Karin Jokela, Xerces Society Partner Biologist, demonstrates how to design and evaluate pollinator seed mixes using the latest version of the NRCS seeding and certification calculator. Minnesota's native bees and butterflies are diverse, and supporting them with high quality conservation plantings can sometimes be a complicated endeavor. This training provides an overview of the unique considerations that should be factored into pollinator seed mix designs, as well as ample opportunities to practice inputting and evaluating various seed mixes within the NRCS calculator.

Area Technical Training Team 7 hosted a GNSS training with instructor Dylan Jones of Frontier Precision. The recording of this training is available. However, because this was a paid presentation, staff within the Technical Training and Certification Program partnership should request a link to this video from any of the TTCP Training Engineers. The topics covered are listed below. Using the Table of Contents within the video, viewers can skip to sections they wish to watch.

Eric Anderson, NRCS Area Resource Conservationist demonstrates how to use the Conservation Seeding Calculator workbook to either develop a seeding plan or complete a checkout on a planting. He also shows new updates that have been made to the workbook including corrections to errors on the 342 Critical Area Planting tab and the new functionality to do seeding checkouts that document whether an applied seeding meets or does not meet practice specifications.

This training module focuses on the types of erosion and the resource concerns associated with erosion. It orients participants to the types and processes of soil erosion to prepare them to utilize the current soil erosion models - RUSLE2 and WEPS.

During this replay the Bismarck Plant Materials Staff provides an introduction to the Plant Materials Program. You will learn a bit about the history of PMCs, the work that they do and the resources they have available to help conservation planners in Minnesota. The staff will give a tour of their website with an emphasis on the plant materials resources and tools available for planning.

In this brief module, Lawrence Svien, TTCP Training Conservationist discusses developing alternatives during the conservation process generally and erosion control practices for nutrient management planning specifically.

Callie Bertsch, NRCS State Forester, and Jon Sellnow, TTCP Coordinator, presented the basics of tree and woody shrub identification of native Minnesota species. They review identification by family groups, leaf structure, bark, when the trees bloom or leaf out and when they change color in the fall, and even take a look at common forest health issues that affect each species. All things to help you identify the species to better take inventory and identify resource concerns when working with private landowners.

Lea Holter, NRCS Assistant State Conservation Engineer, will provide an introduction to the new pipeline design worksheet. We will demonstrate how to use information collected earlier in the planning process to design a livestock watering system. It is recommended to watch the replay of "Tech Talk: Livestock Watering System Planning" first as this video builds off of that one.

Megan Benage and Becky Marty from the DNR present on Native Plant Communities. This workshop session covers a tour of the Native Plant Communities Field Guides including key features, how to key things out and pitfalls to using the guide and applying its information. The session also includes plant characteristics and how to key things out for Plant ID. In addition, you will find out how you can use the information contained in the Native Plant Community guidebooks in your job with prairie and forest examples.