Tech Talks is a online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program. Rotating speakers cover a wide variety of technical topics at 1:00 on Mondays. The list of Tech Talks and links to replays for 2024 can be found below.

Strategic Harvested Forage Management is a new interim conservation practice and consists of developing a planned winter feeding strategy that involves controlling livestock access and systematically moving feeding areas across a pasture or field. Planned winter feeding strategies are employed by producers to improve productivity, soil health, and reduce impact on sensitive features compared to traditional unplanned winter feeding strategies.

Watch and learn about Soil Health through discussions, simulations and demonstrations with Ray Archuleta, a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with the Soil Science Society of America. Explore topics such as biomimicry, and ecosystem processes, reducing inputs, soil health principles and improving ROI. This video series was filmed during a field tour in July, 2024.

This recorded webinar covers the biology of the monarch, its conservation status, and management techniques to improve breeding habitat for the butterfly.

A PowerPoint presentation developed by NRCS with these objectives: 

• Learn the basic components of a virtual fence (VF) system
• Explore Specifications from various company’s systems
• Discuss animal training requirements
• Gain a better understanding of what producers should consider when evaluating VF as a management alternative
• Review new practice scenarios for FY 25

In this webinar, participants will gain insights into the basic concepts of local adaptation in trees and explore the three types of assisted migration. Presenters will discuss the benefits of these practices, strategies to mitigate risks, and the decision support tools available to guide assisted migration decisions. This session is the first in a series of eight webinars on Tree Improvement.

Join Vasudha Sharma, U of M, as she demonstrates the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool. She will discuss how to access the tool, how the tool is used, go through an example using the tool, and then how to interpret the results.

A power point presentation developed by Green Lands, Blue Waters on the basics of virtual fencing.  You will learn about:
• Virtual fence technical basics (how it works)
• Virtual fence effectiveness
• Opportunities and challenges
• Vendors in the US
• Costs
• Considerations for grazing plans
• NRCS financial support

Rangeland Trust webinar about grazing technology on public and private rangelands in California. The discussion included an explanation of the technology available, current research & ongoing studies, rancher experience with using collars and virtual fencing, and possible funding from NRCS in the future.

A 3 part video series:  Explore the transformative potential of virtual fence technology in livestock management. Although it was first conceptualized in the 1980’s, virtual fencing has only recently become practical for working ranches, and its rapid evolution has significant implications for a broad range of land management and livestock production goals and values. This video series showcases early adopters from across the U.S., sharing their experiences and insights to help you effectively integrate virtual fencing into your operations.