Conservation Professional Training Program

Practical Measures of the Soil Microbiome: How do Crop Advisors Use the Data?
2020-11-17 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
Measuring and assessing soil health are critical for understanding how changes in agronomic management practices affect the capability of soil to support cropping systems. In this presentation, the Soil Health Institute will focus on explaining measurements of the soil microbiome. Understanding the soil microbiome is a new frontier, yet critical to successful regenerative agriculture and sustainable crop production. Measurements of soil microbes include phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), 16s ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics. Though these measurements are still being explored, the Soil Health Institute, through this webinar, aims to provide attendees with a practical understanding of these measurements and describe what kind of information these measurements yield. Insights and examples from the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements will be shared to provide a contextual understanding of each measurement.
Register here.

Digging Deeper into Silvopasture
2020-11-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Online
This webinar will feature presentations from SFA’s Silvopasture & Agroforestry team, Diane Mayerfeld, Lance Smith, and Terri Peters. Agenda:

Getting Started with Silvopasture
Planning Design Considerations from Pasture to Silvopasture
Planning Design Considerations from Forest to Silvopasture
Using EQIP Funds for Silvopasture Establishment
Getting Started with Silvopasture Using Cost-Share Programs
Other Funding Opportunities for Silvopasture

Register here.

G-Team Meeting
2020-11-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Online
The G-Team is hosted by GrassWorks as a networking opportunity for interagency grazing professionals throughout Wisconsin. This meeting will focus on giving attendees a chance to share what they have been working on this year and will feature brief updates on the Ask-A-Grazier groups and the Midwest Grazing Exchange platform.
Register here.

Profitability Strategies: Lessons Learned Farming Regenerative
2020-11-12 14:30 - 15:30 | Online
Tune in for this panel with three farmers – who have, together, used regenerative practices for over three decades – as they discuss the mistakes they made and how they would do it differently to maximize success. This webinar will cover:

How these farmers started out, whether bringing on cover crops, no-till, rotational grazing, or another beneficial farming practice
The mistakes made and solutions discovered after years of trial and error and how growers starting out now can have an easier path to success
The strength of Indigo’s tools and data for rapidly integrating regenerative farming practices

Learn more here.

Market-Based Approaches to Conservation
2020-11-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
This webinar will discuss different market-based approaches of rewarding producers and communities for conservation practice implementation and overview several examples of innovative solutions for financing sustainable agriculture.
Learn more here.

A New Vision for the Yahara River Estuary
2020-11-11 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
In this presentation, we’ll hear from representatives of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), UW-Madison, City of Madison, and the Town of Westport as they work together to create a long-term vision for a portion of the Cherokee-Yahara River Estuary. The approximately 670-acre project area represents the primary inlet of water into Lake Mendota and is designated an Area of Special Natural Resource Interest (ASNRI) by the WDNR. Located on the north side of Lake Mendota, stakeholders seek to develop a long-term rehabilitation plan that will enhance (i) recreation, (ii) fisheries and wildlife, (iii) water quality and vegetation, and (iv) erosion and sediment trapping in the estuary. Key efforts include dedicated outreach initiatives such as public meetings, online surveys, and workshops to better understand local needs. Our speakers will report results from the joint effort and outcomes of the public engagement process.
Learn more here.

Biochar Webinar Series
2020-11-10 11:00 - 13:30 | Online
This biochar webinar series will provide an introduction to biochar and review some current advances in biochar science, with subsequent discussion of nursery and landscape research and applications.
Learn more here.

Wisconsin Pest Management Update
2020-11-10 09:00 - 11:00 | Online
The format for the Wisconsin Pest Management Update will be different this year because of COVID-19. Presentations will include pest management information for Wisconsin field and forage crops. Speakers will include Mark Renz, Nick Arneson, and Rodrigo Werle, Weed Scientists, Damon Smith, Plant Pathologist, and Bryan Jensen, Entomologist. Virtual meetings with the same content will be offered multiple times the week of November 9 and will run for 2 hours each. The dates and times are listed below, please choose the option that best fits your schedule. There are also 2 CCA CEUs in the area of Pest Management available for this meeting.
Register here.

Leasing Your Land
2020-11-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
As a landowner, you want to be a responsible steward of your land and maintain its natural assets for future generations. Soil is one of the most important assets of land, but it’s not always obvious how to work with an operator to protect it. A good relationship and a strong, fair lease can put an owner and operator on the same page regarding soil health. In this series, presenters will start at the beginning to help you better understand your soil, conservation practices, and how to develop a good lease. You’ll also receive a lease template and resources so you can keep learning!

Monday, November 9 – Understanding Your Farmland
Wednesday, November 11 – Protecting Soil and Water
Monday, November 16 – Developing a Farmland Lease
Learn more here.

Choosing the Right Animal for the Right Place at the Right Time
2020-11-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Livestock of all shapes and sizes offer opportunities but can also do damage! Join us to learn some of the differences and when to leverage different types for different uses. This is the third and final part of a three-part silviculture webinar series.
Learn more here.

Forestry Birds and Commonly Used Herbicides for Habitat Management
2020-11-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Managing forest habitat for birds doesn’t have to be difficult and often aligns closely with familiar forestry practices. Learn what bird species rely on forests, why their presence is a quick and dependable indicator of forest health, and how to use this information to speak with both foresters and landowners to maximize forest productivity across multiple disciplines. This webinar will also cover methods, tools, and application rates of herbicides frequently used in habitat management.

Learn more here.

Soil Heath Virtual Field Trip
2020-11-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Soil itself is a living ecosystem, home to organisms from plant roots, microbes, and fungi, to earthworms, all interacting with each other, and aiding nutrient and water availability to plant life. Tune in to explore how the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil affect that ecosystem, in our virtual field trip on Soil Health. Learn about research-based soil health practices taught by our University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Soils Instructor and hear from the Arkansas Soil Health Alliance and a local farmer about their real-life experiences with improving soil health.
Learn more here.

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for a Changing Dairy
2020-11-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Dairy production has changed dramatically in the past 30 years, with a shift from many small farms to fewer large farms. This increase in production intensity mirrors similar trends throughout the livestock industry, and it potentially changes the nature of infectious disease transmission from herd to humans, particularly via environmental routes like groundwater and surface water. However, the significance of this change to human health has not been fully explored. This presentation will describe how quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) can be a useful tool in studying infectious disease transmission on a changing dairy landscape, provide recent examples of QMRAs relevant to the Wisconsin dairy industry, and propose a QMRA-based research agenda for proactively addressing future challenges.
Learn more here.

PFAS - What's in Your Water?
2020-10-30 13:30 - 14:30 | Online
What compounds are all around us and have been around since the 1940s? These compounds are used for stain and water-repellents, non-stick surfaces, cleaning products, fire-fighting foam, and a wide range of other products. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of nearly 5,000 human-made compounds that have become a common part of our lives. These “forever” chemicals are very persistent in the environment, don’t break down, and accumulate over time. PFAS compounds are found in our drinking water, soil, plants, animals, and people. This webinar will provide a basic understanding of PFAS. Some of the questions that will be answered include: What is PFAS? Where did it come from? Where is it found? What are the potential issues related to PFAS? This is the first of a two-part series on PFAS and will focus mainly on water related factors and concerns.
Learn more here.

Annual vs. Perennial Forages
2020-10-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Daniel Olson is a dairy farmer and forage consultant from Lena, Wisconsin. His focus is on increasing the profitability of progressive operations (primarily dairy farms) all across the U.S. by utilizing high yielding and high quality forages. Our discussion will center on the concepts of planting warm and cool-season forages together to reduce seeding costs, ways to improve feed efficiency, and some thoughts on annual versus perennial forages.
Learn more here.

Discussions on Nutrient Management Farmer Training in a COVID World and Beyond
2020-10-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
2020 hasn’t been a normal year. You are invited to join with DATCP and other county staff to discuss short-term solutions around nutrient management training under COVID-19 restrictions and longer-term solutions to improving the programs’ effectiveness. The discussion will also enable us to continue some of the discussion from the Virtual Partner Meetings hosted in September. The meetings will be held virtually through Zoom, and registration is required to ensure you receive the link. Contact Ryan.Erisman@wisconsin.gov with questions.

Register at:
October 29th Register here.
November 4th Register here.
November 5th Register here.

Fence Options for Grazing Cover Crops & Corn Residue
2020-10-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Jared Luhman Farm, 23008 350th St, Goodhue, Minnesota
This event will feature expert knowledge and farm information focused on the Five Principles of Soil Health and especially livestock integration.
Learn more here.

Pollinator Habitat Restoration: Planning and Contracting
2020-10-27 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
In this webinar, planners will learn how to plan and contract pollinator habitat plantings. Guidance will help planners improve the success of habitat restoration plantings with adequate site preparation, implementation, and periodic maintenance during the plant establishment period. We also will discuss how to assemble a suite of practices to make the process easier for landowners.
Learn more here.

Climate Change and Ecosystems: Lessons from the Past
2020-10-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
How do species adapt to changing climates and how can we help them? Some of our best examples come from the end of the last ice age when the world warmed by 5-10F. Learn how past climates and ecosystems are studied, what has been learned, and insights for today.
Learn more here.

Managing Water Level Impacts on Wisconsin Beaches
2020-10-27 10:00 - 11:15 | Online
This webinar will include a panel of experts who will discuss a range of water level issues, including basin hydrology, water level forecasts, nearshore water level impacts, and useful tools for examining coastal processes. In addition, participants will hear a local case study of designing a beach for resiliency, which provides important lessons from design conception to currently faced challenges. Speaker presentations will be followed by a Q&A with webinar participants.
Presenters
• Deanna Apps, Physical Scientist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit District
• Adam Bechle, Coastal Engineering Outreach Specialist, Wisconsin Sea Grant
• Julie Kinzelman, Laboratory Division Director, City of Racine – Public Health Department

Grow More Workshop
2020-10-27 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
The online Grow More workshop will present a model for conservation outreach that is based in current social science and communication principles. Participants will learn about key aspects of farmer decision making and work with other conservation professionals to identify messaging strategies to reach new audiences and increase the use of farm conservation practices. Presenters will be from the National Wildlife Federation’s Sustainable Agriculture Team. Details will be available soon. Contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org with any questions.

Designing Silvopasture Plantings
2020-10-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Join us to learn about approaches to planning for woodland conversion and trees into pasture including tools and methods, mapping, tree spacing and patterning, and more.
Register here.

Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate
2020-10-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
The Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate (AACC) project was conducted with the goal of building capacity among Extension professionals and other livestock advisors to address climate change issues. The AACC project team learned some pivotal lessons early during the multi-regional project that were foundational to the development of key products and delivery of regional and national programs to over 1,400 professionals. Tune in to hear lessons learned along with program deliverables and impacts. This webinar will also cover the issue of methane production in beef cattle and some specific techniques that either increase or decrease production per day, per body weight, and per production outcome (like weight gain).
Register here.

PFAS - What You Need to Know
2020-10-26 09:00 - 10:00 | Online
The issue of controlling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is increasingly becoming a major environmental and public health issue in the State of Wisconsin. Hear from a county expert on what you need to know, as well as your role as a county official in addressing this ongoing issue.

Register here.

Building Land Resilience
2020-10-25 - 2020-10-26 | Online
This workshop will explore strategies for building regenerative farming systems and working landscapes. You will leave this workshop with an understanding of regenerative principles, observational exercises and tools to implement regeneration at any scale. Ecological Design will share insights, lessons, and stories from their 20 years of transitioning urban and rural lands. This two-part workshop is for farm managers and land stewards.
Learn more here.

The Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands
2020-10-23 10:30 - 23:30 | Online
What comes to mind when you hear Door County? Your first thoughts might be of wineries, quaint shops, and bluff overlooks. But you may not be aware that the peninsula also boasts a Wetland of International Importance. The Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands Ramsar Site is a 11,443-acre wetland complex that occupies a major section of the Lake Michigan shoreline in Door County. Stretching from Newport State Park southward to The Ridges Sanctuary, the site contains several regionally- and globally-significant wetland communities including Great Lakes ridge and swale, northern sedge meadow, calcareous fens, boreal rich fens, northern wet-mesic forest, and Great Lakes alkaline shoreline among others. The Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands Ramsar Site also houses 15 plant species listed as threatened or endangered by the State of Wisconsin and three plant and animal species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Join Kari Hagenow to explore the “quiet side” of Door County. Learn what makes this site so special, the threats that these wetlands continue to face, and how you can be a good steward while visiting this beautiful and diverse place.
Learn more here.

Cover Crop Showcase
2020-10-22 16:30 - 18:00 | Matt Leinke farm, N8900 Sunny Point Road, Beaver Dam, WI, 53916
The Showcase will demonstrate how cover cropping improves soil water infiltration. Improved soil reduces surface water runoff and farmland erosion. The challenges of runoff will also be discussed during the Showcase.
Learn more here.

Quantifying Conservation Effects on Multiple Wetland Ecosystem Services
2020-10-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
This webinar will highlight the Integrated Landscape Modeling Partnership (ILMP) and its application to wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region in the northern Great Plains. The ILMP is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and its aim is to identify, evaluate, and develop geospatial models to quantify services derived from wetland ecosystems and to determine the effects of conservation practice implementation. This webinar will explore wetland ecosystem services, conservation benefits, and the tradeoffs inherent in conservation practice implementation and wetlands restoration.
Learn more here.

WREP
2020-10-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), which is part of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), a Farm Bill conservation program. Partners looking to learn more about opportunities for WREP funding for fiscal year 2021 are encouraged to attend the WREP workshop.
To participate contact Lisa McCauley National WREP Program Manager at lisa.mccauley@usda.gov

The Power of Birds to Amplify Conservation, Stewardship, and Community Outreach
2020-10-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Would you like to tap into a network of 46 million Americans who contribute nearly $80 billion to the U.S. economy annually? If so, it may be time for your land trust to consider (or reconsider) birds. Birdwatching is one of the fastest-growing hobbies in North America with over half of birders under the age of 54. Through its conserved lands, land trusts have a natural connection to the birding community and the ability to conserve wildlife within these habitats.
Learn more here.
