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 (America/Chicago) | 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, 2024-02-13 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.

Soil Health Practices Impact on Phosphorus Pools and Availability
2024-02-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Chelsea Zegler and Dr. Jamie Patton continue their conversation from last year on how soil test phosphorus (STP) impacts water quality. Learn how different cover crops and soil health practices change water dynamics, the location and the availability of phosphorus in different soil types.

Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems
2024-02-15 11:30 - 12:30, 2024-02-22 11:30 - 12:30, 2024-02-29 11:30 - 12:30, 2024-03-07 11:30 - 12:30, 2024-03-14 11:30 - 12:30 | Online
Starting February 15, 2024, the Farmers for Soil Health education team, supported by Soil Health Institute and Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture presents a webinar series focused on cash crop planting and equipment considerations in cover crop systems. The first webinar will kick off with a moderated discussion among leading experts. In each successive webinar, a farmer with cover crop experience will be featured and engage in discussion with webinar participants.
Register for our interactive lunch and learn format webinars where you will have the opportunity to learn about different farmer’s unique methods for ensuring successful cash crop planting.
Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems with Steve Groff & Barry Fisher moderated by Abbey Wick
February 15th Webinar, 12:30 – 1:30 EST
This webinar spotlights Steve Groff and Barry Fisher’s work with cover crops in Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively. Dr. Abbey Wick will serve as our moderator.
REGISTRATION

Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems with Ryan Britt
February 22nd Webinar, 12:30 – 1:30 EST
This webinar spotlights farmer Ryan Britt and his experience with cover crops in North Central Missouri. You can view Ryan’s video in advance here.
REGISTRATION

Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems with Michael Vittetoe
February 29th Webinar, 12:30 – 1:30 EST
This webinar spotlights farmer Michael Vittetoe and his experience with cover crops in Washington County, Iowa. You can view Michael’s videos here: Part One | Part Two
REGISTRATION

Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems with John Pike
March 7th Webinar, 12:30 – 1:30 EST
This webinar spotlights farmer and consultant John Pike and his work with cover crops in Marion, Illinois. You can view John’s video in advance here.
REGISTRATION

Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems with Christopher Hudson
March 14th Webinar, 12:30 – 1:30 EST
This webinar spotlights Christopher Hudson and his work with cover crops in Middletown, Missouri. You can view Christopher’s video in advance here.
REGISTRATION

Climate Smart Mitigation and COMET Tools
2024-02-27 09:00 - 16:30 | Online
This course will provide an overview of climate science principles, terminology, and resources, focusing on best management strategies for engaging clients in effective dialogue around climate smart land management practices.
Participants will become familiar with the current and predicted future impact of weather extremes and climate change on Wisconsin’s working lands, as well as the use of climate smart conservation practices to address mitigation and adaptation strategies to promote resilient working lands.
Participants will be exposed to verification tools and models used to demonstrate efficacy of implemented conservation practices in sequestering carbon or abating GHG emissions in agriculture, grazing, and forestry systems.

Grazing and Water Quality: Lessons Learned From Edge-Of-Field Research
2024-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
How do grazing methods affect runoff water quality? Eric Young, USDA-ARS Research Soil Scientist, and Kelsey Hyland will discuss lessons learned from edge-of-field grazing research and strategies to maximize water quality benefit in these systems.

Midwest Covers and Grains Conference
2024-03-04 | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, Minnesota, United States
The Midwest Covers & Grains Conference brings together Midwestern farmers, supply chain buyers and researchers to promote successful farming with extended rotations and cover crops. The conference includes opportunities to network with those who buy and sell small grains and cover crops, and offers sessions for both beginning and experienced cover crop practitioners.
PFI’s Midwestern small grains network extends across five states including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

2024 Manure Applicator 101 Trainings
2024-03-04 08:00 - 11:00, 2024-03-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-03-05 18:00 - 21:00, 2024-03-07 12:30 - 15:30, 2024-03-11 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-03-15 12:30 - 15:30, 2024-03-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Varies
The 2024 Manure applicator 101 training will be held at the following locations and times. Please ensure you select the correct training (date and location) in your registration:

Friday, 2/23/2024, Time 12:30 pm | Altoona, Eau Clarie County Extension office
Monday, 2/26/2024, Time 8:00 am | Dodgeville, Iowa County Extension office
Monday, 2/26/2024, Time 1:00 pm | North Freedom, Denzer (Honey Creek Town Hall)
Monday, 3/4/2024, 6:00 pm | Manitowoc, Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center
Tuesday, 3/5/2024, 1:00 pm | Chilton, Calumet County Courthouse
Tuesday, 3/5/2024, 6:00pm | Chilton, Calumet County Courthouse
Thursday, 3/7/2024, 12:30 pm | Luxemburg, Kewaunee County Fairgrounds
Monday, 3/11/2024, 9:00 am | Barron, Barron County Government Center
Friday, 3/15/2024, 12:30 pm | Luxemburg, Kewaunee County Fairgrounds
Monday, 3/18/2024, 1:00 pm | Cecil, Tim Bulger Farm, W1008 Nauman Rd.
Wednesday, 3/20/2024, 1:00 pm | Birnamwood, Matsche Farms, Inc
Friday, 3/22/2024, 12:30 pm | Abbotsford, Abbotsford City Hall
Wednesday, 4/3/2024, 12:30 pm | Jefferson English and Spanish
Monday, 3/25/24, 1:00 pm | Online, via Zoom
Each session is 3 hours long.
Registration FEE:
Advance (3 days before the date of your selected session): $10 per person, Late/At the Door: $15 per person
You may use one form to register all employees attending from the same organization if they are attending the same session. Please fill out a separate registration if they are attending different sessions.

Wisconsin Land + Water Annual Conference
2024-03-06 - 2024-03-08 | KI Convention Center, 333 Main Street, Green Bay, WI, 54301, United States
Wisconsin Land + Water’s annual conference provides valuable networking opportunities, forums to discuss current work and new ideas with colleagues, a chance to build technical knowledge, and space to be re-inspired by the passion for conservation across the state.

Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference
2024-03-07 | Agro Liquid Conference Center, 3055 M-21, St Johns, MI, 48879, United States
Everyone with an interest in forage crops or grazing is invited to join the Michigan Forage Council and Michigan State University Extension at the 2024 Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The packed agenda has something for everyone.
The keynote speaker is Chad Hale of Byron Seeds and past president of the American Forage and Grassland Council, who will discuss yield and quality improvements of new forage grasses for hay, haylage and pasture use. During the afternoon breakout sessions, he will also address the future of the forage seed industry including alfalfa in the face of consolidation of seed companies and what that may mean to U.S. farms.
Other topics and speakers include:

Weed control in hayfields and pastures – Erin Burns, MSU
MSU forage research update – Kim Cassida, MSU
Winter bale grazing’s impact on soil health – Jeremy Sweeten, Understanding Ag consultant
Fertilizer markets for 2024 and fertilizer application strategies – John Elzinga, MI Ag Commodities, and Gary Carmichael, Carmichael Farms
Winter feeding mud management reduction strategies – Boyd Byelich, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Michelle Sweeten and Kable Thurlow, MSU Extension educators

The Midwest Soil Health Summit
2024-03-13 - 2024-03-14 | Courtyard Marriott Mankato, 901 Raintree Road, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
This is Sustainable Farming Association’s biggest soil health event of the year, drawing together local and national experts in the field with attendees for discussion, networking, and education. Farmers, ag resource professionals, agency staff, hungry learners and more – all are welcome to attend and learn together.

Red Cedar Watershed Conference
2024-03-14 | University of Wisconsin-Stout, 302 10th Ave E, Menomonie, WI, 54751, United States
Do you farm? Do you live in town? Do you manage residential, commercial, or public property? Do you enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, or canoeing? Do you think the economic and environmental health of this beautiful region is important?
Event Highlights:

Farm, city, and waterfront success stories — profitable land management for clean water
Solutions to the serious problem that plagues our lakes and rivers — runoff pollution
A great networking opportunity for all citizens at an important event

2024 Conference Theme is “ Ground Water below the surface “
