AMES, Iowa -- Confinement site manure applicators should plan to attend a two-hour continuing education workshop offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension in January or February 2007 to maintain applicator certification requirements. A total of 77 workshops will be held in 69 counties. A series of five dry poultry manure certification meetings will be held in February. Contact your local ISU Extension County Office for a list of workshop dates and locations, or view a list of workshops at:  http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/certification/07confdates.html

“Iowa law requires confinement site manure applicators to attend two hours of continuing education each year of their three-year certification period or take and pass an exam once every three years,” said Angela Rieck-Hinz, ISU Extension program specialist and coordinator of the manure applicator certification program.

If applicators fail to get the two hours of continuing education each year, they will be required to pass a written exam to be eligible to recertify in 2007. After passing the exam, confinement site applicator can become recertified by taking and passing a second exam on different day, or by attending a two hour workshops scheduled for January or February 2007.

During the workshop applicators will learn about manure application rules, record keeping requirements, phosphorus index manure plans, soil sampling requirements and the agronomic issues of using manure.

The workshop will also serve as initial certification for those applicants who are not currently certified. If a confinement livestock operation has more than 500 animal units the operator must be certified to apply manure unless the manure is applied by a commercial manure applicator. 

The certification fee is $100 for a three-year certificate. In addition applicators will pay an annual education fee of $25. There is no fee to attend a workshop. Due to uniform certification deadlines, applicators are encouraged to attend workshops prior to March 1 to avoid being assessed a late fee of $12.50.

If you are renewing your license, you cannot apply manure until you have met the certification requirements and submitted the correct forms and fees to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. If you can’t attend a workshop, you need to schedule a time at your local ISU County Extension Office to watch the training videotape.  Due to scheduling conflicts, many Extension Offices will no longer accept walk-in appointments to watch these tapes.

If you have questions about the Manure Applicator Certification Program contact your local ISU Extension County Office or go to:

http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html

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