1. Conservation Tech
The goal of the Conservation Professional
Development and Training Program is to
provide research-based knowledge and skills
training to CCAs, agency staff (Extension,
NRCS, LCD, DNR, DATCP) and consultants
working with landowners to implement
conservation practices.

2. Conservation Tech

3. Conservation Tech
• Multi-state partnership
• Extension, NRCS, EPA
• Process: share resources, training and
expertise across state lines to create a
variety of training opportunities for partners

4. Research Based Focus
• Old model: Agency staff internal training
• New Model: Expose CCA, agency staff to
researchers and the latest information and
approaches, train all to same competency

5. Resource Sharing
• As budgets shrink, specialists are not replaced.
• State by state inventory of training and
resources being developed
• Distance technology + resource sharing
= a better trained workforce/more
conservation

6. Training Focus
• Traditional Conservation
– Conservation Plans, CNMPs, 590’s
• Emerging Issues
– Organic transition, Energy audits, CAPs
• Policy/staff skills
– Conflict management, sales skills

7. Conservation Planning
• Joint WI / MN Conservation Planning
Curriculum
– Core Conservation modules
– TSP/CCA Introduction to Cons Planning
– Conservation Planning modules

8. Core Conservation
• Integrating agency staff and UW resources
– Agency policy
• Cultural Resources, NEPA, state regulations
– Technical knowledge
• Agronomic
• Water Resources/Limnology
• BMP Effectiveness (Discovery Farms)
• Social Sciences / Rural Sociology

10. Impacts
• WI, MI, MN have trained >400 CNMP plan
writers
• 20+ businesses created/strengthened now
offering CNMP planning
• Farmers have greater access to trained
professionals

11. Impacts
Resource Concern Recognition
– “I see problems where I didn’t see them before. I
now have a new toolbox to work with my clients
even if they choose not to sign up for cost share -
we can work on small problems before they
become big ones.”
~ Wisconsin Conservation Planning TSP, Manitowoc County

12. Local Benefits
• Bringing experts from upper midwest to
Wisconsin to address local issues
– Tile Smoking/Preferential Flow (OH)
– Native Pollinators (OR)
– Hoop House Production (MI)
– Greenhouse gasses from livestock (MI, IL)

13. Opportunities
• Localized Delivery
– Using our programs to train local audiences
• Teaching/Research Sharing
– Sharing your expertise/experience to a
statewide/multi-state audience
– Technological Upgrades

14. Manure Hauler Education

15. What is it?
An integrated, multi-state educational program
that includes:
• Direct training & train-the trainer methods
• Leadership development/empowerment

16. What is it?
• Programs built on client need
• Market-based incentives
• Integration of research
• Specialists/County Staff as equal partners

17. Key History
• Realization that commercial manure
applicators were key to nutrient
management implementation (1992)
• Empowerment of ANRE Teams to allow
specialists and county staff to work together.

18. Key History
• Connections with Extension staff in other
states to share resources, needs, ideas
• Identification of key industry players and
grooming/encouraging them to take on
leadership roles

19. Key History
• Flexible, multi-state funding opportunity.
• Very healthy does of good luck and timing.

20. Extension involvement
• County/multi county meetings for
applicators
– “get your act together”

21. Extension involvement
• County/multi county meetings for
applicators
– “get your act together”
• “Road show” of same program at 3 locations
around the state
– “we need to work together”

22. Extension involvement
• County/multi county meetings for
applicators
– “get your act together”
• “Road show” of same program at 3 locations
around the state
– “we need to work together”
– 2-3 key industry people identified at each session

23. Extension involvement
After initial statewide meeting, exploratory
committee created - 3 primary priorities
• Road Weight issues
• Regulation
• Insurance

24. Extension involvement
3 primary priorities
• Road Weight issues
• Regulation
• Insurance
How can UWEX empower this group?

25. Meeting the Need
• Insurance
– Find resources
– Help create market based incentives (discounts
up to 50% for improving performance)

26. Meeting the Need
• Regulation
– Introduction to agencies, key players
– Empower to become involved

27. Meeting the Need
• Road Weight
– Connections with stakeholders
– Facilitate resource identification
• MN Road Research facility
• Industry

28. Training Program
• Evaluated/summarized other programs
• Identified barriers to successful
implementation
– Part time help/staff turnover
– Programs not meeting their needs

29. Training Program
• Brought in outside resources

30. Leadership Development
How do you get fierce competitors to work
together?

31. Listen to their needs

32. Listen to their needs
Cheryl Skjolaas asked
that I remind you this is
not a safe practice.

33. Common Goal that Excites
Side by side demos of agitators, injectors

34. Common Goal that Excites
Innovations-precision placement, frac tanks

35. Impacts
Active, independent stakeholder association
Growing demand for training and education
Increased compliance with spill reporting,
other regulations

36. Opportunities: Training
• Level 1 classes held
around the state.
• Live Action Manure
Spill Response Field
Days.

37. Opportunities: Training
• Employee Safety
Focused Videos
– Citizen Safety TV Spots
• Farm Tech Days Field
Demos

38. Opportunities: Expo
• North America’s Largest
Manure-Centric Farm Show
– Live action field demos of
equipment and technology,
educational sessions
• Draws farmers, applicators,
industry from US, Canada,
New Zealand
– August 2012
– DRFC, Sauk City, WI