Reimagining Meeting Design to Gather Input
In April, BWSR’s Successful Outreach Strategies (SOS) offered regional workshops for participants to learn about basic meeting design and experience a couple of processes to gather input, which helps prevent typical “problem” behaviors, such as dominant voice and not staying focused on the topic. The picture shows attendees in St. Cloud participating in Context Mapping to gather input. Evaluation responses indicated that attendees felt their learning was reinforced through the interactive opportunities. Attendees requested additional workshops to learn about and experience additional processes. One comment about the SOS training program shared, “I think this program is and has been very helpful and enlightening.” Thank you to all who attended to enhance their outreach skill set!
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Prescribed Grazing Certification Cohort
This cohort will provide hands-on training completing real-world certification for CPS 528 Prescribed Grazing, and is intended for technical staff who don’t write grazing plans but often need to review grazing records and systems to certify implementation. Cohort sessions will include small group virtual sessions, site visits, and meetings with producers to document grazing management activities. Attendees should bring a grazing plan that needs certification for their work area. Additional information and a link to register, through May 16, can be found on the Prescribed Grazing Certification page.
Enhance Your Skills with Hands-On Tree and Shrub Establishment Training
Join us for a field-based training designed to sharpen your expertise in tree and shrub site preparation and establishment using NRCS Practice Standards 490 and 612 on May 8 near Cannon Falls.
What you’ll gain:
- Learn to evaluate field conditions like competing vegetation, compaction, and slope
- Choose the right site prep techniques based on NRCS specs
- Understand how soil health, competition, and timing affect plant survival
- Assess tree/shrub protection strategies and recommend solutions based on browse pressure
- Develop complete site-specific planting plans, from species selection to long-term maintenance
- Inspect planting sites for compliance and recommend improvements
- Master mulching techniques that meet NRCS requirements
This practical, field training will give you the tools and confidence to ensure successful plant establishment and long-term vegetation health. If you are interested in attending, a link to the registration can be found on the Tree/Shrub Site Preparation and Establishment page.
On Farm Communications Training
Returning this year is Cultivating Career Success: On Farm Communications Training. Join the staff at the Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center in Staples for an enriching opportunity to delve into the world of farming through our comprehensive Farm Immersion program (formerly known as Agronomy 101 Training). These immersive training days are designed to equip NRCS and SWCD participants with hands-on technical knowledge and educational insights across various aspects of modern agriculture.
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Hands-On Learning: Engage in interactive sessions and hands-on experiences tailored to deepen your understanding of agricultural practices.
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Expert Guidance: Learn from seasoned professionals and experts in the field who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience.
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Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow employees from around the state, industry experts, and potential collaborators, fostering a network within the agricultural community.
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Training Dates: The sessions will be held May 14, 15; July 15, 16; and Oct. 7, 8. Participants are expected to attend one session (one day) in each of these months and are asked to commit to attending all three sessions.
If you are interested in attending, register before April 23 on the On Farm Communications page.
Brush Management
Join the NRCS Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 314 Brush Management training to gain practical expertise in managing brush and invasive species across Minnesota’s diverse landscapes. Designed for NRCS, SWCD, and partner staff, this hands-on training includes regional sessions June 13-15 in Southeast, Central, and Northwest Minnesota, with content tailored to local ecosystems. Through interactive discussions and field exercises, participants will learn to identify brush species, assess infestation density, and apply effective management strategies, including fire, mechanical, chemical, and biological methods.
Additional information and a link to register can be found on the Brush Management page.
Agricultural Peat Soils
Join us on June 17 in Cologne for a one-day training on agricultural peat soils, designed for conservation professionals. This course covers peat soil formation, hydrology, nutrient dynamics, and carbon storage, with a focus on managing subsidence, nutrient loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. The morning session provides classroom instruction on best management practices, while the afternoon features hands-on field training, including soil sampling and water table measurement. Learn from industry experts and producers about sustainable peat soil management. Gain practical skills to support conservation in agricultural landscapes!
You can register unique training opportunity on the Agricultural Peat Soils page.
Irrigation RCPP Technical Training Workshop – Save the Date
The Irrigation RCPP Technical Training Workshop is happening again this summer. The workshop will be June 24-25 in Staples. The workshop is designed for SWCD and NRCS technical employees looking to learn more about irrigation technology and certification of irrigation practices. This year is the workshop will go further in depth with irrigation technology, so past participants may choose to attend again for this new content. Look for more information and registration to come out soon.
Soil Mechanics and Waterway Field Day – New Date
Save the date, mid-June in Mower County, for a Soil Mechanics field day. This training will be for staff wanting to build off of soil texturing (SM-1) and apply it in the field to various conservation practices. We’ll also use this as a waterway I&E training, teaching staff how to identify resource concerns, what preliminary work should be done, and how to tackle a design survey. As it becomes available, additional information will be sent out to folks with Soil Mechanics or Grassed Waterway (CPS 412) I&E in their IDP.
2025 Conservation Planning Course
The 2025 Conservation Planning Course is tentatively scheduled for July 21 to 25 at the West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris, but it may be cancelled or postponed due to a number of factors. So, while we aren’t ready to open the full registration, we are putting together a list of planners interested in attending.
Course attendees are required to be Level 1 Conservation Planners before attending, and it is expected that those attending this course will complete the additional requirements to become Level 3 Conservation Planners. The Level 1 Conservation Planner requirements can be found here. In addition to being a Level 1 Conservation Planner, all attendees need to complete the Core Competency modules before attending. The prerequisites for this course will take approximately 55 hours to complete, and it is recommended that attendees have at least one year of experience before attending.
Those interested in attending can join the preregistration list.
New Trainings Available on Minnesota’s Core Competency Conservation (MNC3) Training Site
We continue to post new training modules on the MNC3training.com website. In addition to the four Habitat Management modules posted last month, we have now posted the fifth module in this series: Tools for Habitat Management – Grazing. There is one additional module that will be released when completed, so check back soon!
2025 Shared Training Calendar
An updated 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
October
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Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program |
Registration is open for April-June classes and all Introduction to Wetland Delineation & Regulation classes. Registration for July-November classes opens the week of June 16.
Upcoming MWPCP Training Courses:
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) (Full-both days)
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 (Full)
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
More information on MWPCP courses: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/wetland-training-opportunities
Technical Training & Certification Program Trainings
Tech Talk Webinars: Mondays at 1 p.m.
- April 28, Fertilizer Recommendations
- May 5, Brush Management
- May 12, 4R Nutrient Stewardship Principles and the Value of Soil Sampling
April
May
June
July
September
- April 23-24, Tribal-State Relations Training, State of Minnesota, Grand Portage
- Through April 25, Fridays with a Forester (2025), UMN Extension, Online
- May 5, Planting Green and Soil Health Training, MOSH, Northfield
- May 14-15, Tribal-State Relations Training, State of Minnesota, Carlton
- Through May 28, Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship - Spring Series, DNR, Online
- June 24-25, Tribal-State Relations Training, State of Minnesota, Onamia
- Sept. 23-25, 2025 Minnesota Agroforestry Institute, UMN Extension, Baxter
- Through Nov. 10, Livestock 101: Livestock Production Fundamentals, Conservation Webinars, Online
- Through Dec. 16, Managing Forests as Habitat in a Changing World, USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub, Online
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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Program Contacts
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