2025 Individual Development Plan Office Hours

Enter your 2026 training needs into your IDP by October 3!

Join the staff from your Technical Training and Certification Program during Individual Development Plan (IDP) office hours on Monday, September 29, 1:00 to 3:00.

Are you a new manager or technical employee? Is this your first time completing an IDP? Join us to get individual/small group assistance to complete your IDP. During these office hours we can help you with:

Tech Talk: A Day in the Life of a Seed Vendor

Wes Olmschenk (MNL) and Jessi Strinmoen (Shooting Star Native Seeds) discuss their roles and responsibilities as native seed vendors. They talk about the challenges of procuring seed from native plants, then taking those variable harvested seeds and creating mixes that meet landowner and agency standards. They offer insights into how to work with vendors to get landowners projects set up for a successful seed mix.

What Does Research Really Say about Strategic Tillage in No-Till Systems

This Soil Health Digital Cafe featured Dr. Humberto Blanco, Professor of Soil Management and Applied Soil Physics at the University of Nebraska, who discussed the findings from field research on strategic tillage in long-term no-till systems.

No-till is an unparalleled farming system for conserving soil and water while reducing production costs. Still, challenges such as herbicide-resistant weeds, soil compaction, and stratification of soil carbon and phosphorus can arise over time. Could strategic tillage help mitigate these issues?

Implementing Soil Health Testing – Conservation Evaluation Monitoring Activity 216

Join the NRCS Soil Health Division to learn about NRCS Conservation Evaluation Monitoring Activity 216 – Soil Health Testing. This webinar will cover topics such as such as soil health indicators, difference between soil health and soil fertility testing, and planning considerations. The webinar will provide detailed planning information for CEMA 216 implementation. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.  

Tech Talk: 4R Nutrient Stewardship Principles and the Value of Soil Sampling

Interested in reinforcing your knowledge of nutrient management? This session includes a discussion on the 4R principles of nutrient stewardship and the value of soil sampling. Ryan Buetow, State Agronomist (NRCS), leads the discussion on the 4Rs with John Breker, Soil Scientist (AGVISE), and John Jones, University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Agronomy & Soil Fertility Extension Specialist (University of Illinois).