This training series provides an introduction to the knowledge, skills, and abilities to plan, write, and certify Filter Strip (CPS 393). Additional training may be necessary.
CPS 393 Job Approval Authority Fact Sheet (link pending FOTG)
TTCP
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- 1. Knowledge of vegetation appropriate for filter strips
Tech Talk: Filter Strips - Part 1
Shannon Carpenter, NRCS Water Quality Specialist St. Paul reviews CPS 393 Filter Strip Practice Standard details, practice design, and Filter Strip Implementation requirements worksheet. This session also covers a brief review of Agronomy Technical Note #31 and how the Filter Strip Standard relates to the Note 31 and use of the Seed mix calculator.
Minnesota’s Herbaceous Vegetation Establishment Guide
- 2. Ability to assess site conditions to plan and apply filter strips
Filter strips are an area of herbaceous vegetation that are designed to reduce sediment, suspended solids, nutrients, dissolved contaminants and pathogens from water before the water reaches an environmentally sensitive area such as a stream, lake, drainage ditch or sinkhole. This training will provide a comprehensive overview of the standard and hands on experience with planning and designing a filter strip.
This training session replay on the filter strip standard covers:
Filter Strip Practice Standard details
GIS Watershed Tool
RUSLE2 calculations
Agronomy Technical Note #2
Economics
Seed mix calculator
Species characteristics – specific requirements
Filter Strip Implementation requirements worksheet
- 3. Knowledge of species and vegetation management for wildlife and pollinators
No content identified
- 4. Knowledge of the management needed to attain the purpose(s) of the filter strip
No content identified
- 5. Ability to lay out a filter strip to meet its intended purpose(s)
Filter strips are an area of herbaceous vegetation that are designed to reduce sediment, suspended solids, nutrients, dissolved contaminants and pathogens from water before the water reaches an environmentally sensitive area such as a stream, lake, drainage ditch or sinkhole. This training will provide a comprehensive overview of the standard and hands on experience with planning and designing a filter strip.
This training session replay on the filter strip standard covers:
Filter Strip Practice Standard details
GIS Watershed Tool
RUSLE2 calculations
Agronomy Technical Note #2
Economics
Seed mix calculator
Species characteristics – specific requirements
Filter Strip Implementation requirements worksheet
Minnesota KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs):
Inventory and Evaluation (I&E) Planning Phase
All Job Classes
- 1. Ability to run RUSLE2 or the most current soil loss assessment tool
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and instructions on how to use the RUSLE2 model to estimate sheet and rill erosion.
Objectives:Become familiar with the variables that affect sheet and rill erosion.
Understand how these variables impact soil erosion estimates in RUSLE2.
Be able to use RULSE2 in conservation planning for soil loss due to water erosion and other related resource concerns.
- 2. Ability to determine watershed acres of sheet and rill and concentrated flow to proposed buffer area
Filter strips are an area of herbaceous vegetation that are designed to reduce sediment, suspended solids, nutrients, dissolved contaminants and pathogens from water before the water reaches an environmentally sensitive area such as a stream, lake, drainage ditch or sinkhole. This training will provide a comprehensive overview of the standard and hands on experience with planning and designing a filter strip.
This training session replay on the filter strip standard covers:
Filter Strip Practice Standard details
GIS Watershed Tool
RUSLE2 calculations
Agronomy Technical Note #2
Economics
Seed mix calculator
Species characteristics – specific requirements
Filter Strip Implementation requirements worksheet
Tech Talk: Filter Strip - Part 2
Lawrence Svien, BWSR Training Conservationist, reviews use of the NRCS GIS Watershed Tools in the design of CPS 393 Filter Strips. In addition, Lawrence also covers National Agricultural Technical Note 2, using RUSLE2 for the Design and Predicted Effectiveness of Vegetative Filter Strips (VFS) for Sediment.
- 3. Ability to use soils information for practice applicability
Soil Drainage Class - Moisture Table
Information pertaining to NRCS soil moisture descriptions compared to seed vendors.
Course Description: This course will cover information to assist users of soils information with accessing and interpreting soils data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey including a review of the online interface.
Objectives:Access web soil survey
Demonstrate how to download official SSURGO soils
Navigate to and select an area of interest, run interpretive reports, and create and download reports
Soil Properties and Interpretations: Module 13: Soil Moisture Regimes
The Soil Properties and Interpretations training is designed for use in the states to train soil conservationists, soil properties engineers, soil scientists, technicians, and other specialists as a basic introduction to different soil properties, site properties, and interpretations. This training includes content and activities that provide participants ways they will use and apply soil survey information to their jobs. The training is a self-study, self-paced series of standalone modules that may be taken in any order. We recommend employees at a minimum take those modules relevant to the region of the county where they work. This module is designed to increase your knowledge of soil moisture regimes.
Design Phase
All Job Classes
- 1. Ability to formulate fertilizer recommendations
Seeding Considerations and Evaluation
Course Description: This course covers companion crops, temporary cover, weed control, and fertilizer and lime considerations. This course also outlines the procedures for completing stand evaluations.
Objectives:Become familiar with species used for companion crops and temporary cover as well as their planting and termination dates
Understand weed control considerations when establishing herbaceous stands
Develop knowledge of fertilizer and lime amendments when establishing herbaceous stands
Learn the proper procedure to evaluation a new stand to determine if it is adequately established
- 2. Knowledge of planting dates for plant species used
Course Description: This course describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.). Objectives:
Develop knowledge of seedbed preparation, seeding equipment, and seeding methods
Learn the planting dates for different species throughout Minnesota
Understand the concepts and be able to calculate Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft)
- 3. Ability to use Agronomy Technical Note #31 to select plant species that can withstand sheet flow
Tech Talk: Filter Strips - Part 1
Shannon Carpenter, NRCS Water Quality Specialist St. Paul reviews CPS 393 Filter Strip Practice Standard details, practice design, and Filter Strip Implementation requirements worksheet. This session also covers a brief review of Agronomy Technical Note #31 and how the Filter Strip Standard relates to the Note 31 and use of the Seed mix calculator.
Minnesota’s Herbaceous Vegetation Establishment Guide
Installation and Certification Phase
All Job Classes
- 1. Knowledge of planting methods and equipment
Course Description: This course describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.). Objectives:
Develop knowledge of seedbed preparation, seeding equipment, and seeding methods
Learn the planting dates for different species throughout Minnesota
Understand the concepts and be able to calculate Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft)
Calibrating a Seed Drill for Native Grass Seed
Native Warm Season Grass Drill Calibration
Jake Watson, USDA NRCS and Michael McCord discuss how to calibrate a drill for Native Warm Season Grasses.
- 2. Ability to read seed tags
Course Description: This course describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.). Objectives:
Develop knowledge of seedbed preparation, seeding equipment, and seeding methods
Learn the planting dates for different species throughout Minnesota
Understand the concepts and be able to calculate Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft)
- 3. Ability to calculate pure live seed
Course Description: This course describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.). Objectives:
Develop knowledge of seedbed preparation, seeding equipment, and seeding methods
Learn the planting dates for different species throughout Minnesota
Understand the concepts and be able to calculate Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft)
- 4. Knowledge of Minnesota Seed Law
This session provides an overview of Minnesota's Seed law, one of the oldest consumer protection laws in Minnesota, which is in place to ensure a fair marketplace. The law requires certain content on seed labels so that the customer knows what they are buying. The Minnesota Seed Regulatory Program inspects seed labels and takes samples of seed lots at all sites where seed is produced, labeled, or available for sale. Samples are tested by the MN seed lab using American Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) rules and the result is compared to the label to see if they are truthful. Most of the MN seed industry follows these regulations and when there are issues the seed program works to help stakeholders achieve compliance.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has put together this presentation to help retailers understand the requirements for labeling and selling seed in Minnesota. It provides basic information that seed retailers should know regarding the Minnesota seed law, seed inventory management strategies, and seed label requirements. Please contact seed.mda@state.mn.us with any questions or if you would like further information.
- 5. Knowledge of Minnesota Noxious Weed Law
The Noxious Weed Law affects growing plants. Some plants are noxious because they can harm people, animals, the food we eat, and nature.
This is the official Minnesota noxious weed list. All species on the Minnesota noxious weed list include all hybrids, cultivars, and varieties unless specifically exempted.