AMES, Iowa -- Manure applicators who haul or handle manure from a confinement site facility with more than 500 animal units and commercial manure applicators are required by Iowa law to be certified to apply manure in Iowa.
“My best estimate based on historical numbers of certified applicators is somewhere between 300-800 applicators still need to attend training this year to maintain or renew their licenses to apply manure before the fall application season,” says Angie Rieck-Hinz, Extension program specialist.
Confinement site applicators must attend two hours of annual training to maintain their three-year license. Applicators must pay certification and education fees. After March 1 of the current year, applicators who are renewing their certificates must also pay a late fee.
Commercial manure applicators must attend three hours of training or take and pass an exam annually. Commercial applicators who need to renew their licenses after March 1 will need to pay a late fee in addition to the certification fee and education fee.
Commercial manure applicators are reminded they must be associated with a commercial manure service.
“Although manure applicators sometimes complain about having to take annual training, they also say that the training has helped them respond quickly and well to a spill, or learn about law changes that affect their business,” said Jen Christian, DNR environmental specialist.
Commercial and confinement site applicators may meet certification requirements by scheduling an appointment with their local ISU Extension county office to watch a videotape or by contacting their local DNR field office to schedule an appointment to take the certification exam.
A Dry Manure Application Field Day, scheduled for Aug. 16 near Clarion will meet the certification training requirements for both commercial and confinement site manure applicators. For more information regarding this field day, please call the Wright County Extension Office at (515) 532-3453.
For more information about manure applicator certification requirements contact your local county extension office, visit the Manure Applicator Certification Web page at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html or contact the regional DNR field office.
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