Conservation Professional Training Program

Equipment demonstration, soil health, and drought resiliency
2021-07-20 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Join Martin Larsen at his farm to learn about his equipment. Larsen will be showing his interseeder, no-till drill, and corn planter. Larsen will also discuss how to continue to prioritize soil health even in years with extreme weather conditions and how soil health has made his farm more resilient to these conditions.
Read more here.

Mid-season fundamental ag update
2021-07-20 10:00 | Online
This has been a summer of extremes–either too wet or too dry. As such, July provides a good opportunity to assess this year’s crop potential, while balancing that against early indications of Chinese demand for the 2021 crop. How is China doing in keeping its commitments for the current year, and what does that tell us about the year ahead? What is the expected response from Brazil farmers as they prepare to plant their crops that will be harvested in six months?
Register here.

Recruiting minority candidates to conservation positions
2021-07-20 09:00 | Online
Learn effective tips and techniques for recruiting minority candidates to conservation positions in your state with active recruitment and involvement that would embrace diversity, equity and inclusion in operations, leadership, staffing, program involvement and development.
Find out more and register here.

Managing Impacts of the Invasive Emerald Ash Borer on Wisconsin’s Wooded Wetlands
2021-07-19 10:30 - 17:00 | Online
Join WDNR forester Brad Hutnik to learn about the threat posed to wetlands by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Brad will cover some of the basics about this invader, share insights about how best to assess potential impacts, and discuss what can be done pre and post ash loss to mitigate these impacts on wetlands.
Learn more by following this link.

GrassWorks pasture walk
2021-07-17 11:00 - 12:30
Andy Jaworski was motivated to begin grazing practices on his parents farm in 2008 after being inspired to explore ideas during a Grassworks grazing conference he attended in 2007. In 2014, he began operating his organic dairy business and Andy’s Organic Acres LLC was formed.
The operation utilizes a Lely robotic milking machine in conjunction with managed intensive grazing practices during the grazing season. Cows are housed in coverall style free-stall barn in addition to the diverse pasture acres. Come see how old technology can be incorporated with new!
RSVP to Rachel at bouressafamilyfarm@gmail.com

Grain Place Foundation field day
2021-07-17 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
This field day will give you an opportunity to tour the farm and grain processing plant and to hear David R. Montgomery in conversation with experienced local organic farmers about what’s new in regenerative, organic agriculture.
Find out more here: http://www.grainplacefoundation.org/fieldday/

WWCC Field Day
2021-07-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Friendshuh Farms, 465 75th St, Clear Lake, WI, United States
Join the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council (WWCC) for a casual conversation about conservation practices. All are welcome!
The topic will be the impact of spring and fall manure application on no-till fields planted in rye, including examination of the sub-soils.
Find more information here.

Improving watershed health through agricultural-municipal partnerships
2021-07-15 14:00 - 15:15 | Online
Watersheds can benefit when municipal water treatment plants invest in conservation practices on nearby farms. These agricultural-municipal partnerships reflect a commitment to integrated planning across the complete water cycle with a strong emphasis on a highly collaborative and inclusive approach to watershed health improvement.
You will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the City of Boise, Ohio’s Miami Conservancy District, and Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment.
Register at this link.

Poultry agricultural sustainability
2021-07-15 10:00 | Online
During this virtual field trip, we will give an overview of the sustainability practices used by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Poultry program. Arkansas’ poultry production history, challenges, farm sustainability efforts, and future will be discussed. Tyson will share their sustainability journey and how they collaborate to encourage sustainability.
Follow this link to learn more and register.

Professional Dairy Producers Dairy Robotics Tour
2021-07-15 09:00 - 16:00 | Shawano Community High School, 220 Cty Rd. B, Shawano, WI, 54166
Explore and learn more about robotics used on three Wisconsin dairy farms. Learn from dairy producers and an experienced tour facilitator on how technology has helped improve cow comfort and increase farm productivity and performance. In addition to meeting the managers and owners of Horsens Homestead, Shawland Dairy and Olson Dairy Farms, Inc., attendees will engage in dairy business discussions during travel to and from host farms and over lunch.
Find out more here.

Practical resilience and systems thinking workshop
2021-07-14 14:00 - 17:00 | Online
Are you a member of a lake association, lake management agency, or partner organization working in the Midwest? Interested in learning how to protect your lake and keep it healthy into the future? Join researchers from Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability for a virtual workshop on long-term lake management planning where you will:
1. Learn key resilience and systems thinking concepts
2. Build a tool box of practical skills for lake management
3. Develop a network of peers within your state
Find more information here.

Preparing for and Adapting to Future Floods with Natural Flood Management
2021-07-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Are you curious about opportunities to mitigate flood risks to communities and infrastructure with cost-effective, nature-based solutions? In this session, participants will learn about Natural Flood Management (NFM), an emerging concept that involves using a combination of multiple practices, in different parts of the watershed, to increase the landscape’s ability to store and manage water. You’ll hear about watershed-scale risk assessments and NFM demonstration projects that are underway in Ashland County to identify infrastructure vulnerabilities and prioritize where flood risks can be minimized through upstream hydrologic restoration actions. The panel will also discuss benefit-cost data, screening tools, infrastructure design approaches, and other resources that can help your community tap into hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, and climate adaptation funding.
Follow this link to learn more.

Harmful algae management
2021-07-14 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
As part of comprehensive strategies to protect drinking water, direct control of harmful algae through various integrated strategies can reduce their density at drinking water intakes and decrease pressure on treatment plants to remove these organisms and their toxins.
The first presentation by Dr. West Bishop will review the use of USEPA-registered algaecides in rapid responses to restore water resource uses when nuisance or harmful algae are discovered. The second presentation by Dr. Kaytee Pokrzywinski-Boyd and Dr. Mandy Michalsen will review non-traditional HAB management strategies including physical and biological control techniques.
Follow this link to learn more.

Farmland to Shoreland
2021-07-14 10:00 - 15:00
This event is for all watershed residents. We will be showcasing how practices utilized by local farmers are protecting local water quality and how you can help at home. Our speakers will provide more details about the types of farming practices, their importance to soil health, and how you can improve the soil health and decrease the runoff at your residence.
Follow this link to learn more.

USDA-NRCS public conservation virtual meeting
2021-07-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Wisconsin has announced one statewide virtual Local Working Group (LWG) meeting with a feedback survey to follow.
One of the main programs discussed at the meeting will be the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a federal conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP offers technical and financial assistance to help landowners with needed conservation practices for water quality, soil health, wildlife and other natural resources.
Follow this link to learn more.

Cyanobacteria and our lakes
2021-07-14 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
Join us to hear from one of Wisconsin’s leading algae experts discuss the infamous photosynthetic bacteria: cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Native to every lake and river in Wisconsin, excessive cyanobacteria growth has major impacts on public health, lake accessibility, and the ecosystem as a whole.
Follow this link to learn more.

On what social science can tell us about engaging private landowners in riparian forest buffer work
2021-07-13 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
This presentation will be followed by breakout discussions focused on challenges, strategies, and other issues germane to implementing riparian forest buffers in the following Ecological Provinces in the Midwest: Laurentian Mixed Forest / Midwest Broadleaf Forest / Prairie Parkland / Central Interior Broadleaf Forest.
Follow this link for registration.

Women in Government: Breaking through barriers
2021-07-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Women serve as heads of state in only 22 countries, and 119 countries have never had a female leader. At the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. This staggering statistic needs to change. Join us to learn:

Best practices from women government leaders who have successfully navigated the career ladder
What to do if you feel your career is being stymied by gender
How to overcome words like bossy, loud, or pushy

Follow this link to learn more.

Planting new ideas, growing conservation: Rotational grazing
2021-07-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
This webinar will focus on when to move cattle to new paddocks during the spring flush versus the “summer slump,” managing weeds at different times of the year, as well as cattle nutrition considerations in grass-based systems in spring versus mid-summer.
Follow this link to learn more.

Regenerative agriculture: What every agricultural professional needs to know
2021-07-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
Regenerative agriculture is more than a buzzword. Agricultural professionals may be called upon to help clients implement regenerative agriculture practices, including to meet requests from important buyers of crop and livestock products. Key elements of regenerative agriculture include a focus on farmer bottom line rather than maximum yields and a reduced reliance on purchased fertilizers and crop protectants through natural nutrient cycling and the biological controls of weeds, insects, and diseases. If called upon to help a client implement regenerative agriculture systems, agricultural professionals should be prepared to answer questions from clients and others about regenerative agriculture, and they should have a plan for accessing expertise, pursuing professional development, and minimizing client risk. Business models may need to be adjusted to ensure healthy revenue from expertise and services to replace reduced input sales revenue.
Follow this link to learn more.

Digester optimization for co-digestion & biogas production
2021-07-13 10:00 | Online
There is a huge untapped potential to capture energy and nutrients from food waste, animal manure & wastewater biosolids. According to the American Biogas Council, more than 10,000 facilities across the United State could implement digester & biogas plants to better utilize these resources.
In cooperation with The Water Council & Wisconsin Biogas Council, the Danish Trade Council Biogas & Water Technology Alliances have joined forces to offer this webinar to explore some of the possibilities of expanding the biogas sector in Wisconsin.
Follow this link for more information and registration.

Designing wetland restoration seed mixes
2021-07-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Kelly Voigt, TTCP Training Conservationist, will demonstrate how to design and evaluate wetland restoration seed mixes using the latest version of the NRCS seeding and certification calculator.
Follow this link for more information.

The Dairy Experience Forum
2021-07-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Online
The Dairy Experience Forum is an innovative, disruptive event that will examine the key trends impacting consumers and opportunities to grow dairy sales. The forum brings together key stakeholders and dairy industry leaders at a time when consumer trends are changing, new technologies are emerging, and the demand for transparency is increasing.
Topics will focus on how to drive sales growth by understanding consumers’ needs and becoming more relevant to them through innovation, partnerships, and marketing. Discussions will address questions such as, “What global trends can I capitalize on as more dairy is shipped outside the U.S.?” and “What’s next for dairy?”
Follow this link to learn more.

Tools for Minimal-Till Market Farming and Diversified Vegetables: Virtual Field Day
2021-07-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
In their eighth year of CSA and farmers market sales from their 13-acre farm, Anna Raines and the crew at Rains and Sun have curated a rich collection of tools critical to their certified organic diversified vegetable production.
This virtual event will focus on season extension / protected production (high tunnels, caterpillar tunnels, row cover); bed prep (walk-behind tractor and implements, broadfork); seeding and planting (jang and earthway seeders, dibbler for transplanting); weeding and cultivating (landscape fabric, hand tools); irrigation (drip tape, overhead sprinklers); infrastructure (greenhouse, packshed), and consumable products (seeds, amendments, potting media).
Find more information here.

Mitigation of Internal Nutrient Loads in Drinking Water Sources
2021-07-07 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
With the increasing occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs), and no silver-bullet solution, development of innovative management practices and technology has come to the forefront. The first presentation will review the structure of thermal stratification and mechanisms of internal loading of anaerobic respiration products and soluble reactive phosphorus that stimulates cyanobacteria blooms. The second presentation provides insight on how to leverage new technology and integrated practices to curb HABs.
Information and registration here.

Basic Ag for Conservationists
2021-07-07 08:30 - 12:00 | Online
Join us to better understand the basics of agriculture through a multi-component course taught by experienced local, state and federal conservationists. This training is intended to provide conservation professionals with the necessary skills and farming knowledge to implement conservation practices for improved land management. Jointly sponsored by WI Land+Water and UW–Madison Division of Extension.

Wednesday, July 7: Morning by Zoom
Thursday, July 8: Morning by Zoom
Thursday, August 19: In the field, Arlington Ag Research Station– POSTPONED TO LATER DATE, TBD

Register to be on the waitlist: https://forms.gle/gi1mJjzV4AQwZFpc8
More information: https://wisconsinlandwater.org/training/statewide-training-events

Online Course: Virtual Herbicides & Longleaf 201 Academy
2021-07-06 - 2021-07-30 | Online
The Herbicides & Longleaf 201 course will guide you in the selection of forestry herbicides to advance your ecological restoration and longleaf management objectives. The Virtual Academy consists of a combination of on-demand and live learning experiences for a cumulative commitment of 12 hours over the 4-week course. Topics covered include:

Herbicide application rates and timing
Surfactants and adjuvants
Application equipment and techniques
Longleaf-specific herbicide effects
Site prep and release treatments
Practices to minimize impacts to desired species
Invasive species identification and control

Follow this link for more information.

WI Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Pasture Walk - Van Langen Dairy Farm
2021-07-02 15:00 | Van Langen Farm, Edgar, Wisconsin
Ron and Ester Van Langen are hosting an afternoon pasture walk featuring their managed grazing, robotic milking dairy enterprise. The Van Langen’s own 440 acres, and rent 95 acres. With approximately 350 in pastures and another 90 acres for cropland. Their crossbred herd of 140 includes 130 milking cows. Growing up in the Netherlands, where they also previously farmed until 2008, the Van Langens have incorporated some European haying, also the no till seeding, green chopping, and the way they feed their cows (no TMR).
Information and registration here.

UW Cover Crop Management in Conventional and Organic Corn–Soybean Production Systems Plot Tour
2021-07-01 12:45 - 15:30 | Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road, Arlington, Wisconsin
Join us on July 1 from 1:00 p.m–-3:30 p.m. at Arlington Ag Research Station to visit our cover crop research plots, check equipment and exchange knowledge with University Specialists and fellow farmers adopting cover crops in their crop production systems.
Participants are asked to meet at 12:45 p.m. at the Public Events Building at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station, N695 Hopkins Road.
Information here.

COMET Tools: An Overview of the Climate Smart Toolset
2021-07-01 12:00 | Online
COMET-Farm estimates the carbon footprint for all or part of your farm/ranch operation and allows you to evaluate different options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering more carbon. Because the tool uses detailed spatially-explicit data on climate and soil conditions for your location and allows you to enter detailed information for your field and livestock operations, it is able to produce an accurate estimate tailored to your specific situation.
Details and registration: http://climatewebinars.net/webinars/comet-tools-an-overview-of-the-climate-smart-toolset/?sr=wp~upcoming
