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
Corn growth and development staging systems (Corn, part 2/3) Crops Ag & Agronomy Video

(Time 41:01) Dr. Joe Lauer's presentation about "Corn Growth, Development, and Physiology". This part (2 of 3) focuses on systems used to…

U of WIS, Jan 2015

Corn yield in Wisconsin and the US (Corn, part 1/3) Crops Ag & Agronomy Video

(Time:13:41) Dr. Joe Lauer's presentation about "Corn Growth, Development, and Physiology". This part (1 of 3) focuses on an overview of corn…

U of Wis, Jan 2015

Minnesota Cropping Systems and their Environmental Impacts Crops Ag & Agronomy Video

This video provides basic information on the relationship between animals, crops and the environment. 

U of M Ext, Jun 2015

Introduction to Agriculture – the Minnesota Poultry Industry Livestock Ag & Agronomy Video

Time: 14:37;  This video provides basic information on the poultry industry in Minnesota including types of systems, industry structure,…

U of M Ext, Jun 2015

Introduction to Agriculture – the Minnesota Dairy Industry Livestock Ag & Agronomy Video

(Time: 14:19) This video provides basic information on the dairy industry in Minnesota including breeds, terminology, production systems,…

U of M Ext, Jun 2015

Introduction to Agriculture – the Minnesota Swine Industry Livestock Ag & Agronomy Video

(Time: 14:37) This video provides basic information on the swine industry in Minnesota including terminology, production segments, industry…

U of M Ext, Jun 2015

Fields to Streams: Managing Water in a Rural Landscape – Part Two Core Competency (Matrix) Water Quality Basics Reference Material

This document is designed to assist rural landowners, land managers, and conservation professionals in protecting rural streams. The emphasis is…

Univ. of MN Extension, 2016

Fields to Streams: Managing Water in a Rural Landscape - Part One Core Competency (Matrix) Water Quality Basics Reference Material

This document is designed to assist rural landowners, land managers, and conservation professionals in protecting rural streams. The emphasis is…

Univ. of MN Extension, 2015

Using Soil Data from the USDA Geospatial Data Gateway in ArcGIS Core Competency (Matrix) Soils and Soil Survey Basics Video

(Time: 14:55) This video will explain how to download soil survey spatial and tabular data from the Geospatial Data Gateway and how to use…

NRCS

Soil Data Viewer 6.2 User Guide Core Competency (Matrix) Soils and Soil Survey Basics Reference Material

A 57 page pdf with complete instructions on how to use Soil Data Viewer, standalone or as an add-in to ArcMap

NRCS

USDA NRCS National Soil Survey Center Core Competency (Matrix) Soils and Soil Survey Basics Webinar

This is the display of all the online videos produced by the National Soil Survey Center. There are over 100 videos available, most of which will…

NRCS

Web Soil Survey – Part 3: Tabs and Downloads Core Competency (Matrix) Soils and Soil Survey Basics Video

Time: 13:30; Part 3 of a 3 part series on Web Soil Survey. This video covers the various tabs of soil information, report settings, shopping cart…

NRCS NSSC, Feb 14, 2020

Web Soil Survey – Part 2: Set Area of Interest (AOI) Core Competency (Matrix) Soils and Soil Survey Basics Video

(Time: 12:11) Part 2 of a 3 part series on Web Soil Survey. This video covers ways to set an Area of Interest (AOI), limits for the AOI, and…

NRCS NSSC, Feb 14, 2019

Web Soil survey - Part 1: Application Access Core Competency (Matrix) Soils and Soil Survey Basics Video

(Time: 11:48) Part 1 of a 3 part series on Web Soil Survey. This video covers information on the Web Soil Survey home page, ways to access the…

NRCS NSSC, Feb 14, 2018

Living Soil Film Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Soil Health and Management Video

(Time 1:00:22) Our soils support 95 percent of all food production, and by 2060, our soils will be asked to give us as much food as we have…

Soil Health Institute, Nov 2108

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hydrologic Soils Group (HSG) Knowledge Matrix Soil MIDs Video

A training module explaining how to enter information into the HSG matrix to generate a hydrologic soil group classification for use in storm…

BWSR

Altered Hydrology Wetland Wetland Hydrology Video

The basics of drainage and why it is done, installing drainage, the wetland hydrology technical criterion, the terms “effectively drained” and “…

BWSR

Wetland Hydrology Monitoring Part 2 Wetland Wetland Hydrology Video

(Time: 18:11)  This is the second of two training modules on the topic of wetland hydrology monitoring – offered as an…

BWSR

Wetland Hydrology Monitoring Part 1 Wetland Wetland Hydrology Video

(Time: 30:42)  This is the first of two training modules on the topic of wetland hydrology monitoring – offered as an…

BWSR

Introduction to Animal Agriculture - the Minnesota Beef Industry Livestock Ag & Agronomy Video

(Time:16:57) This video provides basic information on the beef industry in Minnesota including terminology, production systems, economics and…

U of M

WASCOB Tile Design Practice Design Practice Specific Video

The training shows the tile design components of the WASCOB Design spreadsheet. This video finishes the basin system design started in the WASCOB…

BWSR

WASCOB Design Intro Practice Design Practice Specific Video

(Time 19:55) The training intruduces employees to NRCS's WASCOB Design spreadsheet. This is an introductory level training with a format of some…

BWSR

Basic WASCOB Section IV Practice Design Practice Specific Video

(Time: 10:02) Video pulls in some linked "handouts" (see links below) to prepare staff for discussions with landowners during the initial parts of…

BWSR

Basic WASCOB Section III Practice Design Practice Specific Video

(Time: 14:06) Focuses on the underground outlet supporting practice and ties the outlet design into the basin design. Stage storage is explained…

BWSR

Basic WASCOB Section II Practice Design Practice Specific Video

(Time: 12:02) Explains the three types of cross sections and how they each fit into the landscape and different farming operations.

BWSR

Basic WASCOB Section I Practice Design Practice Specific Video

The Basic WASCOB training series is a four-part video based on the original Basic WASCOB webinar presented in April from the Technical Training…

BWSR

How to stabilize your shore with live fascines Shoreline Protection Practice Specific Video

Crow Wing SWCD

How to install a soil wrap slope break Shoreline Protection Practice Specific Video

Crow Wing SWCD

How to stabilize your shore with erosion control fabric Shoreline Protection Practice Specific Video

Crow Wing SWCD

How to restore your shore with native plants Shoreline Protection Practice Specific Video

Crow Wing SWCD

How to restore your shore with coir logs Shoreline Protection Practice Specific Video

How to install a soil wrap to function as a slope break for erosion control is the focus of this video for contractors and landowners in Central…

Crow Wing SWCD

Quick Reference link - Surveying Advanced Tech Skills (Matrix) Surveying Reference Material

Time: will vary;   This link takes you to the MN NRCS engineering page, under Resources and CAD.  This page contains 7 quick…

NRCS

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

Introduction to Unified Soil Classifcation System Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) Soil Mechanics Video

This video is a recorded PowerPoint by MN NRCS Geologist Tim Weisbrod. It is a pre-requisite to taking the in-person SM-1 classroom training.…

NRCS

ESRI Virtual Campus Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) GIS-GPS Online Course

In 2016, ESRI revamped their online learning program. Rather than employees requesting access codes, they are now able to directly order courses…

NRCS / ESRI

Conservation Applications of LiDAR Training Program Basic Tech Skills (Matrix) GIS-GPS Online Course

GIS LiDAR workshops

University of Minnesota

LiDAR based tools for design of Water & Sediment Control Basins in ARCGIS Practice Design Practice Specific Video

Time:  12:29   Peter Mead (Cartographic Technician) and Wes Drake (Agricultural Engineer) from the Minnesota NRCS provide an…

NRCS

Engineering Field Tools (EFT): Overview and Basic Tasks Practice Design Practice Specific Video

Time: 59:00; At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will know the general capabilities of the Engineering Field Tools software, with…

NRCS

Using the EFT Waterway Sizing Wizard Practice Design Practice Specific Video

This video is a re-recording of an Engineering Field Tool's (EFT) Waterway Wizard webinar originally presented March 2017 by NRCS Area 6 Engineer…

BWSR

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