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.

This training provides a review of ecological and engineering activities that can be used for the restoration of wetland characteristics. This training will cover restoration planning goals, design resources, and site assessment considerations. Restoration seed mix design and site prep will also be discussed.

RIM Drinking Water program overview from July 16, 2025. 

This recorded training highlights updates to the easement program previously referred to as RIM "Wellhead."

The August workshops will focus on meeting design, managing expectations of meeting attendees, and experiencing one to two different processes for engaging and gathering information from attendees. Participants will have the opportunity to network with others doing similar work and provide input on the content focus for future workshops in their region. All workshops are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required and the address of workshop location will be sent out a couple days prior to the workshop date. Space is limited.

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?

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.  

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).

In this field based training, participants will practice identifying herbaceous plants that typically occur in native habitat plantings for pollinators and other wildlife. Participants will be asked to train each other on how to identify at least one wildflower species, using language and tips that would be helpful for the landowners or stakeholders with whom they typically work. We will also use seed mixes for three different habitat plantings to evaluate which species have established after three, four, and five years post planting.

This session is a follow up to the in person Brush Management trainings held in May, 2025. Dusty Jasken, Area Resource Conservationist (NRCS), demonstrates how to use the Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST) with commonly recommended brush management herbicides. He also discusses when mitigation strategies may be necessary and which mitigation options are available.