This webinar will focus on the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program, a new conservation initiative aimed at helping farmers put their land back on a sustainable path forward. The discussion will highlight how the program is designed to support regenerative farming practices that rebuild soil health, strengthen farm resilience, and promote the production of healthier food. Webinar speakers will provide a general overview of the pilot program, including NRCS’s role in offering technical and financial assistance to producers, and discuss how the program fits within broader conservation and soil health goals. This presentation was originally broadcast on April 17, 2026. Continue reading “NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program”
Nutrient Management Solutions for Small Farms
This webinar will examine practical nutrient management strategies tailored for small and diversified farms. Presenters will explore how organic operations can meet National Organic Program (NOP) requirements for manure, compost use, and soil fertility, followed by a look at the real‑world challenges facing small-acreage livestock properties. We will discuss additional considerations and solutions for effective nutrient stewardship on small farms. Whether you’re a producer, educator, conservation professional, or simply looking to improve land management on limited acreage, this session will offer actionable insights to support sustainable and environmentally sound practices. This presentation was originally broadcast on March 20, 2026. Continue reading “Nutrient Management Solutions for Small Farms”
Pathogens Beyond the Animal: Environmental Drivers of Disease in Livestock Systems
This webinar examines the role of the environment in livestock disease risk and surveillance. Presentations will explore the association between manure handling activities and PRRSV outbreaks in wean-to-market swine, as well as the use of environmental sampling to better understand pathogen distribution on HPAIv-infected egg layer farms. Together, these studies highlight how environmental data can inform biosecurity practices, disease monitoring, and future research applications in livestock production systems. This presentation was originally broadcast on February 20, 2026. Continue reading “Pathogens Beyond the Animal: Environmental Drivers of Disease in Livestock Systems”
Clear Communication, Safer Operations: Why Multilingual Manure Management and Farm Safety Training Matters
This webinar discusses how prioritizing Spanish-language and culturally informed training, agricultural operations can improve clarity, strengthen worker confidence, enhance environmental stewardship, and foster a safer, more resilient workforce. This presentation was originally broadcast on January 23, 2026. Continue reading “Clear Communication, Safer Operations: Why Multilingual Manure Management and Farm Safety Training Matters”
A view from above – application of drones and remote sensing for air and water quality measures around livestock farms
Aerial photos of farms and farming practices are becoming easier to find and collect. But drones and satellites can provide more than pretty pictures. In this webinar, the three speakers will share applications of drones and remote sensing for air and water quality measures around livestock farms. Dirk Charlson will share his simple approach to collecting drone imagery, and the range of opportunities for analyzing images and mapping practices. Nesli Akdeniz has collected air quality measures in pasture systems with drones. Finally, Becca Muenich has used remote sensing to examine land application practices. While it may seem like these applications are flying by faster than we can see, the speakers will help ground us with their experience. This presentation was originally broadcast on December 12, 2025. Continue reading “A view from above – application of drones and remote sensing for air and water quality measures around livestock farms”
A Systems-Approach to Understanding the Nutrient Cycle Across the Pork Ecosystem
This webinar explores how an integrated, systems-based understanding of the nutrient cycle can drive more sustainable pork production. By examining both feed utilization within the animal and nutrient management beyond the barn, the discussion connects nutritional strategies and manure treatment technologies as key components of the pork ecosystem. Presenters will highlight advances in precision feeding, enzyme use, and feed processing that improve nutrient efficiency and reduce environmental impacts, as well as research optimizing zinc inclusion to balance performance and sustainability. This presentation was originally broadcast on November 14, 2025. Continue reading “A Systems-Approach to Understanding the Nutrient Cycle Across the Pork Ecosystem”
Rethinking Manure Management with 360Rain: Expanding Application Windows and Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency
This webinar will explore how the 360Rain autonomous irrigation system is being used as a new tool for manure management. By enabling in-season manure application, 360Rain opens opportunities to better match nitrogen availability with crop uptake, reduce manure storage time (and associated methane emissions), and even provide supplemental irrigation. This presentation was originally broadcast on September 26, 2025. Continue reading “Rethinking Manure Management with 360Rain: Expanding Application Windows and Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency”
A USDA multi-location project monitoring ammonia deposition near animal production sites
Animals excrete a lot of nitrogen as they grow with a large fraction escaping into the air as ammonia. What happens to that ammonia, and can we predict how that excess nitrogen might be beneficial to nearby crop production? This webinar will present pilot-scale research for manure and food waste treatment. This presentation was originally broadcast on May 16, 2025. Continue reading “A USDA multi-location project monitoring ammonia deposition near animal production sites”
Application of Manure on Growing Crops
Scheduling conflicts, equipment breakdowns, and wet field conditions can wreak havoc on spring manure application and planting schedules. This webinar will provide valuable insights into maximizing the efficiency and timing of manure application for growing crops, especially corn. By exploring innovative techniques for liquid manure application and the potential for in-season poultry litter application, participants will learn possible ways to navigate challenges in crop management while ensuring nutrient efficiency and maintaining crop yield and quality. This presentation was originally broadcast on January 17, 2025. Continue reading “Application of Manure on Growing Crops”
Responding to PFAS on Dairy Farms in Maine
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent in the environment and in humans. While agriculture is not the source of PFAS, feed and animal production are potential transfer points. This webinar shares experiences from Maine, where PFAS was detected in soil, feed, milk, and meat and initiated a multi-pronged response and remediation approach from multiple agencies, on multiple farms. Our speakers will share the important distinctions between PFAS chemicals, short- and long-term ramifications for local farms, and remediation techniques – both implementation and research scale. This presentation was originally broadcast on December 13, 2024. Continue reading “Responding to PFAS on Dairy Farms in Maine”