Not all training takes place in a classroom. We’ve put together a searchable library of recorded modules, webinars, videos and other resources to help our staff and partners find professional development information on a variety of topics.

Online Learning
This table displays Online Learning opportunities and details.
Training calendar
Title Subject Skill Format Description Source
Introduction to Agroforestry Systems Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

Participants will learn about the five recognized agroforestry practices: Windbreaks, Alleycropping, Silvopasture, Forest Farming and Riparian. (…

USFS

Conservation Tree/Shrub Groups: A Tool for Matching Woody Plants to Soils Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

This webinar provides guidance on how to develop and use Conservation Tree/Shrub Groups (CTSG) to match woody plants to soils. (Time: 00:39)…

NRCS

Crop Tree Management for Forest Stand Improvement Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

This webinar provides insight into how meeting the sunlight needs of individual crop trees can facilitate Forest Stand Improvement efforts. (Time…

NRCS

Application of Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality Protection Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) are techniques and practices used to minimize and prevent water quality problems associated with. (Time…

USFS

Enhancing Mast (food) Production for Woodland Wildlife Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

Fruit from trees and shrubs (aka mast) is a significant source of food for many wildlife species. This webinar will explore a variety of mast…

New York Logger Training

Introduction to Conservation Forestry Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Online Course

This course informs conservation planners about basic forest ecology and forest management practices to establish a foundation for implementing…

NRCS

Forest Management Guidelines Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Online Course

This is an updated version of the training that utilizes YouTube videos and a quiz based format. You will need a copy of the Minnesota’s Forest…

Minnesota Logger Education Program, DNR

Forestry Equipment Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Video

Duane Fogard, American Bird Conservancy Forester,  from the  Duluth Field Office,  will lead us in a review of commonly used forest…

NRCS, ABC

Tech Talk: Dendrology 101 Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

Callie Bertsch, NRCS State Forester, and Jon Sellnow, TTCP Coordinator, presented the basics of tree and woody shrub identification of native…

TTCP

History of Minnesota Forests Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

Duane Fogard, ABC Forester, provides an introduction to forest ecology and the history of forests in Minnesota.

TTCP, ABC

Tech Talk Replay: Forestry Resource Concerns Forestry Forestry Basics and Practices Webinar

Tech Talk replay from May 4, 2020. Celie Borndal, NRCS State Forester, reviews common forestry resource concerns and planning criteria.

NRCS

What’s at risk? Implications of climate change on forests and options for adaptation Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Video

Climate change is altering forest ecosystems, with many changes expected by the end of the 21st century. Forests vary widely, and not all forests…

US Forest Service

Minnesota Forest Health Highlights from 2021 Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Video

Each year, the Minnesota DNR Forest Health team conducts both aerial assessments and on-the-ground monitoring to assess the health of the state’s…

SFEC, MN DNR

Forest Pests and Diseases Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Reference Material

This University of Minnesota website has links to forest pests and disease descriptions, identification and management options.

UMN

Adaptive Silvicultural Experiments in Midwestern Hardwood Forests: Examples from Floodplains and Oak-dominated Uplands Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

Join Drs. Miranda Curzon and Marcella Windmuller-Campione as they discuss their work on two Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC)…

SFEC, UMN

Forest Ecology and Management Webinar Series Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

This webinar series was developed by the Forest Ecology Working Group to increase the understanding and integration of forest ecology, applied…

USFWS

Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation of Forest Wildlife Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

Climate change is affecting the species and communities that make up our forests in a myriad of ways. Dr. Morelli will present a synthesis of the…

USFWS

Emulating Forest Disturbance with Silviculture Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a Forest Ecology and Management course focused on advancing knowledge and skills for USFWS…

USFWS

What's at risk? Implications of Climate Change on Forests and Options for Adaptation Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

Climate change is altering forest ecosystems, with many changes expected by the end of the 21st century. Forests vary widely, and not all forests…

USFWS

A Forest Optimization Tool for Modeling, Mapping, and Managing in Minnesota Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

A changing climate, changes in Minnesota’s forest products industry and increasing pressure for ecosystem service have and will continue to create…

Sustainable Forest Education Cooperative

Ash Management Overview Forest Ecology and Management Online Course

An overview of the MNDNR's efforts regarding the management of ash dominated stands on state lands in Minnesota in response to Emerald Ash Borer.…

MLEP, MNDNR

NPC Silviculture Strategies for Forest Stand Prescriptions Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Reference Material

The Division of Forestry has developed silviculture strategies to inform sustainable forest management in Minnesota. These documents include…

DNR

Adaptive Silvicultural Experiments in Midwestern Hardwood Forests: Examples from Floodplains and Oak-dominated Uplands Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Forest Ecology and Management Webinar

Join Drs. Miranda Curzon and Marcella Windmuller-Campione as they discuss their work on two Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC)…

Sustainable Forest Education Cooperative

Concrete Washout and Dewatering Erosion Control Construction Site Erosion Control Video

This video from MECA provides tips and instructions for proper handling and disposal of excess concrete.

Minnesota Erosion Control Association

Perimeter/Sediment Control Erosion Control Construction Site Erosion Control Video

MECA video providing information on products and installation tips for keeping sediment from leaving a construction site.

Minnesota Erosion Control Association

Evaluating Air Quality Resource Concerns Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Webinar

During this webinar, air quality resource concerns and resource concern components will be highlighted. The NRCS air quality resource concerns can…

NRCS

Tech Talk: Economics of Soil Loss Conservation Planning Webinar

This Tech Talk highlights the economic and social implications of soil loss. From a farm level economic perspective, soil is an important input in…

TTCP

Environmental Evaluation Series No. 1:  Primer on NRCS Environmental Compliance Planning Conservation Planning Webinar

First in the series on environmental evaluations, the primary topics of this webinar include: legal foundations, scoping of relevant resource…

NRCS

Communicating Conservation to Landowners Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Webinar

What makes a natural resource and water professional a great communicator? What can we learn from researchers and fellow practitioners to enhance…

North Central Region Water Network

Environmental Evaluation Series No. 2:  Documenting the Environmental Evaluation on the NRCS CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation Worksheet Planning Conservation Planning Webinar

Second in the series on environmental evaluations, this webinar will assist NRCS conservation planners, partners, and technical service providers…

NRCS

Conservation Planning Course Webinar #1:  Review of the Conservation Planning Process Planning Conservation Planning Webinar

This webinar covers Phases I and II, Steps 1 through 7 of the Conservation Planning process. Participants will learn: how identifying …

NRCS

Conservation Planning Course Webinar #2:  Additional Considerations in the Planning Process Planning Conservation Planning Webinar

This webinar covers Phase II, Steps 8 and 9 of the Conservation Planning Process, Cultural Social and Economic Considerations, Resource Concerns…

NRCS

Introduction to Conservation Economics (Phase 1, Webinar #1) Conservation Planning Webinar

This 3-phase, webinar-based training series is designed to teach basic principles of conservation economics to enable participants to integrate…

NRCS

Introduction to Field Office Technical Guide Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Online Course

5 Online training modules that take approximately 1 hour to complete. The modules are prerequisites for Conservation Planning, Part 1 and also…

NRCS NEDC

The Social Science of Conservation (Phase I, Webinar #2) Conservation Planning Webinar

This 3-phase, webinar-based training series is designed to teach basic principles of conservation economics to enable participants to integrate…

NRCS

Use of NRCS Conservation Practice Standards and Specifications Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Webinar

(Time: 1:14) Participants will learn to use NRCS conservation practice standards to support the NRCS conservation planning process.

NRCS

Economic Awareness and Risk (Phase I, Webinar #3) Conservation Planning Webinar

This 3-phase, webinar-based training series is designed to teach basic principles of conservation economics to enable participants to integrate…

NRCS

Proficiency Exam - Conservation Economics Conservation Planning Reference Material

This proficiency exam verifies competency to satisfy the conservation planner designation requirement of the Economics of Conservation Planning…

TTCP

Compliance Matters: NEPA and "Environmental Evaluation" at NRCS Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Webinar

Join us as we discuss why environmental compliance matters and learn how it works at NRCS including introduction to laws and legal basics,…

conservationwebinars.net

Integrating Economics into Conservation Planning (Phase I, Webinar #4) Conservation Planning Webinar

This 3-phase, webinar-based training series is designed to teach basic principles of conservation economics to enable participants to integrate…

NRCS

Using WIN-PST for Conservation Planning Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Online Course

This course introduces you to the Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST). You will learn what the tool is and how to run it. You will also…

AgLearn

Macro Enabled CPA-52 Form Conservation Planning Webinar

John Crellin, NRCS Area Resource Conservationist, covers the April, 2023 version of CPA-52 form including the updates to the form and live…

TTCP

Using Planning Criteria in Conservation Planning Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Online Course

This course introduces you to NRCS planning criteria and their role in each phase of the Nine Steps of Conservation Planning. You will learn about…

AgLearn

Using Basic Soil Survey Information in Conservation Planning Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Online Course

The goal of this course is to introduce you to several common soil properties and interpretations, the basics of map unit composition, and Web…

AgLearn

Stream Visual Assessment Protocol 2 (SVAP 2) Core Competency (Matrix) Conservation Planning Online Course

Stream Visual Assessment Protocol 2 (SVAP2) introduces you to the process of visually assessing streams on working land. In this course, you’ll…

AgLearn

Tech Talk: Groundwater Resource Concerns Water Quality Conservation Planning Webinar

Tim Weisbrod, NRCS Geologist for MN and WI, discusses why the four Nutrient Management (590) Groundwater Resource Concerns need to be inventoried…

TTCP

Tech Talk: Concrete Specifications, Inspection, and Cold Weather Considerations Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Concrete Construction Webinar

Patrick Schultz (TTCP Training Engineer) and Michael Krcmarik (NRCS Agricultural Engineer) summarize the NRCS Concrete and Reinforcement…

TTCP

Quick Reference Links- CAD Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) CAD Reference Material

This link takes you to the MN NRCS engineering page, under Resources and CAD.  This page contains over 100 quick reference guides (pdf)…

NRCS

Basic CAD and Civil 3D Training Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) CAD Webinar

These are the recordings from the February 2022 Basic CAD training. The intended audience is conservation staff with little CAD experience. The…

TTCP

Training Module 5: Determining Contributing and Applied Acres for the BWSR Estimator Sheet and Rill Erosion Spreadsheet BWSR Estimators Video