midwestern states.
The program is held at the Alliant Energy Center each January and boasts an attendance of nearly 1,200 attendees. The conference and tradeshow is a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association and the University of Wisconsin.
The depth of coverage and exhibits provided through the conference and tradeshow makes it clear why the Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic is Wisconsin’s premier industry event.
Info here.

Animal Care Starts with the Calf
2022-01-11 13:00 - 14:30
Jennifer Van Os will discuss “Successful pair-raising of calves”. Pair or group housing of calves is growing in popularity due to research showing benefits for calf growth, development, and welfare. This presentation will review best practices to promote good health and welfare in calves raised in pairs or small groups.
Sylvia Kehoe will speak on: “How can we make disbudding easier?” There are multiple ways to disbud a calf however they all share important characteristics. This presentation will review the advantages and disadvantages of different disbudding methods and the ways we can make this an easy, safe, and effective process for both calves and employees.
Info here.

Agri-voltaics – Combining Productive Farmland with Solar
2022-01-11 14:00 - 15:00
Solar and agriculture do not have to be mutually exclusive. Work across North America and around the globe has proven that farming, pollinator habitat, and other conservation practices can be co-located – in a way that is mutually beneficial.
Info here.

Growing School Food Gardens
2022-01-11 15:00 - 16:00
To kick off this work, we surveyed 542 school garden leaders in a preliminary needs assessment designed to gather ideas and feedback for expanding teaching tools and resources specifically for edible school garden leaders.
We’ll be facilitating a lively discussion around the results of the needs assessment survey and sharing resulting next steps. Join this free event for an opportunity to connect with other school food garden educators and share your thoughts on how we can better support your work.
Info here.

People, Pipelines, and Water Protectors: Native American Sacrifice Zones - Conversations about Conservation
2022-01-11 18:30 - 19:30
Join us for our first Conversations About Conservation of the new year! We will be joined by Patricia Loew, a Professor at the Medill School of Journalism and the Director of the Center for Native American & Indigenous Research. She will be discussing Environmental Health and Ecological Justice.
Info here.

SRW A new year, a new ewe perspective
2022-01-11 19:30 - 20:30
Todd Taylor, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Sheep Research Program Manager for the Arlington Agricultural Research Station Sheep Unit, will discuss the most complex sheep on the farm, the ewe. As the ewe moves through the production cycle, her needs change. Join Todd as he covers productive ewe management during a typical year to maintain her useful contribution as part of the flock for many years.
Info here.

Native Plant Materials Virtual Conference
2022-01-12 - 2022-01-13
Successful habitat restoration depends on an adequate supply of native plant materials. Planting a diversity of native species provides ecosystem services for pollinators, wildlife, and people, as well as increasing ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change and invasive species. Lack of quantity and quality of native plant materials, both seeds and nursery stock, has significantly hindered landscape recovery efforts. To address this need, native seed partnerships are collaborating to expand native plant materials programs in many regions of the country, including the Southwest and Pacific Northwest.
This conference will bring together native plant producers, restoration ecologists and practitioners, and seed researchers to discuss progress and challenges related to increasing the supply of ecologically-appropriate native seed. Seed partnerships and collaboratives are innovative and key groups that engage multiple perspectives, pool demand, and leverage efforts across regions. Author Doug Tallamy will present his work on the nature of oaks and Olivia Messinger Carril will present her work on pollinator networks. The conference will also include expert speakers and seed producer panels from the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.
Info here.

Facilitation Basics for Coastal Managers
2022-01-12 - 2022-01-13
Productive meetings are essential to effectively plan for and manage the diverse interests and needs in our coastal communities. In this course, participants will learn basic facilitation skills, tools to engage participants, and techniques for dealing with disruptive behaviors. Class time is provided to practice using tools and skills to plan and facilitate meetings that accomplish objectives while minimizing conflict. Participants at every level are welcome, since these new skills will be useful even when attending, but not running, a meeting.
Info here.

Changing How We See Algal Blooms
2022-01-12 08:00 - 09:00
Over the past decade several advancements in harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring approaches and technologies have expanded scientists’ and regulators’ ability to monitor and study algal blooms. BloomOptix is a start-up focused on innovating how we monitor and study HABs by leveraging emerging technologies and methods. The company began in 2019, using advanced sensors and drone technologies to study HABs and water quality phenomena around New York State. In 2021, BloomOptix launched a new product which uses artificial intelligence and digital microscopy to identify and quantify HAB-causing cyanobacteria in water samples. This presentation will detail past and present BloomOptix projects including use of drones for HAB studies, artificial intelligence and how these technologies can help empower decision makers, safety personnel, and citizen scientists.
This past summer, Clean Lakes Alliance volunteers participated in this long-distance collaboration. Equipped with portable digital microscopes generously shipped all the way from London company Iolight, volunteers collected microscopic images of algae and cyanobacteria cells. These images are being used to train an AI mobile app to quickly differentiate between harmless green algae and toxin producing cyanobacteria.
Info here.

On Trees: A Conversation with Peter Wohlleben, Jessica J. Lee, and Sumana Roy
2022-01-12 12:00 - 13:00
The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment and Orion Magazine present a second event in a series to celebrate Orion’s new anthology, “Old Growth”. “On Trees” will feature a conversation between Peter Wohlleben, Jessica J. Lee, and Sumana Roy, three authors whose work embodies the language of trees. Wohlleben’s “Hidden Life of Trees” illuminates the discreet social network of forests; Lee’s “Two Trees Make a Forest” finds history in the canopy; and Roy’s “How I Became a Tree” finds the shadows of branches throughout literature and philosophy. Together, they will discuss cultural constructs of forests and how disconnected those are from the growing reality of monoculture. Moderating the event is Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-author of “Journey of the Universe” and co-founder of Yale’s Forum on Religion and Ecology.
Info here.

Dairy Margin Protection Update
2022-01-12 13:00 - 14:00
USDA Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) update from Mark Stephenson, Director for the Center for Dairy Profitability and Dairy Policy and Analysis at UW Madison. What you need to know for 2022 sign-up and changes to the program that could affect previous years coverage.
Info here.

Grazing Public Lands 101: A Multi-State Discussion on How to Build A Public Lands Grazing Program
2022-01-12 13:30 - 15:30
Are you a public land manager or administrator in the Upper Midwest looking to integrate grazing as a land management tool? Join the Pasture Project and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), in partnership with the Regenerative Ag Idea Network (REGAIN), for a series of talks on grazing public lands.
Pasture Project has partnered with WDNR over the past several years to explore how to best utilize grazing as a public land management tool. We’re excited to share lessons learned from grazing public lands work across the Upper Midwest and beyond!
Info here.

Emerging Contaminants: A Look at Microplastics
2022-01-12 14:00 - 15:00
Often when we think about plastic pollution we think of grocery bags, straws, and bottles. However, the small fragments, known as microplastics, have become ubiquitous in our lakes, rivers, and drinking water. The next edition of The Current Webinar Series will take a deep dive into these plastic fragments and the on-going research surrounding their pathways into our waterbodies and the effects on the ecosystem.
Info here.

Economic Guidance for Coastal Management Professionals
2022-01-12 14:00 - 15:30
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 analysis, and more. Understanding these basics will help participants identify the appropriate approach and the data needed.
Info here.

Abridged Monarch Essentials
2022-01-12 18:30 - 19:30
Monarch Essentials is a series of comprehensive online courses organized by Monarch Joint Venture which cover various topics including monarch biology, migration, threats, plant and insect ecology, research and conservation, community science opportunities, and how to establish pollinator habitat.
The abridged essentials course is a 3-week version of our 7-week program that serves to offer the quick facts of monarch conservation and preservation. All topics from the complete course are covered, but in an abridged model that may be best for those with limited time.

January 12, 2022
January 19, 2022
January 26, 2022

Info here.

Carbon Farming Connection
2022-01-13 09:00 - 11:30
Agricultural carbon markets are growing—and so are the opportunities to produce ag carbon credits and earn additional revenue. Many farmers wonder:

How can producing carbon credits benefit my operation?
What should I keep in mind when selecting a program?
What are the risks of not starting a program soon?

To answer these questions, attend the Carbon Farming Connection, a virtual educational event bringing together farmers, carbon credit buyers, policy experts, and the scientific community for a live discussion about agricultural carbon credits and markets.
Info here.

Soil to palate stories that weave us together
2022-01-13 11:00 - 12:00
This dialogue of different perspectives is about the power that comes from deciding which ingredients to use in cooking, the phenology that can be found in the kitchen and the creativity that is formed when apprentices, farmers and chefs shape relationships with one another and the landscapes in which they work. The conversation will end with an impromptu recipe!
Info here.

Collaborating for a Carbon Neutral Built Environment
2022-01-13 12:00 - 13:00
Reducing emissions across all sectors is critical if we are to combat climate change. With the passage of the infrastructure bill and the urgent need to improve and expand our cities, it’s critical that we build in a way that is both resilient and sustainable.
Join us to learn about opportunities across the construction value chain to achieve carbon neutrality for the future built environment. The cement and concrete industry recently charted a path to carbon neutrality and there will be a focus on how others within the value chain can collaborate to help reach this goal.
Info here.

How to Make the Most of Smart Phones-Farmer Roundtable
2022-01-13 12:00 - 13:00
Tune in for a roundtable discussion with dairy farmers on how to make the most of smart phones, including apps for managing herd and financial data, coordinating schedules and staying connected with teams and more. Episode presenters will be:
· Mitch Breunig, dairy farmer, Mystic Valley Farms LLC
· Jared Feltz, dairy farmer, Feltz Family Farms & Dairy Store
Live sessions offer attendees the opportunity to engage in open Q&A with the speakers; recorded sessions are available later in the day. All Dairy Signal episodes are accessible through www.pdpw.org.
For more information, contact PDPW at 800-947-7379 or by emailing mail@pdpw.org. Join the conversation digitally by following @dairyPDPW and using #TheDairySignal on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Lambing, Kidding, and Calving on Pasture
2022-01-13 12:00 - 13:00
Join to hear how we handle lambing, kidding, and calving, including what to have on hand, helpful tools, recognizing imminent birth, how a normal birth proceeds, and when and how to intervene. What do we do after the birth? How do we select mothers that do the work, so we don’t have to? This session is team taught by Margo Hale, Tracy Mumma, Linda Poole, and Linda Coffey, all long-time producers of sheep, goats, or cattle, all NCAT Livestock and Grazing Specialists. We will send relevant ATTRA resources in a follow-up email.
Info here.
