The course will provide hands-on practice on the use of GeoAgro CPlanner, a software application that allows users outside the USDA network to connect to the USDA NRCS  National Conservation Planning database, develop conservation planning activities, and report electronically to the NRCS.

Who should attend:

Technical Service Providers, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other USDA NRCS Conservation Partners. It's specially targeted for users who are working with USDA NRCS conservation plans, outside the USDA NRCS network. It's not required to have computer expertise, but familiarity with basic computer operation is recommended.

Goals

At the end of the course, Participants will be able to apply GeoAgro CPlanner in their conservation planning activities:

• Use an account to access USDA systems (how to get and maintain a level 2 eAuthentication account). At the beginning of the course, participants will validate their existing account, obtain a new one or solve issues with their existing one.
• Learn how TSPs, Conservation Districts and other Conservation Partners exchange information with NRCS Field Offices in conservation planning activities
• Learn how to request permission to access a producer's information ('Customer Folder').
• Learn how a conservation plan land unit boundaries are exported to a GIS. In a complementary course, GIS & mapping features are reviewed
• Review contents of a customer folder and export to different formats, GIS, excel, xml.
• Access a customer's information, create land units, plans and practices, and report to the NRCS.
• Learn how to exchange different type of planning documents (e.g.: Conservation Activity Plans, CNMPs), pictures, job specs, and other documention with the Field Office electronically.
• Review resources to support Conservation Partners (TSPs, Conservation Districts) work, including Conservation Activity Plans guidelines, standard forms, templates, and other available resources

The exercises will be developed using the Course Participants' producer information, or sample folders in their State. Permissions to Producer's Data will be granted by the corresponding State Office or Field Office, to go through a real planning scenario.

The course will include the following topics:

Week 1. Introduction – Sharing producers information with their NRCS field offices.

• Review the process of getting access to USDA systems (how to get and maintain a level 2 eAuthentication account). At the beginning of the course, participants will validate their existing account, obtain a new one or solve issues with their existing one.
•  What is the National Conservation Planning Database.
• How is a Producer's information stored in a Customer folder.
• How are permissions requested to access a customer folder - From CPA70 - different permission levels.
• Accessing your customer folder information using GeoAgro CPlanner.
• Common issues in getting a level 2 eauth account and how to address it.
• Common issues in getting permissions to access a customer folder and how to address it.

Week 2. Reviewing a Customer Folder and adding planning information

• Basic information contained in a customer folder / minimum information that should be provided by the Field Office
• Different view layouts
• Printing, Exporting to Excel & to GIS
• Common data issues with Customer folder information and how to address them (empty folders, more than one conservation plan, missing or different land unit boundaries, etc)
• Creating plans, land units and practices
• Entering a practice schedule
• Managing data items - NRCS Program, Narratives, recurrent practices, etc.

Week 3. Resources for NRCS Conservation Partners & Exchanging documents with the field office 

• Conservation Activity Plans guidelines
• Standard forms & templates
• GIS resources - mapping standards, GIS layers, etc. (In a complementary course, GIS & mapping features are reviewed)
• Document templates for Conservation Activity Plans, CNMPs, and other planning documents
• Standard directories for organizing documents
• Sending GIS files, pictures, and other supporting information
• Sharing files of commonly used models - MMP, P-index, RUSLE2, or others
• Common issues with document folders and how to address them (e.g.: what if document folders are not available)

Note: The exercises will be hands-on, using Course Participants' producer information, or sample folders in their State. Permissions to Producer's Data will be granted by the corresponding State Office or Field Office, to go through a real planning scenario. Thus, Topic 1 will be extended during a 2-week period, to allow for sufficient time to grant permissions/troubleshoot possible access issues, and Topics 2 and 3 will be assigned 1 week each.

Participants can follow this online course from their desktop. Using various online resources (webinars, videos, tutorials, quizzes), they build skills working on sample farm/land data and exchanging information and experiences with facilitators and other participants.

The course is developed during 3 weeks, with an estimated dedication of 2 hours per week, for a total of 6 hours. During these 4 weeks, facilitators and participants will share:

• An Introductory 1 hour webinar, which will provide a course overview and how the online training works.
• Activities & Quizzes: the course will guide you through the learning process, through hands-on activities, and brief quizzes to summarize each topic, that participants can review in their own time.
• Online interaction: We'll use communication tools, such as email, and forums where participants and tutors can discuss topics, learn from others experiences or resolve issues.

What are the benefits of this methodology?

• Convenient access to instructor-led online training courses — no need to travel.
• Hands-on practice - Class time is divided between presentations and hands-on exercises. 
• Ability to ask questions, get answers,  participate in group activities and interact with the instructor and other participants through chats and forums.
• Downloadable course materials, exercise data, and a course certificate of completion.

 Software that will be used:

Course exercises will be developed using GeoAgro CPlanner, a software tool specifically designed to get connected with the NRCS and report conservation planning activities. (Learn more about GeoAgro CPlanner... )

Pre-requisite: USDA level 2 eauthentication account

CPlanner uses the USDA authentication server to validate users. As a Pre-requisite for this course, you will need to:

• Be an authorized NRCS Conservation Partner, such as a Certified Technical Service Provider, or S&W Conservation District.
• Have a USDA level 2 eauthentication account or be in the process of obtaining it. (learn more about level 2 eauth accounts)

Sample Farm data:

The exercises will be developed using the Course Participants' producer information, or sample folders in their State. Permissions to Producer's Data will be granted by the corresponding State Office or Field Office, to go through a real planning scenario.