Hold the Date: BWSR Spring Training
BWSR is in the process of planning the annual BWSR Spring Training, which will be held on the morning of March 31. This is an online training opportunity offering 90-minute concurrent sessions pertinent to BWSR programs and capacity/skill building. More information will be available in February’s Train Tracks.
National Conservation Planning Partnership
The National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) aims to strengthen the ongoing work at the field level and reinvigorate a focus on conservation planning and shared conservation delivery system. You can read the most recent NCPP newsletter here, which includes updates on:
- The NCPP Strategic Plan
- The final report on NCPP Listening Sessions
- Upcoming training topics and dates
Consider signing up for NCPP’s newsletter to stay in the loop on conservation planning efforts nationwide.
2025 Conservation Cohorts
The first Conservation Cohort of 2025, Prescribed Grazing Plan Development, is now open for registration. This cohort will provide hands on training completing real world planning and design of prescribed grazing systems. The main outcome of this cohort will be to develop at least one prescribed grazing plan with a producer from start to finish. Cohort sessions will involve meeting with the producer for initial on-site inventories, planning practices necessary to facilitate prescribed grazing, developing the grazing plan/plan maps, meeting with producer to review the plan, and making any necessary revisions based on feedback from the producer. Technical staff that need to learn how to develop prescribed grazing plans with producers should take this training. Please consult your supervisor on whether this training is appropriate for you.
You can find more information and a link to register on the Prescribed Grazing Plan Development page.
Soil Mechanics (SM-1) Training
The TTCP is hosting Soil Mechanics (SM-1) training in two locations this February, led by NRCS geologist Miranda Berge. SM-1 is the introduction to and foundation for classifying soils using the Unified Soil Classification System, which is used for engineering purposes. All staff that may be involved in engineering practices should consider attending. Technical staff looking for a refresher are also welcome to attend.
This training is held twice a year in rotating locations, and in February 2025 it will be offered in Marshall on Feb. 5 and Cloquet on Feb. 19. For more information and a link to the registration, please visit the SM-1 training page.
Wildlife Habitat Structures Training (CPS 649)
Join us at the International Owl Center in Houston to dive deep into 649: Structures for Wildlife. What are the most used structures and how do they impact the target species? What other practices can support wildlife habitat and how do tools like Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides (WHEGs) and Implementation Requirements (IR) sheets support our planning? This training will include time for practice scenarios with participants and sessions with the Owl Center Executive Director Karla Bloem and DNR Mammal Specialist Melissa Boman. Additional information and a link to register can be found on the Wildlife Habitat Structures page.
Agronomy Technical Note #31 Training
Minnesota’s Herbaceous Vegetation Establishment Guide, also known as Agronomy Technical Note #31 (ATN 31), is used as a guide for the establishment of native and introduced plantings of herbaceous vegetation for the following practices:
- Conservation Cover (327)
- Contour Buffer Strips (332)
- Critical Area Planting (342)
- Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390)
- Filter Strip (393)
- Wildlife Habitat Planting (420)
- Pasture or Hayland Planting (512)
- Cross Wind Trap Strips (589C)
- Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (643)
- Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)
- Wetland Restoration (657)
Five in person sessions will be held throughout the state during the first two weeks of March. If you are interested in attending, please note the prerequisites:
Completing these prerequisites is critical to be able to meaningfully participate in the exercises during the workshop. If you are not able to complete the prerequisites before the workshop, please wait to register for the next time this workshop is offered. Additional information and a link to register can be found on the Agronomy Technical Note 31 page.
2025 Shared Training Calendar
The working version of the 2025 training calendar is now available! This 12 month view of training offerings is regularly updated and provides information about upcoming training events, including potential dates and locations. Please see the legend at the top and note that the further out a training is proposed the more likely adjustments will need to be made. The dates, locations, and other details are always tentative until the event is posted on the Training Calendar.
BWSR Sponsored Training Events
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Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program |
2025 MWPCP Training Courses:
WCA 101 virtual training – Feb. 4-5 (Two half days)
WCA 201 Virtual training – Feb. 19 (One half day)
TEP Academy – St. Cloud MNDOT Training Center – April 16 & 17 (Two one-day classes)
Soils on the Landscape – Robert Nye Regional Park – April 29 & 30 (Two one-day classes)
Wetland Delineation Methods with Field Practicum – Cloquet Forestry Center – May 20-22
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations – Shoreview MNDOT Training Center – June 9-13
Plant ID – Shoreview MNDOT Training Center (July 14) and Cloquet Forestry Center (July 16) (Two one-day classes)
MWPCP Regional Wetland Training - Northeast MN – Hermantown City Hall – Aug. 12-13
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations – Northland Arboretum, Baxter, MN – Sept. 8-12
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations – Shoreview MNDOT Training Center – Oct. 6-10
Hydrogeomorphic Method of Classifying Wetlands – Hartley Nature Center, Duluth – Oct. 28-29 (Two one-day classes)
Wetland Banking & Monitoring for Consultants – Shoreview MNDOT Training Center – Nov. 12-13
Registration for 2025 MWPCP courses will be staggered and open on the following dates:
Virtual training courses – 8 a.m. on Jan. 21
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations classes – 8 a.m. on Feb. 24
April-June classes – 8 a.m. on March 3
July-October classes – Week of June 16
Technical Training & Certification Program Trainings
Tech Talk Webinars: Mondays at 1 p.m.
- Jan. 27 TTCP Onboarding
- Feb. 3 Social and Economic Considerations for Soil Health
- Feb. 10 Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN)
- Feb. 24 RCPP Soil Health Practices
- March 3 Livestock 101
- March 17 Virtual Fence
January
February
March
- Jan. 23, Exploring the Boundaries of Virtual Fence Webinar 3: Virtual Fence Economics, Online, Rangelands Gateway
- Jan. 28, Midwest Cover Crops Council Meeting, Mankato, MCCC
- Jan. 28-30, 2025 MECA Annual Conference & Trade Show, Waite Park, Minnesota Erosion Control Association
- Jan. 29-30, Soil Management Summit, Mankato, UMN
- Jan. 29-30, Tribal-State Relations Training, Mahnomen, State of Minnesota
- Feb. 4, Nitrogen Conference, Mankato, UMN
- Feb. 8, SFA Annual Conference, St. Joseph, SFA
- Feb. 18, Nutrient Management Conference, St. Cloud, UMN
- Feb. 20-22, Marbleseed Organic Conference, La Crosse, Marbleseed
- Feb. 26-27, Tribal-State Relations Training, Granite Fall, State of Minnesota
- March 3-5, Best Practices for Pollinators Summit, Online, Pollinator Friendly Alliance
- March 19-20, Midwest Grazing and Soil Health Summit, Willmar, SFA
- March 19-20, Grow More, Mankato, NWF
- March 21-22, 2025 Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes Conference, Mankato, ISG
- March 26-27, Tribal-State Relations Training, Tower, State of Minnesota
- April 23-24, Tribal-State Relations Training, Grand Portage, State of Minnesota
- May 14-15, Tribal-State Relations Training, Carlton, State of Minnesota
- June 24-25, Tribal-State Relations Training, Onamia, State of Minnesota
- Sept. 23-25, 2025 Minnesota Agroforestry Institute, Baxter, UMN Extension
Not all training takes place in a classroom. Check out the links below to learn at a time and place of your choosing.
We’ve also 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. You can visit BWSR's Online Learning page to find web based technical training resources sorted by category.
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