This virtual workshop equips conservation professionals with practical tools, templates, and strategies to design impactful events — from field days to workshops to community meetings. Participants will learn how to set clear goals, choose the right event format, engage diverse audiences, and evaluate success. The session also introduces the Community Capitals Framework as a simple thinking tool to help trainers understand the broader capacity their events can build.

Most large scale native habitat plantings are created with seed mixes. Plant diversity is a requirement for pollinators, other wildlife, and the foundation of ecological resilience, but it can be a complicated and consequential challenge to select the best mix for any given site. Building high quality native seed mixes that serve multiple species, replicate natural plant associations, establish readily, conform to certain conservation practice standards, and fit within budget constraints requires training and experience.

Soils form the fabric of conservation planning and understanding the soil survey is foundational to evaluating resource concerns. This two day course will provide an overview of the soil survey program, methods, soil maps, Web Soil Survey, interpretive information, and other soil resources that support technical staff with the conservation planning process. Soil genesis, properties, and soil landscape relationships will all be outlined.

The 2026 Livestock 101 Webinar Series is a series of 9 monthly interactive training sessions, each devoted to a particular livestock sector. Livestock production basics are presented by field based Extension and producer organization partners.

Replays for the Part 1 Webinar Series from 2025 can be found on the Livestock 101 page.

Do you have questions regarding grazing management and other conservation practices that facilitate grazing management? Now is your chance to ask your questions! Jeff Duchene, State Grazing Specialist, along with other grazing specialists in Minnesota will lead a virtual office hour to answer any questions you have about grazing management techniques, planning grazing management, planning and technical specifications of conservation practices used to facilitate grazing management or any other questions you may have related to grazing.

Join us for Basic Cover Crop 2026, designed to provide essential knowledge and practical tools for successfully integrating cover crops into Midwestern cropping systems. This webinar and in person training covers everything from selecting the right cover crops to understanding termination methods, enhancing soil health, and supporting sustainable farming practices. Participants will gain hands on experience with tools like the Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC) Cover Crop Selection Tool and NRCS Seed Rate Calculator.

Livestock production fundamentals is a series of 8 webinars focused on providing livestock information to NRCS staff, partners, technical service providers, and other conservation professionals. These sessions will benefit anyone looking to become familiar with the principles of livestock production and successfully working with livestock producers to address resource concerns associated with animal agriculture.

Want to increase your agronomic skills and knowledge around cover crops in a fun, cohort based class? Join the 2026-27 Cover Crop Academy from UMN Extension, designed for ag professionals in the public and private sector. The course takes place over 11 months, including 2-3 in person meetings at UMN research locations, where you can design and monitor your own cover crop research plots.

Join UMN extension and forest health experts at St. Croix State Park to learn more about oak wilt on its leading edge in Minnesota. As we work to slow the spread of this fungal disease northward, broad familiarity with its symptoms and potential management strategies is critical. This workshop will cover common symptoms of active oak wilt with hands-on demonstrations of current wilt pockets. We will also show effective management methods employed in St. Croix State Park and discuss additional viable management strategies.