Conservation Professional Training Program – Homepage
Conservation Professional Training Program
Your resource for conservation professional training
The Conservation Professional Training Program (CPTP) is a program of the UW–Madison Division of Extension providing conservation training courses to help you deliver smarter solutions to farmers and rural landowners. From introductory courses for new employees to advanced training for conservation advisors, we offer a diverse range of training to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed.
Upcoming In-Person Trainings
Basic Ag/Ag 101 Session 1
Date
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 (8:45am – 4pm)
Location
Hancock Ag Research Station, Hancock WI
Description
Basic Ag 101 is designed for new agency staff working with landowners. The first part, taught by experienced conservation professionals, is scheduled for July 14, 2026 (Hancock Ag Research Station in Central Wisconsin) will focus on techniques and strategies for communicating with/working with traditional and non-traditional (Amish/Mennonite, Tribal) landowners and provide a foundation in determining and assessing resource concerns in cropland (traditional/specialty), pasture and forested areas. Lunch is provided.
Part 2 (separate registration, Location and Date TBD in the Fall) will focus on understanding farm tillage equipment, soil erosion, and the components of a livestock operation.
Karst Geology in Northeast Wisconsin
Date
Monday, July 20, 2026, 9 am -3:15 pm
Location
Brown County STEM Innovation Center, 2019 Technology Way, Green Bay
Description
This one-day training is designed to dig deeper into the geology and groundwater flow in Northeast Wisconsin, discuss the basics and limitations of depth to bedrock and karst mapping, and provide real case studies of groundwater concerns and examples of local approaches to concerns. The afternoon field session includes a quarry visit and/or site visits to discuss methods of sinkhole and karst feature identification.
The audience for this agency training is DNR drinking water staff, DNR CAFO, runoff, nonpoint, spills R&R staff, LWCD/NRCS staff and consultants in Karst areas. DNR attendees will be direct billed. NRCS staff will be direct billed (confirm approval with supervisor). The registration fee of $30/person covers the training and lunch. ($40 if after 4 pm Friday, July 10). The event will start at the Brown County STEM Innovation Center (located at 2019 Technology Way, Green Bay, on the UW-Green Bay campus). After classroom session and lunch, participants will drive/carpool to the field sites and quarry.
Resources
The Division of Extension is a part of the State Inter-agency Training Committee, or SITCOM, which coordinates the efforts of various state agencies and organizations to provide conservation professionals the best training possible.
Looking for information on what CPTP conservation training courses and events you have taken in the past? You’ve come to the right place. Email our team and we will let you know. Easy as that.
Events Calendar
Crops & Soils Events
Dairy Events
Interested in learning more about our work and how we can help meet your goals? Get in touch with us!
Kevin Erb
Distinguished Conservation Professional Training Program Manager
(920) 391-4652
kevin.erb@wisc.edu
