AMES, Iowa -- Typically the manure application season on Iowa farms begins in mid to late August depending how quickly the crops begin to mature. Since this is normally a busy time of year with county fairs, the Iowa State Fair and harvest preparations beginning, applicators are reminded that they must meet certification requirements prior to beginning land application of manure.
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.
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 also must pay a late fee.
“We estimate that nearly 400 confinement site applicators still need to attend training this year prior to land application to meet their yearly training requirements,” said Angie Rieck-Hinz, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension program specialist. Confinement site applicators who do not attend yearly training will be required to take an exam to become eligible to recertify.
Producers who do not own livestock, but who haul and land apply manure to their own fields from a confinement facility with more than 500 animal units also must be certified to apply manure as a confinement site applicator.
Commercial manure applicators must attend three hours of training, or take and pass an exam annually. Commercial applicators renewing 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.
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.
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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