United States
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
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- 1. Knowledge of State's Crops and Cropping Systems
What criteria should you use when selecting a soybean variety? How do the economics pencil out for different soybean maturities in your area? What disease traits should you be on the lookout for? Learn more through a discussion of these questions and trial results with Dr. Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist and Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist.
What criteria should you used when selecting a corn hybrid? How do hybrid maturities affect your bottom line? What about hybrid selection and disease resistance? Watch the recording for answers to these questions and hybrid trial results with Dr. Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist, Tom Hoverstad, Researcher from Southern Research and Outreach Center and Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist.
Soybean crop management in Wisconsin (soybeans, part 1/3)
(Time: 12:35) This video discusses components contributing to yield in soybeans including varietal selection, regional climate and fertilization.
Vegetative Growth Stages of Soybeans (soybeans 2/3)
(Time: 16:39) This video focuses on the early season growth and development of soybeans
R Stages, Soybean Management in Wisconsin (soybeans 3/3)
(Time: 17:42) This video focuses on the reproductive stages of growth and development of soybeans.
Corn yield in Wisconsin and the US (Corn, part 1/3)
(Time:13:41) Dr. Joe Lauer's presentation about "Corn Growth, Development, and Physiology". This part (1 of 3) focuses on an overview of corn yield in Wisconsin and the US.
Corn growth and development staging systems (Corn, part 2/3)
(Time 41:01) Dr. Joe Lauer's presentation about "Corn Growth, Development, and Physiology". This part (2 of 3) focuses on systems used to label stages of corn plant development in Wisconsin and the US.
Yield components of corn (corn, part 3/3)
(Time 24:02) Dr. Joe Lauer's presentation about "Corn Growth, Development, and Physiology". This part (3 of 3) focuses on the components that contribute to yield in corn.
This website provides information on growing sugarbeets and pest management for sugarbeets Minnesota.
This website provides information on crop and variety selection, growing, harvest and storage, planting and pest management for small grains in Minnesota.
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This website provides information on crop and variety selection, growing, harvest and storage, planting and pest management for small grains in Minnesota.
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- 2. Knowledge of Soil Health and Management
Participate in this webinar to learn about the overarching economic findings across six crop farmers and two almond growers related to changes in costs, revenues, yield, and return on investment. Hear individual stories about how nutrient and pesticide applications changed in response to soil health practice use.
Winter Soil Health Virtual Series
The Minnesota Soil Health Coalition produced a series of webinars in January and February of 2021. These five webinars are: Webinar 1: Soil Health Virtual Series: Matt Tiffany + Brian Pfarr Webinar 2: Cover Crop Mixes with Tomm Cotter and TJ Kartes Webinar 3: Livestock Integration with Tom Cotter and Kent Solberg; Webinar 4: Small Grains with Andy Linder and Jochum Wiersma; Interseeding Covers with Ed McNamara, TJ Kartes, Scott Haase, Matt Alford and Jerry Ackerman
Climate Change and Adaptive Management for Agriculture
A supplemental video for the 2021 Soil Health and Sustainability. Discussion of the impacts of climate change on agriculture and the adaptive management approach used by farmers and ranchers to adapt to climate change.
It's All About Carbon: Building a Thriving Soil Biological Community
A supplemental video for the 2021 Soil Health and Sustainability. Dennis Chessman of NRCS gives a presentation on Soil Carbon at the 2018 National No-Tillage Conference.
Soil Health and Sustainability for Field Staff - Blended Delivery Module 5: Ecological Management
Module 5 of 9 in the virtual portion of this blended training for 2021. This training is designed to provide field-level conservationists and resource soil scientists with an overall understanding of soil health and sustainability principles to guide them with recommendations for land management. The training can be tailored by landuse or specialty emphasis area using modules for cropland, pasture, range, eastern forests, sod and nursery crops, organic specialty crops, and/or salinity and sodicity. Upon completion of this course participants will be able to evaluate soil health, have an understanding of soil quality/soil health indicators and their relationship to onsite/offsite effects of management; communicate soil health concerns to employees, partners and land managers through conservation technical assistance and planning that complies with national policy; and apply soil health and sustainability principles and conservation technology holistically to supply safe, healthy and abundant food and fiber and sustain ecosystem functions on agricultural lands.
Soil Health and Sustainability for Field Staff - Blended Delivery Module 4: Resource Concerns
Module 4 of 9 in the virtual portion of this blended training for 2021. This training is designed to provide field-level conservationists and resource soil scientists with an overall understanding of soil health and sustainability principles to guide them with recommendations for land management. The training can be tailored by landuse or specialty emphasis area using modules for cropland, pasture, range, eastern forests, sod and nursery crops, organic specialty crops, and/or salinity and sodicity. Upon completion of this course participants will be able to evaluate soil health, have an understanding of soil quality/soil health indicators and their relationship to onsite/offsite effects of management; communicate soil health concerns to employees, partners and land managers through conservation technical assistance and planning that complies with national policy; and apply soil health and sustainability principles and conservation technology holistically to supply safe, healthy and abundant food and fiber and sustain ecosystem functions on agricultural lands.
Soil Health and Sustainability for Field Staff - Blended Delivery Module 2: Soil Biology
Module 2 of 9 in the virtual portion of this blended training for 2021. This training is designed to provide field-level conservationists and resource soil scientists with an overall understanding of soil health and sustainability principles to guide them with recommendations for land management. The training can be tailored by landuse or specialty emphasis area using modules for cropland, pasture, range, eastern forests, sod and nursery crops, organic specialty crops, and/or salinity and sodicity. Upon completion of this course participants will be able to evaluate soil health, have an understanding of soil quality/soil health indicators and their relationship to onsite/offsite effects of management; communicate soil health concerns to employees, partners and land managers through conservation technical assistance and planning that complies with national policy; and apply soil health and sustainability principles and conservation technology holistically to supply safe, healthy and abundant food and fiber and sustain ecosystem functions on agricultural lands.
Soil Health and Sustainability for Field Staff - Blended Delivery Module 1: Intro to Soil Health
Module 1 of 9 in the virtual portion of this blended training for 2021. This training is designed to provide field-level conservationists and resource soil scientists with an overall understanding of soil health and sustainability principles to guide them with recommendations for land management. The training can be tailored by landuse or specialty emphasis area using modules for cropland, pasture, range, eastern forests, sod and nursery crops, organic specialty crops, and/or salinity and sodicity. Upon completion of this course participants will be able to evaluate soil health, have an understanding of soil quality/soil health indicators and their relationship to onsite/offsite effects of management; communicate soil health concerns to employees, partners and land managers through conservation technical assistance and planning that complies with national policy; and apply soil health and sustainability principles and conservation technology holistically to supply safe, healthy and abundant food and fiber and sustain ecosystem functions on agricultural lands.
Latest Resources on Soil Health
Discovery Farms Programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota are excited to bring to you a virtual conference series this winter. Join us as we cover topics like water quality, soil health, climate change, and more!
Mitigating Climate Change Through the Soil Carbon Sponge
Discovery Farms Programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota are excited to bring to you a virtual conference series this winter. Join us as we cover topics like water quality, soil health, climate change, and more!
Core Competency: Soil Health Basics
This course will provide an introduction to soil health, dynamic soil properties, and sustainability principles to guide participants with recommendations for land management.
Nutrients, Soil Biology and Diversity in Agroecosystems
(Time: 1:55) Nutrients, Soil Biology and Diversity in Agroecosystems (2/3) webinars are prerequisites for the Minnesota Soil Health Field Day and Minnesota Soil Health Classroom Training to meet the Soil Health and Sustainability Training requirements of the Apprentice Conservation Planner and Certified Conservation Planner curricula.
Tech Talk Replay: Fertilization in a Soil Health System
Tech Talk Replay from August 24 at 1:00. Dr. Daniel Kaiser (UMN Extension) and Dorian Gatchel discuss fertilizer considerations in soil health systems.
Understanding Soil Quality Impacts on Soil Functions and Other Resource Concerns
(Time: 1:18) Participants learn about nutrient management and healthy soils, and the resulting effects on water quality through a study of mechanisms for increasing soil organic matter, providing habitat for soil microorganisms, and improving soil quality.
The Relevance of Soil Biology in Assessing Fertility and Soil Health
(Time:1:22:00) Participants will learn how soil biology directly and indirectly influence crop growth and nutrient cycling, along with methods for measuring biological activity in soil and interpreting soil respiration to understand nutrient availability. This webinar will provide information on how soil health can be measured in a lab, along with plant available nutrients and the importance of accounting for both the organic and inorganic forms of N, P, and K.
Bringing Your Tests to Life, Part 1
Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils discusses how to measure and determine what is being accomplished through regenerative farming practices.
Bringing Your Tests to Life, Part 2
Ryan Dennhardt of Ward Laboratories hosts a discussion for part 2 of "Bringing Your Tests to Life"
Tech Talk Replay: Equipment Modifications for Cover Crops
Tech Talk Replay from August 24 at 9:00 am. NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Kristin Brennan hosts a farmer panel including Brady Wulf of Starbuck, Ryan Hough of Barnesville, and David Miller of Red Lake to discuss equipment modifications they have made to facilitate the integration of a soil health system into their farming operations.
Tech Talk Replay: Evaluating Herbicide Plans in a Soil Health System
Tech Talk Replay from August 10, 2020. Liz Stahl, UMN Extension, reviews the latest research and information regarding the impacts of weed management decisions on the potential for successful establishment of cover crops, cover crop end uses, and the tradeoffs we can expect in our weed management program. Following the presentation is a facilitated discussion with crop advisors.
Soil Health Test for Monitoring Midwest Soils
As part of the Soil Health Nexus Digital Cafe Series, Eileen Kladivko from Purdue University presents “Soil Health Tests for Monitoring Midwest Soils”. This presentation was originally broadcast on April 29, 2020. Midwestern farmers, advisors, and conservation staff are wanting to use soil health tests, both in-field assessments and commercial laboratory tests, to assess and monitor soil health. Interpretations of commercial laboratory tests are difficult and not usually as clear-cut as we would hope. We will talk about how to best use these assessments and what their utility and limitations are, based on a study conducted in Indiana on cooperating farmers’ fields and Purdue research farms.
Soil Health & Sustainability for Field Staff Training Resources
A compilation of recorded webinars and other resources provided as part of the Soil Health and Sustainability for Field Staff training in 2019.
The Haney test tries to assess biological activity in your soil. The results include many different metrics representing microbial activity and food sources. Dr. Anna Cates, state soil health specialist, guides you through how the various measurements are done and how to interpret your results. Liz Stahl, Extension Educator in Crops, discusses U of MN research comparing results of the Haney Test to standard soil testing procedures, and the implications if one were to use the Haney test in determining fertilizer needs.
MN NRCS Soil Health Training Resources
(Time will vary) This is a set of 30+ soil health related training resources that is maintained by MN NRCS.
Disturbance, Grazing and Economics
(Time: 1:48) Disturbance, Grazing and Economics (3/3) webinars are prerequisites for the Minnesota Soil Health Field Day and Minnesota Soil Health Classroom Training to meet the Soil Health and Sustainability Training requirements of the Apprentice Conservation Planner and Certified Conservation Planner curricula.
(Time: 1:50) Introduction to soil health (1/3) webinars are prerequisites for the Minnesota Soil Health Field Day and Minnesota Soil Health Classroom Training to meet the Soil Health and Sustainability Training requirements of the Apprentice Conservation Planner and Certified Conservation Planner curricula.
Unlock the Secrets in the Soil
A series of 41 videos, mostly under five minutes each that discuss various soil health topics and applications of soil health principles.
Core NRCS Conservation Practices for Enhancing Soil Health
(Time: 1:10) This webinar focuses on how several core NRCS conservation practices can be used by farmers to improve soil health, linking them to the four soil health planning principles, i.e. minimizing disturbance, maximizing diversity, keeping a living root growing, and maintaining residue cover.
Soil Quality - the Foundation for Resource Management
(Time: 1:55) Participants in the webinar learn about Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation planning principles to improve soil health and the impact soil health has on other resource concerns, such as water quality.
(Time: 57:21) In this session, Dr. Jessica Gutknecht discusses soil health. When you think about the soil beneath your feet, or beneath your tractor, what does it mean for it to be healthy? What does it take for it to be healthy, and what are the results of those efforts? In this talk, we will explore the world below with a brief introduction to soils, how soil structure is built into a healthy soil, and some management options for building a healthy soil. We will also discuss the win-win of soil health for sustainable management and for adaptation to increasingly variable Minnesota weather and climate.
Soil Health and New Soil Testing Methods
(Time: 1:47:00) This webinar will give participants an overview of soil health and new soil testing tools for N-P-K that take into account the contribution of soil microbes, allowing producers to make informed nutrient management decisions, and it includes a discussion of the USDA NRCS Soil Health Nutrient Tool Project. Participants will learn how soil microbes control nutrient availability to plants, and how management can influence this dynamic. The importance of carbon in the soil ecosystem, C:N ratios, limitations of traditional soil tests, and new methods for measuring the contribution of soil microbes to nutrient availability and cycling will be discussed.
(Time: 19:45) Hal Weiser, USDA, discusses how to improve soil structure and soil biology to maximize crop production.
(Time 1:00:22) Our soils support 95 percent of all food production, and by 2060, our soils will be asked to give us as much food as we have consumed in the last 500 years. They filter our water. They are one of our most cost-effective reservoirs for sequestering carbon. They are our foundation for biodiversity. And they are vibrantly alive, teeming with 10,000 pounds of biological life in every acre. Yet in the last 150 years, we’ve lost half of the basic building block that makes soil productive. The societal and environmental costs of soil loss and degradation in the United States alone are now estimated to be as high as $85 billion every single year. Like any relationship, our living soil needs our tenderness. It’s time we changed everything we thought we knew about soil.
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- 3. Ability to use Current Wind and Water Erosion Prediction Tools
This training module focuses on the types of erosion and the resource concerns associated with erosion. It orients participants to the types and processes of soil erosion to prepare them to utilize the current soil erosion models - RUSLE2 and WEPS.
Water Erosion Prediction with RUSLE2
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.
Wind Erosion Prediction with WEPS
This course provides an overview of the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS), and instructions on how to use the WEPS model to estimate wind erosion.
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- 4. Knowledge of Tillage Systems Used in the State
Nutrient and Pest Management Equipment
This short course looks at application equipment you may see in corn and soybean producing areas.
This short course looks at harvesting equipment you may see in corn and soybean producing areas.
Seeding and Planting Equipment
This course will review seeding and planting equipment used in a corn/soybean setting.
A review of tools for estimating erosion, primary and secondary tillage equipment, and the effects of the equipment on erosion calculations, SCI and STIR.