AMES, Iowa -- Confinement site manure applicators and anyone interested in learning about applying manure should plan to attend a two-hour workshop offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension in January or February 2009. There is no fee to attend the workshops, but certified applicators will need to pay certification fees to complete certification requirements.
“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.
A total of 82 workshops will be held in 75 different counties. A series of five dry manure certification meetings will be held in February. ISU Extension county offices have a complete list of workshop dates and locations, or view a list at: http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/certification/2009ConfineSP277.pdf
Workshop participants will learn about land application rules, separation distances for land application of manure, valuing and selling manure, road and equipment safety and will review ISU’s new fact sheet on manure management planning. This is the eleventh year that ISU Extension has offered the training in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
“By investing two hours of time each year, producers are much more aware and better educated about the way their actions affect not only their land and animals but how it affects worker safety, their neighbors, water quality and Iowa in general,” said Jeff Prier, DNR environmental specialist. “The workshop is a great way for anyone to learn about regulations and how we can work together.”
The workshop serves as initial certification for those applicators that are not currently certified, recertification for those renewing licenses, and continuing education for those applicators in their second or third year of their license. 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. Confinement site applicators must also pay the $25 annual education fee. All fees are submitted to Iowa DNR.
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. Training video tapes are available for viewing by contacting an ISU Extension county office and scheduling a viewing time. Applicators renewing their license cannot apply manure until they have met the certification requirements and submitted the correct forms and fees to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. If applicators can’t attend the training workshops, they can take the certification exam at their DNR regional field office to complete certification requirements.
Contact your ISU Extension county office for more information about the Manure Applicator Certification Program or visit: http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html
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