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 the identified Mondays. Miss a session you were interested in? We record every presentations and make replays available in the Online Learning section of the TTCP website.
These webinars are delivered using Microsoft Teams (Need help?)
TTCP
A listing of the 2025 sessions and replay can be found on the 2025 Tech Talk page.
2026 Scheduled Sessions
| Date | Topic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| January 12 | TTCP Onboarding | This training will provide employees with an orientation to the Technical Training and Certification Program. Participants will become familiar with the training resources that are available to them through TTCP. In addition, participants will start to develop their own personalized learning plan. Those who plan to attend should bring your job description to the training and ask around to find out the five most commonly used conservation practices in your work area. |
| January 26 | CPS 528 Grazing Management Updates | Jeff Duchene, State Grazing Lands Specialist (NRCS), reviews the 528 Grazing Management practice updates:
|
| February 2 | Endangered Species Act Pesticide Labels: how and where do conservation professionals fit in? | Neal Kittelson (MDA) will present on the EPA's updated pesticide labels that include new Endangered Species Act protections. Conservation professionals may play a key role in helping agricultural producers navigate compliance. This presentation will explore the intersection of pesticide regulation and conservation, highlighting how future and existing land management practices and conservation programs can contribute to meeting ESA mitigation requirements. Recent changes to pesticide labeling introduce conservation practices as options to fulfill mitigation requirements related to spray drift and runoff/erosion. This talk will provide insights into EPA’s new mitigation frameworks, including the use of online tools like Bulletins Live! Two and EPA's Mitigation Menu website, and how programs like NRCS's EQIP and the MDA's Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program can support compliance. The presentation will emphasize the importance of technical assistance, proactive planning, and thorough documentation, while showing how conservation professionals can be valuable partners in supporting ESA compliance efforts. |
| February 9 | Grazing Contingency Planning | In this session Jeff Duchene, State Grazing Lands Specialist (NRCS), will discuss managing pastures during drought conditions, managing excessively wet weather, and managing sacrificial areas. |
| February 23 | Winter Camelina: A New Winter Annual Oilseed Crop for Economic and Environmental Benefit | Matt Leavitt (UMN Forever Green) and Anna Teeter (Cargill) |
| March 2 | Conservation Planner Certification | What is a certified conservation planner and why is it important? Join this session hosted by your Technical Training and Certification Program to learn about becoming a Level 1, 2, or 3 conservation planner and upcoming training opportunities to help you meet your goals. |
| March 9 | Basic Conservation Information with Livestock & Manure | Join Matt Robert, Agricultural Engineer (NRCS), for a session about the characteristics of manure and its importance in conservation planning. The webinar will talk about the different livestock manure and the importance of knowing fundamental information about the manure to assist the producer in finding the best way to handle, store and land apply manure. |
| March 16 | Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) 10 Year Update Overview | Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy, originally published in 2014, was recently updated and republished. During this session Matt Drewitz, Research Scientist (MPCA), will review progress on the existing strategy and provide an overview of updated plan. |
| March 23 | Geology | Description coming soon! |
| April 13 | Farm Economics - Overview | This session provides and overview of whole farm economics with Keith Olander (AgCentric). Historical context, challenges on the farm, the influence of government payments, and planning for the 2026 farm year will be covered. |
| April 20 | Soil Fertility Management on Pasture | Education Educators Troy Salzer and Tarah Young (UMN Extension) discuss the basics of pasture soil fertility including soil testing, plant nutrient needs, and liming. |
| May 11 | Farm Economics - Crops | Keith Olander (AgCentric) breaks down various crop enterprises, input costs, break evens, and the 2026 planning on cost of production. |
| May 18 | Minnesota Core Competency Conservation Training | Join this session for a discussion with your Technical Training and Certification Program trainers on the self paced training modules available on the Minnesota Core Competency Conservation (MNC3) website, including:
We’ll cover how you can access these trainings and what you can expect to get out of them. |
| June 15 | Farm Economics - Livestock | Join Keith Olander (AgCentric) for a discussion on livestock economics including profitability, historical context, and planning for 2026 for various livestock enterprises. |
| July 13 | Job Approval Authority | What is Job Approval Authority? Why is it important? How do I get it? Join your Technical Training and Certification Program trainers in this session to learn about the background of Job Approval Authority (JAA) and how it is used in today’s conservation environment. Examples of ecological and engineering JAA will be reviewed, including controlling factors and job classes. Bring your questions! |
| September 21 | Individual Development Plan Tool | Your Technical Training and Certification Program (TTCP) utilizes the Individual Development Plan (IDP) Tool in eLINK to display your Job Approval Authority (JAA) and other credentials, help track your training history, and identify your training needs. Join this session to gain some insight into how TTCP uses the IDP tool to prioritize local training needs to develop an annual training plan. Time will be dedicated for password resets, trouble shooting, and helping attendees complete their IDPs. |
| November 16 | Technical Training Resources | Join this session to hear from your Technical Training and Certification Program trainers about the smorgasbord of technical training resources available to you. We will explore the Training Calendar, Online Learning, Training Tracks and Series, and many other topics. Bring your training needs and discover the possibilities! |
If you would like to suggest a topic, please contact us.
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