Category Archives: blog

27Oct/23

Climate, Water, Equity, and Opportunity Workshop Recap

October 27, 2023climate, equity, Extension, Water

The North Central Region Water Network, The First American Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), and partners across the North Central Region hosted The Climate, Water, Equity, and Opportunity Workshop in October 2023 in Denver, Colorado. This event brought out nearly 70 professionals from land-grant institutions committed to integration, inclusion, and interconnection to explore strategy-based solutions to address climate-related vulnerabilities and inequities in marginalized communities.

29Sep/23

Highlighting Future Watershed Leaders

September 29, 2023Water, watershed leadership, watershed management

With the Fall 2023 semester in full swing, Extension professionals from the North Central Region and their summer interns have had time to share the work they’ve done through the Watershed Management Research and Outreach Undergraduate Internship Program this past summer.

27Sep/23

Past, Present, and Future of Nitrogen Smart Education

September 27, 2023Agriculture, Conservation, education, Extension, Water

On October 1st, Brad Carlson begins his 30th year working for the University of Minnesota Extension. The Extension Educator, who works statewide from the Mankato Regional Office, focuses on water quality issues related to agriculture, and more specifically, nitrates.

01Sep/23

New Resource Summarizes Current Data on the Financial Impacts of Conservation Agriculture

September 1, 2023Agriculture, Conservation, Economics, Soil Health

Farmers and ranchers are increasingly interested in conservation practices to strengthen soil health and improve water quality for present and future generations. Conservation practices can also help farmers improve their profitability in the face of increasinglyRead More…

30Aug/23

Final Agenda for Climate, Water, Equity and Opportunity Workshop Released

August 30, 2023climate, climate equity, equity, Extension, Water, water equity

The Climate, Water, Equity, and Opportunity Workshop is just six-weeks away! This unique workshop is taking place in downtown Denver, Colorado October 12–13 prior to the First American Land-Grant Consortium Annual Conference. The event will bring together land-grant colleagues from 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions across the region to discuss how we can better work together to address climate and water-related challenges facing our communities.

16Aug/23

Newly Created Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Hold Promise for the Future

August 16, 2023environmental justice, equity, green infrastructure

As the extreme weather increases, smoke from wildfires inundates the region, and the energy sector shifts from coal and renewables, environmental justice and the connection to water resources is an increasingly prominent discussion topic. Starting in 2019 with a Network mini-grant to explore the intersection of equity and green infrastructure, Lisa Merrifield, Community Development Specialist at the University of Illinois Extension and member of the Network Leadership Team, and partners across Extension began exploring ways to serve communities in Illinois and share knowledge across the region.

25Jul/23

Five farmers participating in the nutrient management exercise.

Interactive Nutrient Management Exercise gets Creative Juices Flowing in Nebraska and Beyond

July 25, 2023hands-on learning, manure, Soil Health

Leslie Johnson’s childhood home is only 4 miles as the crow flies from her current office where she works as Animal Manure Management Extension Educator at Nebraska Extension, based at the Haskell Ag Lab.

“I like to joke – I didn’t make it very far in life,” quips Johnson. But for her, she couldn’t be happier. She is close to her family farm and her family while contributing to her husband’s family farm and teaching and helping producers and ag professionals through her work with Nebraska Extension.

28Jun/23

Person holding clump of soil with earthworm

A One-Stop Shop for Research-based Resources about the Profitability of Conservation Ag Practices

June 28, 2023Agriculture, Conservation, Soil Health

With all the buzz about soil health, regenerative ag, and climate-smart, farmers want to know how practices such as cover crops and no-till pencil out. While data on the financial impacts of conservation practices are stillRead More…

28Jun/23

People looking at a geological map at Big Smokey Falls in Keshena Wisconsin

Land-Grant Colleagues to Gather in Denver This Fall to Discuss Climate, Water, and Equity

June 28, 2023climate, Extension, water equity

The North Central Region Water Network team is headed to Denver, Colorado this October for the Climate, Water, Equity, and Opportunity Workshop October 12-13th. The workshop is a unique opportunity to meet, connect and partner with land-grant colleagues – including colleagues from Tribal Colleges and Historically Black Land-Grant Universities within the North Central Region.

28Jun/23

Ron talking to farmers in front of a corn field

Making a Difference for Kansas Water Quality

June 28, 2023Agriculture, Conservation, Extension, Soil Health, Water Quality, watershed management

Some of us measure a career in terms of years. Ron Graber, extension watershed specialist for Kansas State University, uses a whole different yardstick.

“When we start a career, we hope to make a difference,” said Graber. For him, that success is measured in innovative partnerships, successful management strategies, and improved water quality.