Conservation Professional Training Program

Discussion on Local Food Purchasing Cooperative Agreement Program
2022-02-15 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago)
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) invites food security and local food system organizations to attend a virtual strategic planning discussion regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Local Food Purchasing Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).
The webinar will include program information, a question and answer session with USDA staff, and an open discussion on the following questions:

What current barriers do you see in developing local supply chains to serve food security efforts?
What current projects do you have that are attempting to address these issues?
How can we shape our local supply chain system?

Info here.

EPA Introduction to ECHO: EJSCREEN
2022-02-15 12:30 - 13:30
EPA will be hosting its next Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) webinar, “Introduction to ECHO: EJSCREEN”. This webinar will focus on how to use the ECHO facility searches to learn about environmental and demographic data from EPA’s EJSCREEN. EPA will demonstrate examples of using ECHO searches and reports to view EJSCREEN data and how to interpret that information. The webinar will cover how to search for environmental and demographic data in a specific community, how to view and interpret EJSCREEN index values at the location of a facility, and how to visualize EJSCREEN data on an interactive map. Registration for this webinar, as well as links to tutorials and recorded webinars are available on EPA’s ECHO Training Website.
Info here.

Wall Street's Farm Bill
2022-02-15 12:00 - 13:30
This spring Grassland 2.0 is once again hosting our monthly Digital Dialogue Series! In the fall of 2021 the Digital Dialogues Series focused on what makes a healthy agroecosystem. This spring, we are changing lanes and will be focusing on the levers of change for our agricultural system. Tune in and hear about the policies, legal reforms, and partnerships needed to regenerative farming and balance the power in our food system from the input suppliers, processors, and retailers to the farmers, workers, small business and consumers.
First up is Austin Frerick who will discuss “Wall Street’s Farm Bill”. Frerick is the Deputy Director of the Thurman Arnold Project at Yale University, an initiative that brings together faculty, students, and scholars to collaborate on research related to competition policy and antitrust enforcement. He is also a Senior Fellow at Data for Progress and is on the Board of Directors for the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project.
Info here.

Coping With Losses from Nature and Chance
2022-02-15 12:00 - 13:00
Growing trees can be subject to forces beyond the owners’ control from weather catastrophes to timber theft and more. While forest landowners can’t plan for these unexpected events, they can learn more about the tax implications for casualty loss, non-casualty losses, timber theft, trespassing and more. Join this webinar for insights into best ways to cope with timber losses from nature and chance.
Info here.

The Road to Recovery
2022-02-15 12:00 - 13:00
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.

Farmers Managing for Soil Health and High Inputs
2022-02-15 09:00 - 15:30
Ray Archuleta: Ray is a renowned soil scientist who has been an inspiration to farmers across America. After 30 years of working with farmers, Ray has retired to his home farm in Missouri to teach and learn about biomimicry.
Local farmer panel: A panel of local farmers who are incorporating soil health practices into their farms will discuss their strategies and answer questions for you.
Info here.

Central Wisconsin Farm Profitability Expo
2022-02-15 09:00 - 15:30
This in-person expo is designed to encourage profitable farming by building resiliency, diversifying farming operations, reducing inputs, and increasing farmer’s return on investment.
You will learn about best-management practices like integrated pest management, managed grazing, cover crops, and no-till farming—all tools farmers can use to take advantage of what nature has to offer and increase self-sufficiency on the farm. You’ll also explore the specific barriers Central Wisconsin farmers are experiencing when adopting best management practices through discussion with fellow farmers who have implemented these practices.
Info here.

Pesticide Applicator Training Program
2022-02-15 09:00 - 12:30
The UW Pesticide Applicator Training Program has created multiple formats for private applicator trainings to address increased training demand.
A private applicator is someone that applies restricted use pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity on their own property or the property owned or rented by an employer. Examples of agricultural commodities are grain and forage crops, fruit crops or horticulture products. A restricted use pesticide can be identified by checking the label of the product you wish to use.
A Private Applicator Certification is valid for 5 years. There are three steps toward certification: purchasing the training manual, training and taking the test.
Info here.

Targeted Runoff Management Application Webinar
2022-02-15 09:00 - 10:30
The webinar will offer an overview of the Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program, with particular focus on the agricultural applications, including both large and small scale TRM projects, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and non-TMDL projects. The webinar will provide an overview of what’s changed since last year and review project eligibility filters and how to pro-rate eligible costs (when applicable).
Info here.

Establishing and Managing Prairie Strips
2022-02-15 08:00 - 09:00
Prairie strips are taking root as a new agricultural conservation practice across the Midwest. These strips of native perennial vegetation, generally 30 feet or more in width, are placed along the contour within a farm field or at the field edge to retain rainfall and capture soil and nutrient runoff.
For farmers and crop advisors reviewing yield data this winter, a seeding of native perennial grasses and forbs can provide stable cover for underperforming crop acres along field borders or trouble spots. Portions of fields can now be enrolled in the new Prairie Strips CP-43 practice under the Conservation Reserve Program.
During this three-part webinar series, experienced advisors will discuss strategies for layout, site preparation, seeding, and management of prairie strips to maintain efficient field operations and maximize farm profitability.
Info here.

CAFO Update Series
2022-02-15 - 2022-02-16
Jointly sponsored by UW Madison Division of Extension’s Conservation Professional Training Program and Wisconsin DNR, these workshops 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.
Topics include:

Nutrient Management
Engineering
Regulatory Updates
Groundwater

Info here.

2022 Wetland Science Conference
2022-02-15 - 2022-02-17
Join other scientists and professionals of the wetland and water community of Wisconsin and the upper Midwest to:
Share your wetland research, restoration, management, or outreach program;
Learn new identification and assessment approaches and techniques;
Hear about approaches to incorporating wetlands into watershed & community planning;
Discuss the latest in wetland science, planning, and protection issues;
Look ahead to the future of wetland science and practices in Wisconsin and the Midwest.
The 2-day conference, which will draw more than 350 attendees from Wisconsin and surrounding states, will include a keynote address, topical oral sessions, a poster session, workshops, a banquet, and field trips to area wetlands. The conference builds on a more than two-decade-long tradition of regional collaboration to protect and care for the region’s wetlands.
Info here.

International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference and Expo
2022-02-15 - 2022-02-18
The IECA Annual Conference and Expo brings together the industry’s most innovative minds in the erosion and sediment control and storm water industry. Attend this one-of-a-kind conference to connect with thousands of colleagues from over 25 countries, engage in cutting-edge educational sessions while earning professional development hours and access one of the largest expo halls in the industry.
Info here.

Agricultural Chemical Handling Facilities
2022-02-14 13:00 - 14:00
Tech Talks is an online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program.
Info here.

Top Producer Summit
2022-02-14 - 2022-02-16
You’ll hear speakers share advice and insights on:

The World After Covid-19
Succession Planning
The Outlook for Ag Lending
Team Building
Farmer-Lead Field Technology

Info here.

Seeking a sustainable future: climate change and farming
2022-02-13 11:30 - 13:30
With climate change looming, farmers and the ag industry are exploring ways to adapt. Wisconsin policymakers and ag leaders are looking to make future farming more sustainable— from using biodigesters for managing animal waste to changing land tilling and animal feeding techniques to handle the effects of bigger rain events and higher temperatures.
Info here.

Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
2022-02-13 - 2022-02-16
Iowa has the most altered landscape in the country with 97 percent in private ownership and 85 percent being actively farmed. Here, Fish and Wildlife Stewardship in a Working Landscape is a challenge that we understand.
At the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.
As host of the 82nd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in 2022, the Iowa DNR and our partners understand the importance of working landscapes and how they can provide habitat for fish and wildlife and also recreational opportunities for people.
Info here.

2022 NACD Annual Meeting
2022-02-12 - 2022-02-16
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is the nonprofit organization that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level.
Info here.

Navigating Farm Production in Tight Quarters: Crops, Products, and Strategies for Farming on Limited Acreages and Operating Near Residential Communities
2022-02-11 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.

Producer Discovery Workshop
2022-02-11 13:00 - 15:30
The first Producer Discovery Workshop: ‘Federal Orders: Their History and Their Future,’ features Dana Coale, the Deputy Administrator of Agricultural Marketing Services – Dairy Program with USDA. In her role, Ms. Coale leads programs impacting the dairy industry to facilitate the efficient marketing of milk and dairy products. She’ll provide a review of the structure of federal orders, how they operate, and their value to the industry. Ms. Coale will also discuss proposed changes to the orders that are being considered by the dairy industry.
The second workshop ‘Understanding the Milk Market & Your Management Tools,’ features Dr. Mark Stephenson, Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at UW-Madison and Travis Glaser, agent and co-owner of ARM Services, an ag risk management agency based in Barron, Wis. Mr. Stephenson will review the milk market forecast for 2022 while Mr. Glaser will share his insight on building a risk management strategy. With an in-depth knowledge of past dairy market trends and a passion for risk strategy, Mr. Glaser will discuss how to best prepare for what 2022 has to offer using the tools available to dairy farmers.
Info here.

Women in Agriculture Regional Conference
2022-02-11
A Regional Women in Agriculture conference has been held annually since 2001. It is a combined effort of Extension Services at the University of Maryland, University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Virginia Tech, and Rutgers along with a planning committee consisting of organizations and private industry.
Info here.

Treaty Rights 101 w/ Jonathan Gilbert from GLIFWC
2022-02-10 18:00 - 19:00, 2022-02-10 10:00 - 11:00
Participants will learn about Treaty Rights including the history of the 4 cession treaties in the Great Lakes Region (Treaties of 1836, 1837, 1842 and 1854) from Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission expert Dr. Jonathan Gilbert. The presentation will also focus in on the LCO decision in Wisconsin. This talk will include topics such as co-management arrangements, tribal consultation, role of GLIFWC in relation to spearing, deer hunting and mai’ingan.
Info here.

WGF Climate Change Work Group Hosts Meeting
2022-02-10 17:00 - 18:00
Join our Climate Change Work Group Chair, Nancy Turyk, and WGF leaders for an hour-long meeting on February 10th from 5-6pm. We’ll share updates on our climate change work, gather your feedback, and invite your ideas for future work. Come learn more about the Monroe County Climate Readiness and Rural Economic Opportunity Assessment, updates from our Energy Policy Work Group, and provide feedback to our Student and Young Professional Work Group on climate communication graphics. We also invite attendees to propose topics for additional breakout groups.
Info here.

Elderberries
2022-02-10 13:00 - 14:00
Patrick Byers will focus on production of American elderberry, a native fruit crop that offers strong possibilities for farmers and value-added processors. The discussion will include choosing a good site for elderberry production, selecting adapted elderberry cultivars, establishing and growing this interesting crop, harvest and processing, and the economic potential of American elderberry.
Info here.

Resiliency Forum - Alternative Land Access for Specialty Crop Growers
2022-02-10 11:00 - 12:30
Resiliency Forums for Specialty Crop Farmers: Alternative Land Access with Moses Momanyi of Dusk to Dawn Farm and Dayna Burtness of Nettle Valley Farm – Join us for a series of online forums this winter to address resiliency on our farms. From the changing climate to the external and internal pressures impacting our farms, our strength lies in coming together collectively to support one another and to provide inspiration for addressing these challenges. We will be bringing farmers together to collectively increase our resiliency through a series of 4 online forums this winter.
Info here.

Using Soil Microbes to Improve Fertilizer Efficiency and Soil Health
2022-02-10 11:00 - 12:00
Fertilizer is essential to crop production, yet studies show much of the fertilizer applied never goes to the intended crop. Nutrients are lost to runoff, erosion, and volatilization, as well as to chemical reactions in the soil that limit plant availability. Soil microbes are effective at unlocking and retaining nutrients in the root zone, resulting in more fertilizer going into the crop. Given high fertilizer prices and pressure to reduce the environmental impacts of lost fertilizer, microbes can be a powerful tool to reduce inputs and pollution while building soil health and grower profitability.
Info here.

Climate Change & Urban Forest Policy & Action – International Perspectives
2022-02-10 10:30 - 11:30
In a time of climate emergency and a call for more climate action, cities play a leading role. This talk focuses on the role of urban forestry in delivering climate across, both in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Drawing on examples from across the world, examples of urban forestry policy, programs, and actions with a strong climate focus will be discussed and analysed from a governance perspective. Opportunities and challenges within these will be highlighted, including potential synergies and trade-offs between different nature-based solutions delivered by urban forestry.
Info here.

Clean Farm Families Presents: Improving Soil Health & Farm Profitability w/ Gabe Brown
2022-02-10 10:00 - 14:30
Topics Covered:
+No-till & Cover Crop System
+Economic Impact
+Return on Investment
+Planting Green
Gabe, along with his wife Shelly, and son Paul, own and operate Brown’s Ranch, a diversified 5,000 acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota. The ranch consists of several thousand acres of native perennial rangeland along with perennial pastureland and cropland. Their ranch focuses on farming and ranching in nature’s image.
The Browns holistically integrate their grazing and no-till cropping systems, which include a wide variety of cash crops, multi-species cover crops along with all natural grass finished beef and lamb. They also raise pastured laying hens, broilers and swine. This diversity and integration has regenerated the natural resources on the ranch without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. The Browns are part owners of a state inspected abattoir which allows them to direct market their products. They believe that healthy soil leads to clean air, clean water, healthy plants, animals, and people.
Info here.

All the Little Things
2022-02-10 10:00 - 11:30
Chris Helzer, Nebraska Director of Science, The Nature Conservancy. Helzer is dedicated to raising awareness about the value of prairies through photography, writing, and presentations. The complex interactions of plants and invertebrates keep prairie communities vibrant and resilient. Their stories are fascinating and will make you fall in love with them. Highlights include the beauty and diversity he found in a square meter of prairie.
Info here.
