Spring 1999
DNR Manure Certification Update
by Kevin Baskins, Information Specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
DES MOINES — Producers will be allowed to spread manure this spring without having a manure applicator certification or manure management plan, but will have to comply with new separation distances required by law (House File 2494) passed last year.
Final rules have not yet been adopted for the manure applicator certification program which impacts many producers with livestock confinement operations. It is anticipated that the certification process will begin sometime after the March 15, 1999 meeting of the Environmental Protection Commission, when adoption of rules will be considered. The DNR is working with Iowa State University to develop training for both commercial and site manure applicators.
Producers have until July 1, 1999 to submit new or revised manure management plans if they have had abbreviated plans in the past.
"Producers need to base their application rate on crop nitrogen use and follow environmentally sound practices," said Wayne Farrand, supervisor of the DNR’s Wastewater Section.
For additional information, please see "Who Needs to File Manure Plans" located in this issue.
Producers do need to incorporate or inject liquid manure within 24 hours if it is applied within 750 feet of a business, church, school, public use area or residence not owned by the confinement owner.
The 750-foot separation does not apply if:
- the manure is produced by a small animal feeding operation defined as less than 400,000 pounds of animal weight capacity for cattle or 200,000 pounds (1,333 head of finishing hogs) of animal weight capacity for other species; or
- the operator has a written waiver from the person owning a residence within 750 feet of where the manure application is taking place.
Producers are also reminded that existing law prohibits manure from being applied within 200 feet of a designated area unless it is injected or incorporated in 24 hours. A designated area is any known drinking water well, sinkhole or a cistern, abandoned well, unplugged agricultural drainage well, surface tile inlet leading to an agricultural drainage well, farm pond or a public or privately owned lake. The 200-foot requirement does not apply if permanent vegetation exists for 50 feet surrounding the designated area and that area is not used for manure application.
For more information, contact the following DNR offices:
- Jerry Rattenborg at Field Office 1 in Manchester, call (319) 927-2640,
- William Jinkinson at Field Office 2 in Mason City, call (515) 424-4073,
- Barbara Lynch at Field Office 3 in Spencer, call (712) 262-4177,
- Chuck Corell at Field Office 4 in Atlantic, call (712) 243-1934,
- Jim Stricker at Field Office 5 in Des Moines, call (515) 281-9069,
- Allan Goldberg at Field Office 6 in Washington, call (319) 653-2135, or
- Wayne Farrand at the Environmental Protection Division in Des Moines, call (515) 281-8877.
