Online Certification and CEU reporting now available, contact us for more information.

CEU OPPORTUNITIES:

NRCS training opportunity for Nutrient Management Specialists
The NRCS will be offering a training opportunity for Nutrient Management Specialists to receive 5 CEUs for Nutrient Management. This training session will be held at the Llano Estacado Museum at Wayland Baptist University, in Plainview, Texas. The training session is scheduled for Tuesday Nov. 10, 2009 and will begin at 9:30 am.

If you have any questions please contact:
Brandt Underwood, Conservation Agronomist
6565 Amarillo Blvd. West,
Amarillo, TX 79106
Office 806-468-8600 X114
Cell 806-344-4975
Email brandt.underwood@tx.usda.gov

Texas Watershed Planning Short Course
Registration is now open for the Texas Watershed Planning Short Course at the Mayan Ranch in Bandera, Texas on August 17-21, 2009. Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity! There are a limited number of seats available, so reserve your seat by registering today. This week-long course will familiarize participants with EPA's nine key elements of a watershed protection plan and the general principles of and tools for:
Building Partnerships
Assessing Watersheds
Identifying Solutions
Designing an Implementation Program.

For more information or to register online visit: http://watershedplanning.tamu.edu/. Registration closes August 3, 2009. Upon course completion, participants will receive CEUs from the National Registry of Environmental Professionals. TWRI has tentative plans to host three "Getting in Step" workshops this September 2009 at the following locations:
September 22 - Houston
September 23 - Austin
September 24 - Dallas
Getting In Step is a guide for conducting watershed outreach campaigns developed by Tetra Tech and funded by EPA. The goal of this workshop, lead by Tetra Tech, is to improve the effectiveness of nonpoint source (NPS) outreach in Texas to reduce nonpoint source and stormwater pollution, improve water quality on a priority watershed basis, and facilitate greater NPS TMDL and watershed-based plan implementation. Course Objectives include:
Increase outreach and social marketing knowledge and skills of attendees
Identify opportunities for agencies and organizations to partner to conduct and improve outreach efforts
Promote the adoption of social marketing and outcome-based methods to improve effectiveness of outreach efforts targeted at adults

Manure Management Planner Software Webcast -Live Webcast
The National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center holds monthly webcasts related to livestock production issues. The webcasts are approved for CCA CEUs or can be self reported by CPAgs and CPSS/Cs. On the day of the webcast use this link: http://www.extension.org/pages/Live_Webcast_Information. That will take you directly to the webcast and logging in.

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Certified Nutrient Management Specialists are required to obtain 5 CEUs in nutrient management or related areas per year. Related areas include soil fertility and water quality related to nutrient management. Activities eligible for CEUs are:

• Courses / Professional Meetings: (3 CEU maximum) Short courses, workshops, clinics, conferences, symposia, seminars, field days, AgriLife Extension county programs, scientific presentations, distance education.
• Self Directed Study: (3 CEU maximum) Scientific journals, Extension publications (reported by article, 1 CEU for 2,500 word article), books, videos, internet courses.
• Community Service: (3 CEU maximum) Elected to professional boards, service to city, town, and/or county related to nutrient management.
• Author of Educational Materials: (3 CEU maximum) Author of Research and/or Extension manuscripts, books, handbooks, and popular articles.

Proof of completion should be submitted to our office using the CEU reporting form. You may report one activity for each of the four categories per form. It is best to report the activity as soon after completion as possible. This will allow AgriLife Extension, Soil and Crop Sciences, to provide you with up to date CEU statements and information, via the web site http://nmp.tamu.edu as soon as possible.

Note: This form is subject to audit by NRCS/AgriLife Extension. If you are audited, you will be asked to provide documentation of your attendance. Failure to comply with an audit will result in a review of your certification and may result in revocation.

CEU Inquiries - Mark Atwell, hatwell@ag.tamu.edu
Certification Inquiries - Dr. Sam Feagley, sfeagley@ag.tamu.edu