Summer 1999
DNR clarifies certification - not just for applicators
by Karen Grimes, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Who requires certification? "If you’re involved in removing or land applying manure from a confinement animal feeding operation, you may need to be certified," says Wayne Gieselman, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) animal feeding operation program coordinator. "Whether it’s hauling, applying, agitating, pumping, or just plain controlling the hose valve, certification is required unless the manure is from an operation that qualifies as a small operation." A small operation is defined as a confinement operation with an animal weight capacity of 400,000 pounds or less of cattle or 200,000 pounds or less of other animal species.
The certification requirements became part of Iowa law in 1998. Certification is required to make sure that people handling or applying manure have the training and knowledge needed to do so correctly, including knowing what to do if an accident or equipment failure causes a spill or other release of manure to the environment.
There are two types of certification: commercial and confinement site. Gieselman says commercial applicators are people who haul or apply manure for a fee, and include all employees of a commercial applicator who are directly involved in handling or applying manure. The deadline for commercial applicators to become certified was July 1, 1999. Commercial manure applicators can become certified by annually attending 3 hours of training or by passing an exam. See article in this issue for information on an upcoming commercial applicator satellite program.
Confinement site applicators include the owners or employees of confinement feeding operations who apply manure from these operations, as well as other persons who may receive or buy manure from these operations. Confinement site applicators must be certified by October 1, 1999. Confinement site manure applicators can become certified by attending 2 hours of annual training or by passing an exam. Individuals who are not directly involved in the handling or application of manure are not required to be certified. Click here for a list of ongoing confinement site applicator training workshops.
