Upcoming Trainings

We still have a few spots open in the following upcoming courses! For more information or to register, contact: training@wactd.org

Pest Management Considerations in Conservation Planning Course -

Aug 20-22

Training Location:

NRCS Plant Materials Center

4900 SE Terre View Dr

Pullman, WA 99163

Dates: 1:00pm on Tues, Aug 20th - Noon on Thurs, Aug 22nd

• Bring your laptop to training

• Be prepared for field visits and dress accordingly

• Recommend bringing a clipboard for in-the-field note taking

The following course prerequisites must be completed prior to the course:

For course specific questions, please contact Tracy Hanger at (509) 323-2974.

1. NRCS-NEDC-000019- Conservation Planning, Part I (estimated 1 hour)

2. NRCS-NEDC-000085- Pest Mgmt Track 2 Part 1, (estimated 1 hour)

3. NRCS-NEDC-000043- Pest Management and Water Quality Implications-No. 6 (estimated 1 hour) OR the older version NRCS-NEDC-000033 - Intro to Water Quality (estimated hours 8)

4. NRCS-NEDC-000258- Air Quality Resource Concerns (estimated 1 hour)

Endangered Species Act (ESA) -

Sept 4-5

Dates: 10am on Wed, Sept 4 - 3:30pm Thurs, Sept 5, 2019

Training Location:

NRCS Plant Materials Center

4900 SE Terre View Dr

Pullman, WA 99163

The following course prerequisite must be completed prior to the course:

1. Env. Evaluation Series No. 6: Planning for Endangered Species/Migratory Birds/Bald and Golden Eagles Special Environmental Concerns

For more information or to register, contact: training@wactd.org

Solid-Liquid Separation Alternatives for Manure Handling and Treatment Released

NRCS has announced the release of the anticipated new Chapter 4 of the NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Solid-Liquid Separation Alternatives for Manure Handling and Treatment. You can find a PDF of Chapter 4 HERE. Additional information and chapters can be found HERE.

Cultural Resources, Part 2 - Recap

The CTD and NRCS recently collaborated to bring the Cultural Resources Part 2 training, required for Certified-level planners, to Wenatchee. Here are some take-home messages from attendees:

"The training was one of the best I have been to in a while. The combination of science, 3 archaeologists, and cultural relevance, a native tribal member, brought the training to life. Seeing the cultural resources through the eyes of an archaeologist will help me know a little of what to look for on the landscape. Seeing the cultural resources through the eyes of the a native tribal member helps me know why I should care and the historical and current importance of these areas." - Jay M.

"I learned that each tribe has a contact person for cultural resource issues and that developing a good relationship with that person can expedite the process greatly. Yes, they have 30 days to review and most tribes don't respond within that limit, but if you have a good relationship with the tribal representative you could reduce that time to only a day and greatly reduce the time needed for a project to be implemented." - Michael H.

"I was blown away to find out how many cultural resources are out there you literally walk over (like burial grounds along a highway). Also, I had not even thought of "visual" aspects of things being culturally significant! It confirmed the necessary steps we all should take, regardless of funding, as it relates to publicly funded BMP implementation." - Bobbi L.

SoilWeb

Have you tried SoilWeb yet? With interfaces for desktop and smartphone, you can always be connected to your soil information whether in the office or in the field.

SoilWeb products can be used to access USDA-NCSS detailed soil survey data (SSURGO) for most of the United States. You can explore soil survey areas using an interactive Google map, and view detailed information about map units and their components. The app runs in your web browser and is compatible with desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Read on for a some history on how the SoilWeb app was developed, and recently redeveloped, to keep up with the demand for reliable in-the-field data:

How an Agriculture App that Spills the Dirt on Soil Got a Second Life

by Brandi Vincent, NextGov Staff Correspondent

SoilWeb 2.0, a revamped smartphone app from Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University of California at Davis’ Soil Resource Laboratory, translates the world’s largest database of soil information into a smart and simple interface that teaches people about...Read the full article here.

Training Plan Template

Confused about which courses are required for your desired certification level? Want to know approximately how many training hours it will take to complete your certification? Need a document to help plan the next year's training with your supervisor?

Check out the Training Plan Template recently created by the CTD! This all-in-one document has the information you need to help plan out your training needs, including requirements for NRCS Planner designations, as well as all three of the CTD Planner designations.

And as you complete trainings, don't forget to update the CTD Personnel Database, using the self-service portal! Store those completion certificates and track your training all in one place!

Have a question about conservation planning certification? Submit it to training@wactd.org, and see it featured in our next newsletter.

AgLearn Access

REMEMBER – The easiest way to avoid issues with your AgLearn account is to login frequently – at least once every 20 days.

Take the guess work out and set an Outlook calendar reminder to prompt you!

If you have an idea for the newsletter, a project or photo you'd like featured, or just want to say hello, email communications@wactd.org. We'd love to hear from you!