State Interagency Training Committee
Conservation Training
Monthly e-Newsletter
Coordinating an efficient approach for building a statewide team of well-trained conservation professionals that deliver best management practices for soil and water conservation
How to Lead Effective Meetings
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 17
Online

What's one workplace annoyance that everyone has experienced? An unproductive meeting.   Meetings are unavoidable, but when done correctly they can lead to great ideation and collaboration. So how you can you make sure you're hosting productive meetings?  Register at https://www.govloop.com/training/lead-effective-meetings/
Green Bay Conservation Partners Spring
Roundtable
8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 19
Green Bay

The morning will kick-off with a series of lightning talks from partners involved in restoration, monitoring, and other conservation projects around the region. An interactive roundtable session will follow with discussions on relevant conservation tools and topics. Check out  http://www.gbconservationpartners.org/events/ for more details.
Fool Willing: The Secret Power of Play to Engage Communities in your Green Organization
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 19
Online

Need to get more done with fewer staff and resources? Discover how playfulness, along with some simple guidelines, can help you engage your friends and neighbors through events that make a difference. Find out how with author and life coach Kathy Oppegard at 
Conservation Grazing on Public Grasslands
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 19
Online OR Madison

Members of UW-Madison's Agroecology Program, Wisconsin DNR, and a cattle grazier will share how they're employing and assessing livestock grazing as a conservation tool for publicly held grasslands in Wisconsin. It's a salient example of the complexity of food systems interacting with natural and human systems, and the need for active and adaptive management across institutions in systems innovation. Find out more at h ttps://jacksonlab.agronomy.wisc.edu/category/announcements/
Addressing Mine-Scarred Land in the Upper Mississippi River Mining District
1:00-1:45 p.m.
Monday, April 23
Online

Discuss the potential impacts that mine scarred lands in the Upper Mississippi River Lead and Zinc Mining District are still having on local communities, efforts to integrate often forgotten mining records into current planning and development, and how the US EPA Brownfield program grants can be applied in these communities.  Webinar link is available at https://learn.extension.org/events/3424
Understanding Climate's Impact on Soil
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Monday, April 23
Online

South Dakota State University Extension Soil Field Specialist Anthony Bly will discuss the climate's impact on soil properties and what this means for producers, educators, and advisors.  Webinar link can be found at https://learn.extension.org/events/3415
Pasture Walk and Demo
1:00-3:00 p.m
Thursday, April 26
Medford

Calibration and proper operation of no-till drills will be the focus of the demo.  There will also be a farm and pasture tour. Discussion topics will include determining percentage of legumes and overall productivity of pasture stands. By these determinations, decisions can be made about which paddock areas are candidates for no-tilling, and/or fertility improvements. A key to interseeding success is proper management of pastures after no-tilling. For more information, contact Bob at atgrazingbob@gmail.com
Fearless Farm Finances
Farm Tour: Holistic Health Farms-Spring High Tunnel Techniques
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29
St. Paul, MN

Come see how the urban farming duo, Tim & Cherry of Holistic Health Farms, manage their urban high tunnel, the first registered in St. Paul!  The day will include an overview of their high tunnel production methods, hydro/aquaponics setup, use of minihoopers, cover cropping in the tunnel, markets, and more.  Find out more and registration is required at TGAhightunnel.eventbrite.com
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 1
Online

Participants will become equipped with tools for educating and connecting landowners they already serve for agricultural and forestry needs.  Participants will learn how to explain the basic concept of heirs property; ways to link to forest and farm management; develop basic materials to provide landowners; and create asset maps that identify a local network of resources for land management.  For more information, go to http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinars/strong-roots-new-growth-resolving-legal-challenges-for-multi-family-member-owned-forest-agricultural-land
Winter Rye as a Cover Crop for Grazing
10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 1
Eastman

Use winter rye as a cover and forage crop for an organic dairy herd. Discussion on what to plant and graze after the winter rye is done.  More information available at  https://crawford.uwex.edu/files/2018/04/2018-Pasture-Walk-Scheduel-Crawford-County-Great-River-Graziers-and-Kickapoo-Grazing-Initiaive.pdf
Increasing Corn Yield and Saving Nitrogen
Fertilizer
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8
Online

Nitrogen fertilizer often doubles crop yields; without it we could not feed the current world's population. But nitrogen fertilizer is lost from crop fields in wet weather, especially corn fields. The plants become nitrogen-deficient, with light green leaves, and grain yields can be cut sharply. I estimate that more than 3 billion bushels of corn grain worth over $12 billion were lost to nitrogen deficiency over the past 10 years in the U.S. Plants that are nitrogen-deficient can easily be seen from the air, and we have patented a process for predicting yield loss and fertilizer need from aerial images. We translate aerial images into rate control files that go into the fertilizer applicator's computer and put the right rate at each place in the field. Find out more at https://learn.extension.org/events/3428
Roof Runoff and Underground Outlet Training
Credit: NRCS
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
Washington County

This training will be the planning and design of roof runoff projects as well as underground outlets. There will be a field portion as well as the classroom.  For more information and to register, contact Beth at  Beth.Peterson@wi.usda.gov
Learn Digital Marketing Strategies To Promote Your Programming!
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9 
Online

This session will cover social media, e-newsletter, and website marketing best practices to increase attendance and improve your ability to target your audience for your county program events. A bonus for attendees will be learning how to include paid marketing efforts for social media in your marketing strategy. Details at  https://learn.extension.org/events/3404 
Building Organic Matter for Healthy Soils
1:00-2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
Online

Discuss the attributes of healthy soil, the central role of organic matter, and how to monitor and enhance soil health in organic production. The presentation will outline key organic practices for building soil organic matter and optimizing soil functions in relation to fertility, crop yield, and resource conservation.  Register at http://articles.extension.org/pages/74667/soil-health-and-organic-farming-webinar-series
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
Online

Learn how the National Organic Program uses advances in information technology to strengthen the integrity of the organic seal for producers, businesses, and consumers.   To participate by phone, call (866) 740-1260 or go to http:///www.readytalk.com and use Access Code 720200.
Irrigation Scheduling Tools for Improved Water Management & Water Use Efficiency
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
Online

This webinar will provide information on three irrigation scheduling tools: the  WISE Irrigation scheduler KanSched3 , and the  Dashboard for Irrigation Efficiency Management (DIEM) . These tools were developed to help support water use decision making by producers located in the High Plains and other regions with limited precipitation and water resources. Overviews and demonstrations of each tool will be provided, as well as information related to field research, modeling efforts, and other work currently underway to develop these tools further and to improve their user-friendliness. For more information, go to the following link http://www.climatewebinars.net/webinars/irrigation-scheduling-tools-for-improved-water-management-water-use-efficiency
Concrete Construction Inspection Primer for the 2018 Construction Season
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, May 16
Online

This webinar will cover the basics of Natural Resources Conservation Service Wisconsin Construction Specification #004 and WCS #004-WS.  It  will focus on the approval of concrete mixes submitted by the supplier and concrete batch ticket requirements. The webinar will also review the new WCS #004-WS and discuss the new water stop specification. If time allows, we will also discuss concrete repair focusing on those issues typically found with water stop installation.  Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/213746573  If you have any questions, contact Penny at penny@wisconsinlandwater.org
Community-Based Social Marketing Workshops
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
May 22-24
Viroqua

Attend this three-day training to learn how to assist producers in developing and implementing prescribed grazing plans. Topics include:
  • Economic, environmental, and herd health benefits of prescribed grazing 
  • Pasture inventory, resource analysis, animal/forage balance, paddock design, land facilities design, and grazing plan elements and format
For more information contact John at   john@valleystewardshipnetwork.org
Grade Stabilization Structure Tour
Credit: NRCS
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 31
Janesville area

Training objectives include:
  • Show some history of structures installed by CCC to control gully erosion back in 1933.
  • Importance of maintaining these structures. Discuss ways to repair some of these structures that have failed.
  • Look at the planning that went into putting these structures in.
  • Look at a couple embankment dams that have been put in more recently if time permits.
Contact Mark at  Mark.Steinfest@wi.usda.gov or Ryan at Ryan.Glassmaker@wisconsin.gov with any questions.  Please register with Beth at Beth.Peterson@wi.usda.gov  CEUs and PDHs will be offered for this training.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES

Wisconsin Rural Summit
April 18-19
Baraboo
 
Wisconsin Lakes Partnership Convention
April 18-20
Stevens Point

Heeding the Call (
Midwest-Great Lakes Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration)
April 20-22
Stevens Point

Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference
April 23
Madison

Leading the Charge-Local Government Summit
April 23-24
Eau Claire

Annual Watershed and Stormwater Symposium 
April 24-26
Dubuque, IA
Wisconsin Women in Government
April 25
Madison

Clean Rivers, Clean Lake Conference
April 26
Milwaukee

Great Lakes Water Safety Conference
April 26-27
Evanston, IL

New Farmer U Conference
April 27-29
Wisconsin Dells

Great Lakes Area of Concern Conference
May 16-17
Sheboygan

Healthy Lakes Conference
June 8
Hartland

Keep updated and track your conservation training needs

Highlights from CPTP include:

Can't make the training?
Check out these training videos

WI Land+Water hosted Webinars







Keeping Forests Healthy in a Changing Climate




 

RUSLE 2  






DATCP Videos






DNR Videos

AgrAbility - Purdue University
Partner Training Websites


Dept Natural Resource
Lynda.com  (technology training)
Science & Technology Training  Library
SITCOM Training e-Newsletters are distributed monthly. 
If you have a training opportunity to share, please contact   Penny Pohle at  Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org. For more information about SITCOM and its members, visit:  http://wisconsinlandwater.org/training/state-interagency-training-committee