Conservation Employee Training
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Monday, April 3
Madison
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iPhone Showoff Workgroup
Thursday, April 6
Altoona
The iPhone Showoff Workgroup is a session to bring people together to discuss how to better use the iPhone in the field and to share apps and ideas on how they have used this technology to be more efficient. Bring your iPhone to show your setup, apps, and shortcuts. We will be demonstrating the use of Avenza for field use. Also, we will discuss efficient ways to document resource concerns and practices using this technology. (This is not an introductory level class.) Contact Alex Dvoracek at
Alex.Dvoracek@wi.usda.gov to register or be placed on a wait list.
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Passengers vs. Drivers
12:00 -1:30 p.m.
Friday, April 7
Explore the ideas of invasive species acting as drivers or passengers of ecosystem change with Don Waller (UW-Madison) and Mike Siefkes (Great Lakes Fishery Commission) . Register at
https://fwwa.org/events-calendar/
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Soil Health and Cover Crops Workshop
1:00-3:30 p.m.
Friday, April 7
Shell Lake
NRCS staff
will lead hands-on demonstrations showing how reduced or minimum tillage, cover crops, and crop rotations can improve soil health and productivity.
Field walks with open discussions will look at winter rye following soybean and peas, oats and radish following winter rye.
For more information, call Kevin Schoessow at (715) 635-3506 or Randy Gilbertson at (715) 520-2112.
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Soil Health for Non-Operator Landowners 
Tuesday, April 11
1:00-2:00 p.m.
This webinar will focus on educating non-operator landowners on the benefits improving soil health have to increase the value of their land and that it takes a solid working relationship between the landowner and farmer (often requiring changes in leasing structures) to obtain changes in soil health. Check out
http://www.climatewebinars.net/webinars/soil-health-for-non-operator-land-owners for more information and to register.
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Making Your Small Farm Profitable 
6:00-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11
Reedsburg
This workshop will explore opportunities to raise your own food and earn income from your land. Hear the entrepreneurial journey of a family farm and their progression and growth into a multi-species meat business. Also, hear about a certified organic vegetable farm and CSA along with the addition a hoop house to extend the season. Methods to evaluate whether your project is still a hobby or if it's ready to move to formal farm business will be discussed. The program will end with a tour of the Madison College hoop house. Register at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-your-small-farm-profitable-tickets-32930697603
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Cover Crops and No-Till Drill Demonstration
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12
Stratford
In the first hour various fall planted cover crops will be observed in the field. The focus of the second hour will be the use of no-till drills for establishing or renovating pastures and will include a demonstration of the drills that are made available to farmers through the Marathon County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department. Contact Bill Kolodziej at (715)261-6038 or William.kolodziej@co.marathon.wi.us for more information.
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Season Extension
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 12
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Assembling Resource Data for Field Inventories: GIS, Imagery, and other Tools 
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18
Sound conservation planning is imperative to ensure treatment of natural resources to a sustainable level. Participants will gain a better understanding of the resources available for them to be more efficient and effective in the planning process. Discussion will include locating and using in-office information such as GIS tools, maps, aerial photography, soils descriptions, FOTG information, etc. to assist with resource inventory and tools to take to the field for identifying opportunities and inventorying resources (clinometer, hand level, plant ID books, camera, etc.). Learn how to join this webinar at http://www.climatewebinars.net/webinars/assembling-resource-data-for-field-inventories
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GIS for Engineeers
Wednesday, April 19
Altoona
This tool works with elevation data to assist engineers in the delineation of watersheds and to generate a runoff curve number. Using ARCMap with elevation data to perform hydrology for projects (draw watersheds, get slope%, get elevations for longest length). To register contact Alex Dvoracek at Alex.Dvoracek@wi.usda.gov
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National Food Security Act Manual - Wetland Policy Updates 
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19
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12:00-1:30 p.m.
Friday, April 21
In addition to learning how to use the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) app to report invasive species, learn about statewide phragmites efforts and purple loosestrife efforts in Washington County. Register for this webinar at
https://fwwa.org/events-calendar/
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Toolkit Training
Tuesday, April 25
Altoona
Toolkit is a software used to develop conservation plans for producers. In general, only NRCS personnel or LCDs that work directly with NRCS programs will have access to Toolkit. To register or for questions, contact Alex at
Alex.Dvoracek@wi.usda.gov
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Watershed Planning from an 
NWQI Perspective
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25
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Aquatic Invasive Species 
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25
Madison
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) present new and continuing challenges to managing our water resources. How do you know they're there? What do you do when you find them? How do you go about removing them? Hear an update on state and county efforts to combat AIS and several local watershed groups will share their stories of working on AIS removal and prevention. RSVPs are appreciated at https://olw-lwrd.countyofdane.com/Event/Home/Index
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High Tunnel Systems 
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26
This webinar will present techniques that can be used in high tunnels to address salinity, pest management, and nutrient management issues in high value crops. Different cropping systems that can be used in high tunnels will be discussed. Register at http://www.climatewebinars.net/webinars/high-tunnel-systems
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Wisconsin Waterways Program Kick0ff 
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 27
Oshkosh
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Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Efficacy, Non-target Effects, and BMPs 
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 27
Ni
eonicotinoids (neonics), a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine, are currently applied to virtually every corn, cotton, wheat, and canola seed planted in the United States, and most soybean seeds also are treated with neonics. Neonics are persistent and water soluble to facilitate plant uptake; however, they bind poorly to soil and only a small fraction of what is applied to seeds gets into the plants. Thus, there is potential for groundwater contamination. Additionally, although they have low mammalian toxicity, use of neonics is restricted in some countries because of concern about their toxicity to honey bees, other beneficial insects, aquatic invertebrates, birds, and other wildlife. In this webinar, participants will learn about the efficacy of insecticidal seed treatments and the potential routes of exposure for non-target organisms. Presenters will also offer guidance regarding management practices that should be considered to minimize adverse impacts on pollinators and other nontarget organisms.
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April 5
Fond du Lac
Wisconsin Lakes Partnership Convention
April 5-7
Stevens Point
Rural Summit 2017
April 19-20
Green Lake
St. Croix Summit
April 21-22
River Falls
Healthy Hives, Healthy Lives, Healthy Land
April 28-29
Minneapolis, MN
Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference
May 4
Germantown
Citizen Science Association Conference
May 17-20
St. Paul, MN
Food, Land & Water Conference
October 16-17
Elkhart Lake
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