Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide
2021-12-08 11:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago)
The MCCC will hold a live, webinar to outline the updates and answer questions. To register for the webinar or view a recorded version later, go online. Attendees who pre-register will be eligible to receive a free copy of the new field guide after the webinar; limited quantities are available.
Info and registration.

Brine on a Budget
2021-12-08 12:00 - 13:00
Matt Wittum, Highway Superintendent with the Town of Linn, joins us again to advise smaller municipalities or anyone interested getting into brine but running into budget issues.
Info here.

Black Farmer Justice: Past, Present, and Future
2021-12-08 12:00 - 13:00
Black farmers have a rich history and promising future in the United States, even though the Black history of agriculture is often reduced to slavery and cotton plantations. In Farming While Black (2018), Leah Penniman argues that justice for Black people, farmers and otherwise, requires learning about Black histories of agriculture, creating new experiences in the natural world, and getting in touch with our food systems. With a panel of Black scholars, farmers, and activists, in this webinar we explore what justice for Black farmers is today, what it has been in the past, and what it can be in the future.

Habitat Management and Monitoring
2021-12-08 12:30 - 14:30
This workshop will provide practitioners with technical guidance for the successful stewardship of habitat including what to expect and recommended management actions over time. This module will also provide a better understanding of the importance of monitoring to evaluate the success or need to adapt management plans, as well as include specific monitoring methodologies.
TOPIC 1: Long-term management considerations and strategies.
Dan Zay, State Resource Conservationist, USDA/NRCS
TOPIC 2: Disturbance, prescribed fire, and the importance of managing succession.
Joe Robb, Ph.D., Project Lead, USFWS, Big Oaks and Muscatatuck Nation Wildlife Refuge Complex
Quanit Ali, Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Angela VanWinden, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, USFWS, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
TOPIC 3: The importance of monitoring: Incorporating the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) into Your Project.
Jennifer Thieme, Science Coordinator, Monarch Joint Venture
Info here.

History of Racism in US Agriculture and Organic
2021-12-08 13:00 - 14:00
Organic organizations have recognized the need for training providing baseline knowledge and common language around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organic community.
This presentation, delivered by Beth Schermerhorn and Asha Carter from Cambium Collective with the input of the steering committee and focus groups, will provide an overview of systemic racism in organic agriculture systems, data on current demographics surrounding organic farmers, consumers, and service providers, and existing policies contributing to or remediating discrepancies.
Info here.

Winter Tree Identification
2021-12-08 13:00 - 15:00
Identifying trees without their leaves can be difficult. However, knowing how to use their twigs, buds, and bark can make it a lot easier. In this program, we will cover the basics of winter tree identification through a combination of presentations, in-field tree identification, and twig identification practice. Join us as we explore the winter beauty of Schmeeckle’s trees and learn how to:

use dichotomous keys,
apply key terminology to identify trees and twigs, and
identify trees by bark, twig, and buds.

Info here.

How (and How Not) to Apply for Agricultural Grants
2021-12-08 19:00 - 20:30
With a wave of new grant opportunities and emergency funding for farmers, it can be tough to know where to start—or if you even should.
Grants can help your farm upgrade, innovate, and grow. But the application process can have a steep learning curve and a quick turnaround. With no guarantee of funding, it’s important to ask yourself if a grant is right for your farm and worth the work.
In this webinar you’ll hear from a farmer who successfully—and unsuccessfully—applied for funding, a grants administrator, and consultants from Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. You’ll learn how to identify funding sources that make sense for your farm’s goals. You’ll also learn about the ebb and flow of funding cycles, the differences between grants and emergency funds, strategies for getting prepared to apply for grants, and resources for getting help.
Info here.

Activate Soil Microbes to Unlock Nutrients and Improve Profitability
2021-12-09 10:00 - 11:00
Regardless of how many nutrients we apply, without healthy soil they may never make it to the plant due to timing or severe weather. It’s not uncommon to experience nitrogen loss of 30-50% and up to 80% of applied phosphorus can get bound to elements in the soil, leaving little in a form that plants actually use. This webinar will help you learn how to wake up your soil’s microbiome, maximize profits, and take back control.
Info here.

Ladies' Lunch 'n Learn: Land Conservation Plans
2021-12-09 12:00 - 13:00
Are you a woman landowner interested in developing a conservation plan that stewards your land for future generations? Wisconsin Women in Conservation is leading fan innovative and inaugural state-wide initiative to support women landowners interested in developing a land conservation plan. Join this virtual learning circle for women landowners where you’ll have the opportunity to learn from two leading NRCS conservation plan experts in Wisconsin who will help demystify the conservation plan process and connect you with resources. This session will clearly explain the purpose and components of these plans and the tools and support NRCS provides, including a free farm walk-through and funding opportunities like EQIP and CSP.
Info and registration here.

Western Wisconsin Conservation Council (WCCC) Annual Meeting
2021-12-09 12:00 - 15:00
Agenda
12 p.m. Lunch
1-3 p.m. Programing

WWCC year in review: Todd Doornink, WWCC board president
2020-member survey results review and The Nature Conservancy incentive program review: Steve Richter and Ricardo Costa, The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin
WWCC well-testing research update: Dr. Jill Coleman Wasik, UWRF
Biochar research product introduction: Dr. Patrick Woolcock & Dr. Natasha Rayne, UWRF
Lessons from the field: WWCC farmer experience panel discussion: WWCC farmer members

3:15 p.m. Members only Annual Meeting
Info here.

Working together and giving back
2021-12-09 18:30 - 20:00
We are all contributors on the journey to effective ecological restoration. We are part of the same Earth and connected by interwoven systems that govern how we live and interact with each other. This session will present an overview of the reciprocity of our actions, and discuss how to collaborate with community partners, create sustainable volunteer engagement, and invite us to evaluate our motivations in caring for the land.

Interwoven Systems of Reciprocity – Sarina Perchak and Dave Skene
Building and sustaining volunteer motivation – Tim Alamenciak
The Manitoulin Phragmites Project – Judith Jones
Creative approaches to community engagement – Martin Tamlyn

Info here.

Chemical Control of Cattail in Species-Rich Wetlands
2021-12-10 10:30 - 11:30
Narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) and hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) are aggressive invaders of wetlands in Wisconsin. Integrated Restorations, LLC, has been evaluating the use of the selectively-targeted herbicide imazapyr (Polaris) for reversing cattail invasions in species-rich fen and sedge meadow wetlands of the Mukwonago River watershed in southeastern Wisconsin. The treatment protocol they developed reduced cattail stem densities by more than 99% with remarkable improvements in native wetland vegetation species richness, diversity, and floristic quality. Join Integrated Restorations operations manager and principal restoration ecologist Craig Annen to hear more about the research and its results and learn how this approach may help you control invasive cattail in your wetland.
Info here.

Cultivating Your Farm's Financial Future
2021-12-10 11:00 - 12:00
A new program from University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension educators in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection’s Farm Center staff will help Wisconsin farmers make decisions and plan for their future. An introductory web meeting will be held on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, from 11 am – noon.
The program, Cultivating Your Farm’s Financial Future, is being piloted with a select group of farmers in early 2022.
By the end of the program, participants will gain a sense of financial decision-making control and make key decisions about their farm and its future.
The program will also help farmers reduce stress. Planning for the future has been shown to be an effective way for farmers to increase peace of mind, improve relationships and communication on the farm, and assist with business resiliency. The program will also give farmers tools to help cope with stress.
Farms interested in participating in this free and confidential opportunity are encouraged to attend to learn more about the program and to meet other participants and program organizers.
For more information about the December 10th Zoom or about the entire program, contact Joy Kirkpatrick at joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu or 608-263-3485.
Register here.

Barriers to Opportunities for Peri-Urban Farm Startups and Expansions: Navigating Access to Land, Capital, and Production Capacity
2021-12-10 16:30 - 19:30
Washington State University in partnership with Oregon State University announces “Farming on the Urban Edge”, a series of online Conferences starting throughout winter 2021 through Spring 20-22 that will launch the new Peri-Urban Agriculture Network. The mission of this initiative is for farmers, policy-makers, educators, and food system stakeholders to learn strategies to improve the viability of farming in urbanizing areas, and ways that communities can sustain and enhance the growth of peri-urban farms and food economies.
Info here.

Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Convention
2021-12-12 - 2021-12-14
The MASWCD annual convention includes business meetings, updates on current issues, a keynote address, informational sessions, a trade show, and recognition of outstanding soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and individuals.
From grassroots initiatives to innovative conservation practices, the convention provided attendees with new ideas that can be implemented across the state.
Info here.

Building Resilient Farms and Farm Families
2021-12-13 09:00 - 10:00
Farm and farm families experience a variety of stressors that lead to disruptions on the farm. Building resilience is necessary to reduce the impact of stressors and strengthen the farm and farm families. This session will share strategies that promote resilience and identify signs of stress on the farm.
Info here.

Making Conservation Profitable
2021-12-13 12:00 - 13:30
Iowa County’s Uplands Watershed Group supports farmers in implementing conservation strategies that protect soil, recycle nutrients, increase water infiltration, support wildlife, and hold carbon in the soil, among other benefits.
Everyone has to eat lunch! Come join us as we explore a variety of strategies to make conservation profitable and ways to assess the economic value of those strategies on your farm. We will survey information on cover crops, alternative crops; value-added opportunities, managed grazing, agri-tourism, and emerging market opportunities.
Info here.

Virtual Crane Viewing
2021-12-13 19:00 - 20:00
Each fall, upwards of 10,000 sandhill cranes congregate along the Wisconsin River just behind Leopold’s Shack—and this year is no different. The cranes are arriving by the thousands at their annual stopover in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and the Aldo Leopold Foundation is committed to sharing the experience with you.
Engage in a live presentation with Dr. Stan Temple, get a behind-the-scenes look at the conservation work we do to protect these majestic birds, and witness the captivating sight of thousands of cranes flying in to roost for the night. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!
Info here.

Missouri State Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health
2021-12-14 - 2021-12-15
This two-day virtual conference features presentations and discussion panels about cover crops and soil health. Speakers include farmers experienced with cover crops and soil health along with other soil health experts. Topics to be covered include the latest approaches with cover crop management, grazing of cover crops, soil health measurement, carbon payment programs, and strategies for boosting soil health.
The conference will be held from 9am – 12pm each morning of the conference.
A detailed agenda, including speaker bios and presentation topics, will be sent to registered conference attendees and available on our website later in November.
Conference registration is free!
Info here.

Soil Management Summit
2021-12-14 - 2021-12-15
The Soil Management Summit emphasizes proven farmer experience and applied science. Straight from the fields, learn how heavier, colder soils aren’t necessarily the challenge they’re made out to be. Hear from long-time no-till, reduced tillage, and cover crop farmers as they share their experiences, so you can be spared the same hard-learned lessons.
Info here.

Hiring practice to build and retain diverse teams
2021-12-14 12:00 - 13:30
Are you looking for ways to build a more diverse work environment? Join this workshop to learn different hiring practices that can help you build and retain diverse teams.
Participants will begin by discovering the dimensions of diversity, then delve into human behaviors such as implicit biases and how these can manifest within hiring practices. After exploring what often leads to discriminatory workplace culture, attendees will advance to what builds and retains diverse teams. The goal of this training is to move beyond old ways and transition to healthier outlooks and policies.
Info here.

Bridging the Gap: Connecting Farm to School
2021-12-14 12:00 - 13:30
Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are teaming up to host “Bridging the Gap: Connecting Farm to School.” Join us for a conversation with farmers and supply chain partners to lay groundwork on Farm to School procurement amid new opportunities.
This free webinar will offer an overview of how schools and farmers can work together to enhance access to locally grown products. Presenters from both DATCP and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), who have identified needs and opportunities for education around producers and local food businesses in working with schools.
Info here.

Using Ecological Forestry to Support Bird Management Objectives
2021-12-14 12:00 - 13:30
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forest Ecology Working Group (FEWG) and NCTC, working in collaboration with many FWS programs and partners, have developed a monthly lecture series to address the 50-year decline of 3 billion birds through partnerships, conservation science and forest management. The series tells a compelling story about forest bird population declines, partnership opportunities, and forest management actions that can support bird population recovery and sustainability.
Info here.

Managing Tribal Fisheries and Employees on the Reservation
2021-12-14 13:00 - 14:00
Tribal natural resource management agencies continue to provide employment opportunities within the fisheries field, and while much is known about Western ways of managing fisheries, native culture and its views on fishery management are largely unknown to non-natives. In this presentation, we give guidance on how to prepare to work for tribe, effectively manage employees, create fishery regulations, and more. We also discuss native culture, Treaty Rights, history, and modern day tribal governance/sovereignty. This presentation aims to inform those who are interested in working for a tribe or for those wanting to gain more knowledge about the people of the first nations.
Info here.

Preserving Local Food Systems with Federal Financing
2021-12-14 13:00 - 14:30
Traditional development finance tools can be used to support food-related businesses and projects, leveraging further investment to catalyze local and regional food systems. Food can be a powerful tool for revitalization, in terms of both economic growth and improvements to the built environment. Many food-related enterprises are small businesses that keep dollars local and create jobs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a multitude of financing programs available for these efforts. Offerings such as the Business and Industry Loan program, AMS loans for agriculture, and the new Regional Food System Partnerships are options that should be considered by small rural areas to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on food systems. During this installment of the CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series, hear from experts at the USDA about their various programs available for rural food systems and agricultural producers to recover from the pandemic.
Info here.

Ranching with Birds
2021-12-14 19:00 - 20:00
This free webinar is part of the Ranching with Wildlife Winter Webinar Series from World Wildlife Fund’s Sustainable Ranching Initiative Team. Each monthly webinar features regional experts in different species, with a focus on how wildlife interact with ranch management.
Info here.

Discovery Farms Conference
2021-12-15
The Discovery Farms Annual Conference is back. This year we will utilize our robust dataset from water quality monitoring over the last 20 years to assess tradeoffs of on-farm management decisions.
Mitigating risk to water quality might look different on every farm but every farm has areas that can be improved. Join us for this one-day event in Wisconsin Dells as we take a deep dive into our data and discuss farm management strategies for balancing water quality tradeoffs to on-farm management decisions.
More info here.

An Introduction to the Shoreline Stabilization Outreach Project
2021-12-15 09:00 - 12:00
Each of the 72 Wisconsin land conservation departments received a box of printed pamphlets created based on practices used in Northern Wisconsin lakes’ projects. This webinar will discuss the process and participants involved with creating the publication as well as the background leading up to its development.
Further discussion will go through the lakeshore protection technical design methods and reference some WDNR permitting examples specific to projects and techniques used in various counties. Project examples will be shared by Stacy Dehne (DATCP) as well as Travis Tulowitzky (Bayfield County) and Heather Palmquist (Iron County).
One Professional Development Hour (PDH) will be offered.
Depending on interest, a spring tour will be planned to follow up on site visits and viewing of the practices in the field.
Register by Dec. 13

Private Well Assessment and Outreach for EHPs
2021-12-15 12:00 - 13:00
This 4-hour online workshop covers the use of a new assessment tool for the evaluation of private well vulnerability to contamination and best practices for well owner outreach. Participants will learn private well fundamentals, how to assess a private well using the assessment tool, how to effectively engage private well owners, how to develop a program for outreach to well owners, and best practices for managing a well owner program.
Info here.

Classical Biological Control of Weeds – About Misconceptions and Untapped Opportunities
2021-12-15 13:00 - 14:00
Modern classical biological control (or importation biological control) of invasive non-native weeds aims to mitigate their negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. It implies the deliberate release of specialist natural enemies from the weed’s native range to reduce the densities or the spread of a weed in its introduced range. Assessing the likelihood of non-target effects by a potential biological control agent is one of the fundamental challenges of pre-release studies in biological control projects. The long history of pre-release studies in biological weed control has significantly contributed to the development of environmental risk assessment procedures. Yet despite its wide application across the world, discussions about the risks involved in classical biological weed control are often dominated by misunderstandings and misconceptions. By addressing some of these misconceptions, I will elaborate key questions that should be raised in public and scientific debates on the potential risks and benefits of releasing exotic organisms to control exotic invasive weeds. Finally, I will propose a path forward to further increase efficacy and safety in future projects and conclude by advocating to do classical biological control of weeds more rigorously and more often.
Info here.
