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.
| Title | Subject | Skill | Format | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Health | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Health and Management | Video |
(Time: 57:21) In this session, Dr. Jessica Gutknecht discusses soil health. When you think about the soil beneath your feet, or… |
University of Minnesota |
| The Relevance of Soil Biology in Assessing Fertility and Soil Health | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Health and Management | Webinar |
(Time:1:22:00) Participants will learn how soil biology directly and indirectly influence crop growth and nutrient cycling, along with… |
NRCS |
| Soil Health and New Soil Testing Methods | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Health and Management | Webinar |
(Time: 1:47:00) This webinar will give participants an overview of soil health and new soil testing tools for N-P-K that take into account… |
NRCS |
| Building your Soil Structure | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Health and Management | Video |
(Time: 19:45) Hal Weiser, USDA, discusses how to improve soil structure and soil biology to maximize crop production. |
University of Minnesota, Extension |
| Demonstration of WEPP in more detail | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Erosion Prediction Models | Video |
(Time: 1:00:27) This session includes cover crops, kill crop, mulch/manure additions, weed growth, irrigation, etc. |
NRCS |
| WEPP - Overview of Session 1 | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Erosion Prediction Models | Video |
(Time: 16:37) |
NRCS |
| IET2 Demonstration | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Erosion Prediction Models | Video |
(Time: 31:13) |
NRCS |
| WEPP Demonstration and Use | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Soil Erosion Prediction Models | Video |
(Time: 54:35) |
NRCS |
| WEPP Science Introduction and PowerPoint presentation | Erosion Control | Soil Erosion Prediction Models | Video |
(Time: 23:28) Water Erosion Prediction Project |
NRCS |
| Introduction to Plant Identification | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Plant ID | Webinar |
(Time: 1:07:49) Plants are of central importance to natural resource conservation. Thus, the ability to identify species or species… |
NRCS |
| Solar-powered Water Systems for Grazing Operations | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Managed Grazing Systems | Webinar |
(Time: 1:14) Participants in this webinar will learn important considerations in planning for a solar-powered water delivery system for… |
Conservation Webinars |
| Forage Management Resources | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Managed Grazing Systems | Reference Material |
(Time: will vary) This website provides research and other resources related to forage selection, planting, pest management, harvest and… |
University of Minnesota, Extension |
| Grazing Systems Planning Guide | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Managed Grazing Systems | Reference Material |
(Time: will vary) This guide discusses the components of a grazing system by taking you through the grazing management planning process… |
University of Minnesota |
| Improving Pastures | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Managed Grazing Systems | Video |
(Time: 55:38) In this session, U of M Extension Educator Troy Salzer covers the importance of soil testing, fertilizing, liming, and… |
University of Minnesota Extension |
| A Practical Field Guide for Designing Conservation Buffers | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 00:52) In this webinar, participants will learn how to use evidence-based guidelines for designing vegetative buffers as presented in… |
USDA National Agroforestry Center |
| Establishment of Wildflower Habitat for Pollinators, Beneficial Insects, and Wildlife | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 2:00) This webinar provides instruction regarding the creation or restoration of quality pollinator habitat. |
Xerces Society/NRCS |
| Restoring Native Plant Communities: Soil and Hydrology Suited Planning Tools | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 1:07) This webinar explains how native plant community restoration can be guided by existing natural inventories. |
NRCS |
| Conserving Pollinators While Addressing Other Resource Concerns | Pollinators | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 01:30) This webinar discusses planning and implementing conservation measures to address multiple resource concerns, including… |
Xerces Society/NRCS |
| Building Better Native Seed Mixes | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 59:45) Webinar 7 of 7 from U of M's Ecological Restoration Training Center; Learn how to make the State of Minnesota’s new… |
University of Minnesota |
| Ten Things to Know About Planting Wet Areas | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 59:27) Webinar 6 of 7 from U of M Ecological Restoration Training Center Wet areas such as wetlands, shorelines, and stormwater… |
University of Minnesota |
| Selecting Seed Sources to “Future-Proof” Restored Plant Communities | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 1:03:32) Webinar 5 of 7 from U of M's Ecological Restoration Training Center Selecting seed sources for… |
University of Minnesota |
| Biocontrol for Ecological Restoration in Minnesota: Looking Back and Looking Forward | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 57:56) Webinar 3 of 7 from U of M's Ecological Restoration Training Center; Biocontrol has proven to be an effective tool for the… |
University of Minnesota |
| Planning to Avoid Pitfalls: The Key to Restoration Success | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 41:25) Webinar 2 of 7 from U of M's Ecological Restoration Training Center; No manager wants to lose a restoration project to… |
University of Minnesota |
| Learning by Doing: Why Restoration Records Matter | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Webinar |
(Time: 58:00) Webinar 1 of 7 from U of M's Ecological Restoration Training Center; Maintaining project records is essential for keeping long-… |
University of Minnesota |
| Certificate in Ecological Restoration | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Online Course |
(Time: 150 hours) The Ecological Restoration certificate is a 150-hour program comprising five required courses. The certificate… |
University of Minnesota |
| Pollinators, Monarchs and Beneficial Insects | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Reference Material |
This website has multiple references for conservation planning for pollinators, monarch and beneficial insects. |
NRCS |
| Pollinators | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Native Vegetation, Habitats and Pollinators | Video |
(Time: 57:21) In this session, Elaine Evans will discuss pollinators. Pollinators are a crucial part of our food production… |
University of Minnesota |
| Hydrology and Terrain Analysis Tools for Using LiDAR Data | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | GIS-GPS | Webinar |
NRCS |
|
| LiDAR Based Tools & Applications for Estimation and Design | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | GIS-GPS | Video |
(Time:12:29) Peter Mead (Cartographic Technician) and Wes Drake (Agricultural Engineer) from the Minnesota NRCS provide an overview and… |
NRCS |
| GPS 101: Introduction to GPS | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | GIS-GPS | Video |
(Time: 24:30) This is an introductory presentation on the U.S. Global Positioning System. It is not training on specific… |
BWSR |
| Watershed Tools Demo | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | GIS-GPS | Video |
This video is a demonstration of each step of a watershed delineation and RCN determination for a project site. The demonstration shows the… |
TTCP |
| Installing Engineering Tools | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | GIS-GPS | Video |
(Time: 3:32) This video is a quick demonstration of where to find, download, and how to install |
BWSR |
| VegScape | Vegetation | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
Layer developed by USDA NASS in cooperation with NASA. Map showing crop condition monitoring system. Integrates soil moisture, temperature,… |
|
| CropScape | Crops | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
Layer developed by USDA NASS in cooperation with NASA. Map showing crop history of areas going back to 1997. Also evaluation of how… |
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) |
| Census of Agriculture | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
County specific data (examples include acres and sales by crop type, number and sales by livestock type and types of operators and operations) can… |
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) |
| Introduction to Beef Cattle Production in the United States | Livestock | Ag & Agronomy | Online Course |
Nine modules: Module 1: Beef Cattle Genetic Management; Time: 20 - 25 minutes; Module 2: Beef Cattle Nutrition and Feeding; Time: 30… |
NRCS, Texas A&M Extension |
| Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows | Livestock | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
This document provides guidance on how to determine a body condition score (BCS) for beef cows. Body condition scores are excellent… |
Virginia Cooperative Extension |
| Breeds of Livestock | Livestock | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
This site provides a comprehensive inventory of the various domestic breeds of livestock including cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine, poultry… |
Oklahoma State University, Department of Animal Science |
| University of Minnesota Extension: Beef Extension | Livestock | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
This site provides access to publications and other resources related to beef production in Minnesota including cow/calf management, feedlot… |
U of M Extension |
| CORE 4 Pest Management Technical References and Training Materials | Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) | Ag & Agronomy | Reference Material |
Basic overview of pest management principles. Materials concentrate on assessing environmental risks of pest management alternatives. |
NRCS, June 1999 |
| Economics and Environmental Issues | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:24:31) Information is presented on nitrogen management considerations for high profitability and low environmental risks;… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Soil Sampling | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:26:25) Information is presented on soil sampling strategies and sample handling/testing procedures. |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Soil pH and Lime | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:24:38) Information is presented on negative effects of acidic soils; testing for soil pH; managing soil pH for alkaline soils; and… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Micronutrients | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:23:38) Information is presented on specific micronutrients including boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc and chloride… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Calcium and Magnesium Management | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:10:20) Information is presented on calcium and magnesium as essential nutrients; calcium and magnesium soil testing; and, calcium… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Sulfur | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:14:36) Information is presented on basic sulfur processes in the soil-plant system; testing for sulfur sufficiency; basis for… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Potassium | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:13:43) Information is presented on potassium processes in the soil-plant system; potassium soil testing; potassium fertilizer… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Phosphorus | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:20:05) Information is presented on basic phosphorus processes in the soil-plant system; phosphorus soil testing; phosphorus… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Nitrogen | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:22:59) Information is presented on basic nitrogen processes in the soil-plant system; rate determination and economic response;… |
NRCS, June 2014 |
| Overview of Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition, and Nutrition Management | Nutrient Management | Ag & Agronomy | Webinar |
(Time: 00:17:31) Information is presented on the seventeen chemical elements essential for plant growth, how plants need various amounts of… |
NRCS, June 2014 |