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building bridges through regional conservation training
EPA and state regulatory agencies have identified thousands of watersheds as impaired for their intended uses. Watershed planning efforts have been initiated in most states to prioritize restoration efforts and create implementation timelines for nutrient load reduction. This trend will continue as environmental regulations continue to affect livestock producers of all sizes, particularly small and medium sized operations with more limited resources.
This initiative provides training to professionals that work with producers at both the state and regional level. The initiative serves Extension staff, private sector consultants, co-op agronomists, Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs), Technical Service Providers (TSPs), as well as state natural resources staff, Land/Soils and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) – the “information multipliers” that work with farmers on conservation issues.
In 2008, more than 1,000 conservation professionals participated in a conservation training needs assessment from Extension, NRCS, LCD/ SWCDs and the private sector in the Great Lakes States. A product of this needs assessment process was the launch of a regional conservation training website and database, developed by Extension and NRCS (http://conservation-training.wisc.edu).
This website hosts regional and state-based conservation training opportunities in the Great Lakes states, and is available to public sector conservation trainers across the region to help market their courses, register participants, take payment, and to track participation in continuing education for certification.
Courses topics include Integrated Pest Management, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning, grazing, and conservation planning. In 2008, new courses were offered in invasive plant management, wetland management, native pollinators, advanced forestry. In addition, two new on-line courses were offered on Confined Animal Feeding Operation permit requirements and advanced comprehensive nutrient management planning.
Contacts:
Ingrid West
University of Wisconsin-Extension
(608) 265-3727
iwest@wisc.edu
Kevin Erb
University of Wisconsin-Extension
(920) 391-4652
kevin.erb@ces.uwex.edu
keeping it in the root zone
This highly successful event truly reflects the value of multi-state collaboration and partnerships that the GLRWP supports. The purpose of the Great Lakes Manure Expo was to provide producers with practical and innovative ideas for land application of manure. By showcasing a systems approach to manure applications, the event focused on communicating the dollar value of manure nutrients, the cost associated with transporting them to the most appropriate fields, conservation practices that will impact retaining these nutrients, and odor control concerns. Although only ninety evaluations were returned (attendance was nearly 1300), respondents indicated that they were going to increase their frequency of: calculating hauling costs, replacing fertilizer with manure, manure testing, keeping better records, improving odor management and even crop producers taking manure from a livestock farm. The best comment indicating direct impact was from a large Michigan pork producer indicating, “as a result of the discussion at the field day the farm has decided to lay down 4-5 miles of pipe and purchase an Aerway and possibly a Cadman outfit (equipment used for incorporating manure)”, directly related to the Expo theme “keeping manure in the rootzone”. In addition, Michigan is not generally considered the “go to state” in the Midwest for agriculture. The tri-state Planning Committee felt that this event left participants with a strong positive impression of university Extension systems, specifically Michigan State. The Planning Committee included farmers, custom manure applicators, a private consultant, and university educators. The diversity of interests involved in planning was key to the event’s success. The Expo had many sponsors, including local farmers agri-businesses, and the Great Lakes Regional Water Program.
Contacts:
Natalie Rector
Michigan State University
(269) 781-0908
rector@msu.edu
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