Aquaculture basics presented by field-based, farmer-serving university and producer-organization partners for NRCS staff to better support aquaculture producers. This session will covers aquatic animal nutrition and health, hatchery and farm management, water quality control, and system design.

This webinar will provide an in depth look at aeration technologies used to maintain pumpable manure in deep pits beneath dairy and beef slatted floor facilities. The session will cover the motivation behind adopting aeration systems, including challenges with agitation, high solids manure, hydrogen sulfide risks, and confined space safety concerns. Drawing from New York installations and ongoing Cornell PRO DAIRY research, the presentation will discuss system design considerations, operational lessons learned, impacts on manure handling logistics, and observed improvements in barn air quality. Practical guidance, common pitfalls, and resources for further learning will be included to support NRCS engineers working with producers considering these systems.
Introduce a novel aeration-based approach for maintaining pumpable manure in deep pits beneath dairy and beef slatted floor facilities. Highlight ongoing Cornell PRO DAIRY research on system performance in beef operations and share updated findings, operational considerations, and safety implications.

Livestock production basics presented by field-based, farmer-serving university and producer-organization partners for NRCS staff to better support livestock producers. This session will covers cervid and camelid nutrition and body condition, reproduction, health and biosecurity, animal and waste facilities, management and handling practices.

Discover how successful teams rely on flexible collaboration and ingenuity to overcome adversity, and the essential element to help your team win!

Effective mentorship is a leadership skill that strengthens people, programs, and organizations. This webinar explores practical coaching and mentoring strategies Extension professionals can use to support colleagues, develop confidence, and build long-term capacity. Participants will reflect on their mentoring approach and leave with tools they can apply immediately in real-world Extension settings.

This workshop on active listening gives participants practical tools to notice, interpret, and respond to others with greater clarity. It also guides them in applying these skills to strengthen communication, trust, and collaboration in both personal relationships and professional environments.

This session will explore multiple sources of conflict and identify tools to prevent or management conflict that arises from these sources.

Dr. Brady Self (Professor and Extension Forestry Coordinator – Mississippi State University) will discuss herbicide damage recognition, impacts, and ways to prevent it in forest settings.

Jason Sharman, Vitalitree, bugwood.org

Herbicides are a commonly used tool to manage unwanted vegetation across urban and forested landscapes. However, if used improperly or under the wrong conditions, damage can occur to non-target species causing a wide variety of symptoms including abnormal growth patterns, leaf discoloration, wilt, epicormic sprouting, and dieback. But what can be done about herbicide damage and how can it be best recognized or diagnosed? In this webinar, Dr. Brady Self will discuss herbicide damage in forest settings including its impacts and ways to prevent it.

Dr. Steve Jeffers (Professor and Extension Specialist – Clemson University) will discuss the biology, impact, and management of phytophthora in both forested and urban settings.

Phytophthora root rot - Edward L. Barnard, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, bugwood.org

Phytophthora, derived from Greek and meaning “plant destroyer,” is among the most destructive plant pathogens worldwide. But what exactly is it? Phytophthora is a genus of fungi-like organisms called oomycetes, or water molds, responsible for a wide range of plant problems including wilts, cankers, blights, root rots, and even mortality in severe cases. It can be found impacting plants in both forests and urban settings with notable species including P. cinnamomi (root rot), P. infestans (potato blight), and P. ramorum (sudden oak death). In this webinar, Dr. Steve Jeffers will cover Phytophthora biology, its impacts, and potential management strategies.