This Track is a suggested sequence of trainings, replays, and information pertaining to the design, installation, and certification of herbaceous establishment practices including:

• 327 - Conservation Cover

• 342 - Critical Area Planting

• 420 - Upland Wildlife Planting

• 643 - Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities

• 644 - Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management

Minnesota - along with Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio - uses the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to corn N rate guidelines. This Tech Talk covers what MRTN is and why is this system used, along with the pros and cons of this approach to nutrient management. We also discuss how economic data is merged with agronomic research to help producers find the right rate for increasing economic efficiency of every dollar of nitrogen invested into their operation.

This Tech Talk highlights the New Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Assessment tool that was released this summer, as well other program updates and highlights. This session covers:

• A walk through the new assessment tool
• Discussion about how the assessment tool can be used during the conservation planning process
• A brief update on the Financial Assistance Program

This webinar will cover select topics from Technical Note 12 – Conservation Activities in Organic Farming Systems – which provides a wealth of knowledge needed to effectively support the unique requirements of organic producers. Tech Note 12 helps organic producers articulate the conservation benefits of their practices in the language used by NRCS field agents and TSPs. This clarity is crucial for accessing NRCS programs. Part one of this webinar will cover the areas of soil health, climate, and nutrient management as they relate to organic management.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Forest Ecology Working Group and the National Conservation Training Center are joining the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and NIACS to sponsor this 12 part monthly webinar series. Managing Forests as Habitat in a Changing World will feature interactive panel discussions that explore shifting impacts on forest habitats and adaptation options for natural resources management.

Tech Talks is a online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program. Rotating speakers cover a wide variety of technical topics at 1:00 on Mondays. The list of Tech Talks and links to replays for 2024 can be found below.

Strategic Harvested Forage Management is a new interim conservation practice and consists of developing a planned winter feeding strategy that involves controlling livestock access and systematically moving feeding areas across a pasture or field. Planned winter feeding strategies are employed by producers to improve productivity, soil health, and reduce impact on sensitive features compared to traditional unplanned winter feeding strategies.

Watch and learn about Soil Health through discussions, simulations and demonstrations with Ray Archuleta, a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with the Soil Science Society of America. Explore topics such as biomimicry, and ecosystem processes, reducing inputs, soil health principles and improving ROI. This video series was filmed during a field tour in July, 2024.

This recorded webinar covers the biology of the monarch, its conservation status, and management techniques to improve breeding habitat for the butterfly.