Participants will receive an overview of common engineering skills such as hydrology and construction inspection. You will learn the differences between common erosion control practices including grassed waterways, water & sediment control basins, and grade stabs.  We'll touch on livestock facility practices, wetlands, and shoreline stabilization practices, among others. The goal of this training session is to give you a broad introduction to conservation engineering. You will be introduced to engineering practices and techniques.

Join us for a classroom primer followed by a hands on field session focused on identifying native plant species in working conservation landscapes. The classroom segment will build skills in diagnostic features (leaf and stem morphology, inflorescence types, growth forms), seasonal cues, and “look-alike” differentiation.

We will be visiting the same site twice this summer to get a sense of how plants change over their growth cycle. Participants in this field based training will learn to identify native and weedy herbaceous plants, practice teaching plant ID skills, and evaluate long term establishment of species in different prairie seed mixes. They will also explore pollinator identification, grassland management practices, and engage in quizzes and discussions to reinforce learning.

This training introduces the core principles for designing and evaluating diverse native seed mixes for wet sites, including wetlands, shorelines, and riparian areas. Participants will explore how hydrology, soil conditions, seed biology, and site history influence plant selection and establishment, with an emphasis on building resilient, biodiverse plant communities that support water quality and wildlife.

Education Educators Troy Salzer and Tarah Young (UMN Extension) discuss the basics of pasture soil fertility including soil testing, plant nutrient needs, and liming.

This session provides and overview of whole farm economics with Keith Olander (AgCentric). Historical context, challenges on the farm, the influence of government payments, and planning for the 2026 farm year are covered.

This virtual workshop equips conservation professionals with practical tools, templates, and strategies to design impactful events - from field days to workshops to community meetings. Participants will learn how to set clear goals, choose the right event format, engage diverse audiences, and evaluate success. The session also introduces the Community Capitals Framework as a simple thinking tool to help trainers understand the broader capacity their events can build.

This is a collection of webinar replays from the Basic Cover Crop training held March 30 and April 2, 2026.

Matt Drewitz and David Miller (MPCA), along with Udai Singh and Cameron Gaspord (BWSR), discuss some new tools used to estimate changes in nutrient and sediment delivery to surface waters following the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). The BMP Effects Estimator Tool (BEET) Planner estimates reductions on the watershed scale as a result of new BMPs being installed, while the Forestry Estimator for Runoff and Nutrients (FERN) estimates water quality benefits from the installation of forestry BMPSs.

During this session Miranda Berge (NRCS) discusses the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), essential laboratory procedures for determining soil classification, and practical techniques for identifying soils in the field when lab equipment isn’t available.