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 + training opportunities and details.
Online learning opportunities
Title Format Description Training Source Training Subject
Tech Talk: Organic No Till Systems: Can it work?

Patrick Carr, Montana State University, and Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin, discuss Organic No Till systems and how they work…or don’t work.…

Tech Talk: Conservation Tree Shrub Groups (CTSGs)

The Conservation Tree-Shrub Groups (CTSGs) are a planning tool that aid in the selection of trees and shrubs for planting based on soil type.…

Tech Talk: Soil Health Resource Concerns Webinar

Stephanie McLain (NRCS State Soil Health Specialist) provides an overview of the soil health resource concerns including how to evaluate them.…

Tech Talk: Intro to Urban Soil Health for Conservation Planning and Management Webinar

In this webinar, Josh Beniston, NRCS Regional Soil Health Specialist covering urban areas, presents an overview of soil health in the context of…

Tech Talk: Brush Management (CPS 314) in Grasslands and Savannas Webinar

Brush Management is becoming increasingly needed on our grassland and savanna habitats to maintain their open character. However, this tool can be…

Tech Talk: Core Concepts for Designing and Evaluating Native Seed Mixes Webinar

Karin Jokela, Xerces Society Partner Biologist, covers how to design and evaluate native seed mixes using the latest version of the NRCS seeding…

Tech Talk: 2024 Pest Management Forecast Webinar

Bruce Potter, UMN Extension Integrated Pest Management Specialist, looks at pest management considerations for the coming year. Bruce discusses…

Tech Talk: Pest Management Follow Up Webinar

This is a follow up to the in person Basic Pest Management Concepts training sessions that were held in January, 2024. Courtney Cheever, NRCS…

Tech Talk: Minnesota Wheat's On Farm Research Network Webinar

Melissa Carlson, lead researcher and coordinator of Minnesota Wheat's On Farm Research Network, provides an overview of how they work with growers…

Tech Talk: MN Seed Law Webinar

This session provides an overview of Minnesota's Seed law, one of the oldest consumer protection laws in Minnesota, which is in place to ensure a…

Tech Talk: Source Water Protection Webinar

During this session Courtney Cheever (NRCS), Mark Wetlauffer (MDH), Aaron Meyer (MRWA), and Katie Breth (MRWA) provide an introduction to the…

Tech Talk: Back to our Roots: Managing Alfalfa for Yield and Environment

Joshua Gamble, ARS Research Agronomist, discusses the role alfalfa roots play in mediating yield, stand persistence, and ecosystem services.…

Tech Talk: Seed Calculator Revisions Webinar

The new version of the seeding spreadsheet has the ability to do seeding checkouts based on seed tags listing a Pure Live Seed (PLS) applied…

2023 Tech Talks Webinar

Tech Talks is a online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program. Rotating speakers cover a wide variety…

Tech Talk: Annual Forages for Grazing Systems (CPS 810) Webinar

This Tech Talk provides an overview of the interim CPS 810 Annual Forages for Grazing Systems Conservation Practice Standard, Implementation…

Tech Talk: Amending Soil Properties with Lime Webinar

Ryan Buetow, NRCS State Agronomist, discusses the foundation of soil management and all the impacts that pH has on crop growth, nutrient…

Tech Talk: Controlled Traffic Farming, Conservation Harvest, Field Operations Emissions Reduction Webinar

Ryan Buetow, NRCS State Agronomist, discusses the new practices Controlled Traffic Farming (CPS 334), Conservation Harvest (CPS 809), and Field…

Tech Talk: Audubon Conservation Ranching Program Webinar

The Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) program is a collaborative effort between farmers, ranchers, and Audubon to address the decline of…

Tech Talk: Livestock Forage Balance Worksheet Webinar

In this Tech Talk Jeff Duchene, NRCS State Grazing Specialist, provides an overview of the Livestock Forage Balance Sheet available in Section IV…

Tech Talk: Wildlife Habitat Planting (CPS 420) Webinar

Jeff Kalin, NRCS Wildlife Biologist, and Karin Jokela, Xerces Society Pollinator Planner and Partner Biologist, for an overview the new Wildlife…

Tech Talk: Economics of Soil Loss 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…

Tech Talk: HY-8 Webinar

Elizabeth Oolman, NRCS H&H Engineer, discuss everything culverts. This session covers culvert basics, how to design a culvert using a…

Tech Talk: Native Vegetation Guidelines and BWSR Programs: Decision Making for Successful Projects Webinar

This Tech Talk highlights the revisions to the Native Vegetation Establishment and Enhancement Guidelines including:
•    A…

2022 Tech Talks Webinar

Tech Talks is a online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program. Rotating speakers cover a wide variety…

Tech Talk: Side Inlet Planning and Design Webinar

Join Patrick Schultz and Aaron Peter, TTCP engineers, as they cover planning and design criteria for Side Water Inlets (SWI’s). SWI’s are an…

Tech Talk: Prairie Strips Part 2: Addressing Pesticide Risks to Pollinators Webinar

Emily May and Karin Jokela from the Xerces Society present on pesticide risks to pollinators in habitat near cropland, including field research on…

Tech Talk: Prairie Strips Part 1: A New Option for Water Quality, Pollinators, and Wildlife Webinar

Jim Fritz (SE ARC, MN NRCS), James Fett (Watershed Technician, Mower SWCD), and Andrea Eger (Regenerative Ag Project Manager, TNC) discuss the…

Tech Talk: Well Decommissioning Webinar

In this session Patrick Schultz, TTCP Engineer, provides an overview of topics related to the CPS 351 Well Decommissioning. There is also a…

Tech Talk: Introduction to Managed Grazing Systems Webinar

During this session Dean Thomas, Fillmore SWCD, discusses the basic grazing management principles, benefits of prescribed grazing, and…

Tech Talk: Livestock Pipeline Design Webinar

Join Amanda Deans, TTCP Engineer, as she runs through a real life pipeline design using the MN NRCS Livestock Pipeline spreadsheet.

Tech Talk: Groundwater Resource Concerns Webinar

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

Tech Talk: Tile Flow Design Using CPS 606/620 Webinar

These supporting practices are only a small part of the designs for waterways, WASCOBs, and other main practices. Fundamentals for following…

Tech Talk: Basic Irrigation Webinar

Brian Ebel, NRCS Water Resource Engineer, discusses the basic concepts of irrigation. Attendees will gain insight into why and when irrigation is…

Tech Talk: Grassed Waterway Spreadsheet Webinar

The MN NRCS’s grassed waterway design spreadsheet uses the same methodology as the EFT waterway program and is an acceptable design tool. In this…

Tech Talk: Early Successional Habitat Management for Wildlife Webinar

Jacob Granfors, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, and Garett Christiansen, NRCS Forester, discuss open landscapes, early…

Tech Talk: Forage Harvest Management (CPS 511) Webinar

In this Tech Talk Jeff Duchene (NRCS Grazing Specialist, NW Area) and Morgan Kauth (NRCS Grazing Specialist, SW Area) discuss an overview of…

Tech Talk: Drought Planning for Pasture and Forage Management Webinar

During this session Eric Mousel, UMN Extension, focuses on the impact of the 2021 drought on pasture and forage production in 2022. Eric will…

Tech Talk: Pasture and Hay Planting - Species Selection Webinar

During this session Jeff Duchene, NRCS Grazing Specialist, covers:

  • Characteristics of common species…
Tech Talk: Pasture and Hay Planting - Practice Standard Webinar

During this session Jeff Duchene, NRCS Grazing Specialist, discusses:

  • An overview of Conservation…
Tech Talk: Tree and Shrub Site Preparation (CPS 490) Webinar

This Tech Talk is about tree/shrub site preparation (CPS 490) and tree/shrub planting methods. This session includes a discussion of planning…

Tech Talk: Tree and Shrub Establishment Practice (CPS 612) Webinar

In this session Callie Bertsch, NRCS State Forester, and Kelly Voigt, TTCP Training Conservationist, cover Tree/Shrub Establishment practice (CPS…

Tech Talk: Overview of Agrichemical Handling Facilities Webinar

This session includes an overview of the Agrichemical Handling Facility (CPS 309) practice. What the resource concerns are, design tools and…

Tech Talk: Conservation Drainage Designs and Systems Webinar

Mark Dittrich and Jeppe Hjaersgaard, both with MDA, discuss drainage and conservation focusing on the human dimension of conservation. What’s…

Tech Talk: Sheep and Goat Grazing and Browsing for Native Restorations Webinar

Audrey Lomax, MNL, presents on ecological restoration projects. Audrey highlights specific case studies and goes in depth on the use of goats in…

Hydrology & Hydraulics

This is a collection of trainings, video replays, and information pertaining to the engineering skills hydrology and…

Tech Talk: Basic Survey Webinar

The goal of this training is to become familiar with terms and procedures, recognize features of different equipment, and make you more…

Livestock Pipeline and Watering Facility Training Series

This training series provides an introduction to the knowledge, skills, and abilities to plan, design, and install Livestock Pipeline (CPS 516)…

Tech Talk: Nutrient Management Module 17: Fertilizer Additives Webinar

Fabian Fernandez, Nutrient Management Specialist from the University of Minnesota discusses fertilizer additives.  Watch this session to…

Tech Talk: Placing Habitat with a Purpose Webinar

BJ Werk, Precision Ag and Conservation Specialist with Pheasants Forever, talks about the precision application of conservation on marginal…

Tech Talk: Riparian Herbaceous Cover or Riparian Forest Buffer? Webinar

Shannon Carpenter, NRCS State Water Quality Specialist, reviews the Riparian Herbaceous Cover (CPS 390) and Riparian Forest Buffer (CPS 391). This…