Ventenata Identification, Impacts, and Management Options
2023-04-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) is one of the most recent troublesome invasive plant species to affect range, pasture, and wild lands of the Intermountain Pacific Northwest and Northern Great Plains of the U.S. This presentation will cover biology, ecology, and management of ventenata. Grass identification can be difficult, and this presentation will also discuss how to identify ventenata relative to other non-native annual grasses that are problematic on western range and wild lands. In areas where ventenata is just beginning to invade, identification is critical for early detection and rapid response.
Info here.

Common Insect Pests of Vegetable Gardens
2023-04-19 14:00 - 15:00
North Dakota State University’s free Field to Fork webinar seriescontinues with this session on Recognizing Common Tomato Problems and Emerging Diseases in Outdoor and Protected Environments.
Info here.

Field Conservation Planning
2023-04-20 09:00 - 15:00
Become more well-rounded Conservation Planners in the Field. This training will help planners identify resource concerns and identify what conservation practices can be used to solve these concerns and where they should be placed. Soils staff will also be on site to discuss soils and do soils investigations. Site also has WDNR mapped wetlands and navigable water ways identified by DNR in areas with soil erosion problems so staff will discuss handling of those issues and permitting.
Lunch will be provided by WI Land & Water on site. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions in the registration form. Portable Toilet will also be available on site.
Needs: Be prepared to get Dirty (bring boots!!) Also, please bring conservation tools of choice that you would use for planning (laser, GPS, bucket auger, hand level, Abney, and/or clinometer)
See the training flyer for more information about the trainings.
Meet at the Farm Located just South of Elkhorn on the South Side of Mound Road in Walworth County. The map is attached here.
Info here.

Monitoring and Assessment Data Collection and Applications for Tribal Wetland Programs
2023-04-20 14:00 - 15:30
For nearly three decades, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ [CSKT] wetland conservation program has utilized a combination of wetland-focused Tribal Ordinances, innovative partnerships with outside agencies and non-profits, and EPA Wetland Program Development Grants to monitor, preserve, and restore wetlands on the Flathead Reservation. Today, CSKT’s wetlands are threatened by a rapid increase in local development and the effects of climate change. By analyzing years of functional assessment data and aerial imagery to better understand the trends of each watershed, CSKT now seeks to update their Wetland Conservation Plan for the next decade. This presentation will explain the tools used by CSKT and history of the program, with a particular focus on developing their new Wetland Conservation Plan.

The Fond du Lac Reservation began developing its Wetland Program in late 1998, even before the EPA had developed the Core Elements for Wetland Programs. Since then, Fond du Lac has achieved the goal of developing each of the core elements, most recently with the 2020 approval of its Wetland Water Quality Standards. This presentation will cover some key elements to consider in building a Wetland Program from the ground up, including the “four knows” of this development.

Info here.

Strategies to keep your woods healthy and resilient
2023-04-21 09:00 - 10:00
Save the dates! Join University of Minnesota Extension foresters to discuss some of the key issues and questions around forest and woodlands facing Minnesota landowners. These online sessions will be very informal and open to the public and free of charge. Each session will start with a brief presentation, followed by a discussion framed around participant questions on the topic.
Info here.

Karst hydrogeology and wetlands
2023-04-21 14:30 - 15:30
Have you ever heard of “karst”? Hydrogeologist Maureen Muldoon will provide an introduction to the hydrogeology of Wisconsin’s karst landscapes. Geologist Grace Graham will talk about the relationship between karst springs and wetlands. Maureen Muldoon started her career with the Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey (WGNHS) in 1987. In 1998 she moved to UW-Oshkosh for 21 years, where she was a professor of Geology. She has recently returned to the WGNHS, where she conducts research that focuses on applied groundwater questions throughout Wisconsin with a focus on hydrogeology of karst. Grace Graham is a geologist for WGNHS, where she does fieldwork, data management, and geographic information system (GIS) work for a variety of projects and research topics, balancing her between the field and the office.
Info here.

National Monitoring Conference
2023-04-24 - 2023-04-28
This hybrid conference provides opportunities for water stakeholders – federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, nonprofits, academia, water consultants and industry, and volunteer and community scientists – to network, develop new skills and partnerships, and exchange information.
Info here.

Manganese
2023-04-25 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.

Siting Clean Energy and Spent Nuclear Fuel Facilities: Rural Opportunities and Impacts
2023-04-25 13:00 - 14:30
Processes for siting clean energy technologies and spent nuclear fuel management facilities can impact rural communities – creating new economic opportunities, inspiring cross-sectoral partnerships, altering
regional land and resource use, and reshaping local perceptions of risk. Dr. Vincent lalenti, U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Consent-Based Siting Team, will discuss federal efforts to make people and communities central to siting federal consolidated interim storage facilities. Dr. Sarah Mills, University of Michigan, will discuss the positive and negative impacts of wind and solar energy in rural communities and how to help rural communities proactively plan for renewables. The discussion to follow will explore differences between the various risks and benefits associated with siting different kinds of energy-related facilities.
Info here.

2023 Wisconsin Rural Partners (WPR) Summit
2023-04-26 - 2023-04-27
WRP’s Annual Rural Summit is an event that brings together people who care about the future of rural Wisconsin – and their community.
Info here.

Badger Crop Connect Spring 2023
2023-04-26 12:30 - 13:30
The UW-Madison Division of Extension’s Ag Institute and the UW-Madison Nutrient and Pest Management Program will be hosting the fourth annual Badger Crop Connect webinar series for the 2023 growing season. The purpose of this series is to provide agronomists, crop consultants, and farmers with timely crop updates for Wisconsin. These free webinars will be offered, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 12:30 PM, with the spring webinars beginning in April. Registration is required. You must register for each webinar separately. The entire series is split into three sets of webinars: spring, summer, and fall. Find a list of upcoming webinars and more information on the Badger Crop Connect Webpage.

The Science (and Art) of Plant Disease Diagnosis
2023-04-26 18:30 - 20:30
Learn about the fascinating and complex process involved in identifying plant diseases. Learn about how to visually assess for plant disease symptoms, as well as about the range of lab tests that are often needed to confirm the identity of plant diseases.
Info here.

WiWiC CONSERVATION Educator Network SPRING CONFERENCE 2023
2023-04-28
Join this inaugural convening of Wisconsin conservation educators to collaboratively strengthen outreach and support for women landowners and farmers.
Hosted by Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC), this first-of-its-kind gathering will bring together conservation educators from across the state to connect, network and empower women working on the land, fanning the flames of Wisconsin’s conservation ethic among this increasingly powerful demographic.​
All Wisconsin conservation educators, both men and women, who are interested in learning effective ways of working with women landowners are welcome, from agency staff to non-profit organizations and educators in volunteer roles.
​Conservationists early in their careers, including students, are highly encouraged to attend. WiWiC is committed to making sure anyone who wants to come can come. If a complimentary registration to cover the $25 fee would help make that happen, please contact Esther Shekinah: eshekinah@michaelfields.org
​The WiWiC Conservation Educator Network launched in 2021 to bring together conservation educators for shared learning and networking, both through state-wide virtual meet-ups and a series of summer happy hours. Based on strong response to these events, the idea of an in-person, centrally-located, day-long conference came together. The beautiful Sentry World venue seemed like a perfect setting to gather.
Info here.

Participatory Science: Spotted Lanternfly, Mock Strawberry, Garlic Mustard Aphids
2023-04-28 09:00 - 10:00

Building Blocks for Sharing Science
2023-05-18 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-06-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2023-07-13 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-08-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-09-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2023-10-17 09:00 - 11:00
Building Blocks for Sharing Science are short, fast-paced trainings that focus on developing skills and situations commonly encountered by environmental professionals.
Some of the topics addressed in this learning series are:

Thoughtful selection of inclusive language
Redirecting disruptive behavior in meetings for more positive outcomes
Developing effective data visuals, survey tools, and graphic products
Designing compelling grant proposals
How to estimate and convey the value of ecosystem services

Register and learn more.

UW Agronomy and Soils Field Day
2023-08-30 08:00 - 12:00 | Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, Wisconsin
This year’s theme is “integrating new ag technologies,” with presentations centering around new technologies for field crops, pest management and nutrient management, plus alfalfa interseeded into corn silage. Lunch is available for $10, sponsored by the Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants.

Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference
2023-12-07 - 2023-12-08 | Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, 1305 Kalahari Dr, Baraboo, WI, 53913, United States
The WWASH conference is building upon the legacies of two pivotal events, the Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference and the Discovery Farms Conference. Joining these conferences allows us to present a conference with more keynotes and a wider range of featured topics in breakout sessions to an integrated audience. Attendees will experience thought-provoking discussions and walk away with a better understanding of the intersections of agronomy, water quality and soil health.

Optimizing Nitrogen Use and Reducing Nitrate Leaching
2024-01-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
How do we optimize the use of commercial nitrogen and reduce nitrate leaching? Learn about how agronomic results and water quality impacts connect with lessons from an on-farm trial from the Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) from 2023. Guolong Liang and Monica Shauer, research director for NOPP, will discuss the importance of nitrogen optimization and the strategies to reduce nitrate leaching.

2024 Annual CAFO Update Meetings
2024-01-29 10:00 - 15:30, 2024-01-30 10:00 - 15:30, 2024-02-06 10:00 - 15:30, 2024-02-07 10:00 - 15:30, 2024-02-08 07:00 - 12:00, 2024-02-12 10:00 - 15:30
Jointly sponsored by UW Madison Division of Extension’s Conservation Professional Training Program and Wisconsin DNR, the CAFO Update Meetings are designed for livestock operations near or at WPDES permit size (CAFOs) — owners/management and key staff, their agronomic and engineering consultants, and agency staff and others who work with these operations.

Wisconsin’s Unique Karst Landscapes and the Impacts on Water Quality
2024-01-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Dr. Maureen Muldoon and Laura Paletta will share how Wisconsin’s unique karst landscapes and Silurian bedrock impact the ground beneath our feet and groundwater resources. They will provide information on best management practices to utilize in these areas to lessen soil and nutrient loss impacts.
