Conservation Professional Training Program

Compost on the Farm
2021-06-17 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
Interested in soil health? Join us for a virtual field day on compost as a tool for improving soils. Keynote speaker Phil Foster will share details from his many years of producing and applying significant amounts of compost on his central coast fruit and vegetable farms. Will Bakx of Renewable Sonoma will describe the covered aerated static pile composting system and on-farm composting education at Shone Farm. SRJC faculty member Dr. Josh Beniston will introduce the Shone Farm Healthy Soils Demonstration Project that is utilizing compost to improve soil health in pastures. A panel of expert growers of both wine grapes and vegetables will share the nuts and bolts from their experiences with using compost in their farming systems.
Information and registration here.

Ownership Pathways in Agroforestry
2021-06-17 11:30 - 12:30 | Online
Alley cropping offers exciting possibilities for multiple farmers operating in partnership on the same land. This webinar will explore long-term partnerships between tree crop farmers and alley crop farmers, with special focus on rent dynamics and the long-term planning required when integrating trees into agricultural settings. Alley cropping systems explored will include chestnuts, small fruits, and timber.
Follow this link to learn more and register.

Identifying Sources of Contaminants in Urban Stormwater and Evaluation of Their Removal Efficacy Through Urban Best Management Practices
2021-06-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Precipitation events in urban areas often result in stormwater runoff containing a diverse array of chemical contaminants with recent evidence suggesting that these include trace organic compounds (TrOCs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products and pesticides. This webinar will discuss the findings of a study characterizing sources of TrOCs and their potential contribution to groundwater through infiltration practices.
Information and registration here.

Solarization and Biosolarization: Harnessing the Sun and Organic Matter to Control Weeds
2021-06-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Biosolarization is a new innovation in the realm of weed control. Different from the commonly known practice of solarization, which uses clear plastic sheeting on moist soil to thermally terminate a variety of pest species, biosolarization includes the use of organic matter in the form of compost, cover crops, manure or other materials such as pomace or nut hulls. The addition of organic matter can accelerate the process by encouraging anaerobic soil disinfestation. The carbon from organic material produces chemicals with bio-pesticidal activity. The combination of these natural chemicals and heat acts like a fumigant and eliminates soil-borne pests and weed species.
This presentation will cover theoretical concepts as well as results from field trials.
Information and registration here.

Queering Farming: Celebrating Pride Month
2021-06-15 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Celebrate with LGBTTQAI+ farmers, ranchers, and tenders of land! Join Nikiko Masumoto (she/her/hers) of Masumoto Family Farm, Nikola Alexandre of Shelterwood Collective (he/him/they/theirs), and Dede Bois (she/her/hers) of Root Down Farm to discuss the challenges and opportunities for accessing land and resources, the assumptions of what farming is, and the creative ways that marginalized folx have found to connect with and tend the rest of nature.
Information and registration here.

Weber’s Farm Store: Six Generations of Resiliency
2021-06-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Weber Farms, is a sixth generation Wisconsin Century Farm located in Marshfield, WI. Weber’s Farm Store has been in operation since 1955 and now offers a full range of dairy products, from pasteurized milks and creams, to kefir, ground beef, ice cream, local butter, and an extensive line of cheese. Joellen (Weber) Heiman as she shres pieces of Weber Farms family history and their products.
Information and registration here.

Dragonfly Monitors Meet-Up
2021-06-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Whalen Pond, Verona, Wisconsin
The first Dragonfly Monitors Meetup of the summer will be held at Whalen Pond Outdoor Laboratory. Upper Sugar Board President Robert Bohanan will help you to identify dragonflies found around the pond & will answer any questions you may have about monitoring!
Information and registration here.

Do it for Wildlife: Pull Invasives, Plant Natives
2021-06-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Transform your yard and nearby open spaces into habitat where wildlife can find food and shelter! In this webinar, participants will learn to identify and remove invasive species and replace them with productive native plants and learn how to start a new HABITAT™.
Information and registration here.

From Cover to Cover: A Systems Approach to Cover Cropping
2021-06-10 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Using historical data from Vernon County, Adam Kramer, cofounder of Black Sand Granary LLC, will discuss the “why” behind using cover crops, fundamentals and logistics of aerial seeding, how to incorporate these practices into your current operation by being proactive, and funding opportunities.
Information and registration here.

What You Can Do to Protect Water Quality at Home
2021-06-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is a statewide effort to improve water quality in Illinois rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. This webinar will discuss the ways your family can improve the world’s water quality at home. Topics include rain gardens, leaf management, and lawn care.
Information and registration here.

Biomass Utilization Centers: A New Approach for Optimal forest Management
2021-06-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Dr. Nate Anderson, a research forester at the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana, will discuss his work on bioenergy and bioproducts research and development, focusing on the following:

Sustainable and economically efficient forest biomass management and production systems
Competitive low-emissions biofuels and bioenergy conversion technologies deployed in the forest sector
Information and tools for decision-making and policy analysis related to forest biomass utilization

Information and registration here.

Opportunities for New NRCS NWQI Watersheds
2021-06-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Designed for state source water coordinators, state and local NRCS, utilities, conservation districts, and other source water partners, this webinar will discuss the importance of initiating or continuing conversations with NRCS before the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) deadline on July 9, 2021.
You will hear the state NRCS perspective on NWQI and its source water protection opportunities, as well as tips for engaging with NRCS at the state and local levels.
Registration and information here.

Sacred Earth Field Day
2021-06-09 18:00 | Sacred Earth, S7560 US HWY 12, North Freedom, WI
Learn about the unique environmental, cultural, and geological history of Sacred Earth. Randy Poelma will guide us through the vast restoration efforts that are taking place to transition the land back to prairie and crucial pollinator habitat.
Follow this link to learn more.

Using Social Norms to Promote Conservation Adoption
2021-06-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Organized by the North Central Region Water Network, this webinar will discuss how conservation professionals can use social norms to promote adoption of conservation practices. What do we know about social norms and how they impact the agricultural community?
Information here.
Register here.

Accepting Payments from Customers using Food Assistance Programs
2021-06-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
The Wisconsin Departments of Health Services (DHS) and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is hosting a webinar provide information to farmers, farmers market managers, and farmer organizations on the steps and requirements involved with accepting Food Assistance Program payment methods. The webinar will discuss how to do the following:

Register as a retailer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/FoodShare
Accept payments from Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards as well as senior and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) voucher checks
Obtain free EBT card processing equipment and have transaction fees covered

Follow this link to learn more.

Farming with Soil Life Short Course
2021-06-09 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
In this course, participants will discuss common soil invertebrates, their ecology and roles in soil health, scouting methods, and management strategies to increase beneficial soil animal populations.
Xerces presenters Stephanie Frischie and Jennifer Hopwood will be joined by farmer and soil health specialist Barry Fisher. For more information such as the course agenda and learning objectives, please click here. Closed captioning will be available during this short course.
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2URCADPBSUKUTmVnrSTIkw

Farmland to Shoreland
2021-06-08 16:30 | Shawano, Wisconsin
Join us for a field day at two Shawano County farms to learn about interseeding, grazing and how you can protect your lakeshore.
4:30 PM – Interseeding
W2648 River Road, Bonduel, WI 54107
6:30 PM – Grazing
W5497 County Road BE, Shawano, WI 54107
Information and registration 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.
