Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
5/24/99
Contacts:
Jim Johnson, Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources,
(515) 294-4923
Angela Rieck-Hinz, Extension Agronomy, (515) 294-9590
Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5168
Confinement Site Manure Applicators Must Be Certified by Oct. 1
AMES, Iowa--Confinement site manure applicators must become certified by Oct. 1, 1999, under a new law passed by the Iowa Legislature. As a result, Iowa State University Extension is offering certification workshops in most counties.
By attending a workshop and paying a certification fee to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), manure applicators will become certified. The other option to attending a workshop is to pass a written exam.
Under Iowa law, a confinement site manure applicator is "a person who applies manure stored at a confinement site other than a commercial manure applicator," according to Angela Rieck-Hinz, ISU Extension program specialist.
"Full-time employees of confinement feeding operations whose primary responsibility is manure application fall under this definition as do individual livestock producers. A confinement feeding operation is defined as one in which animals are confined to totally roofed areas," said Rieck-Hinz. "Under the definition, such operations must exceed animal weight capacity of 200,000 pounds (about 1,333 market hogs) for animals other than bovine, and exceed 400,000 pounds for beef or dairy animals to require certification."
During the two-hour workshop, which must be attended for the full length of time, applicators will learn what they need to know to become certified by the DNR.
ISU Extension staff have developed a notebook to help prepare those who opt for a written exam. "Confinement Site Manure Applicator Certification Study Guide," Pm-1779, is available for $20 from any county extension office or by calling Extension Distribution at (515) 294-5247.
After producers meet the initial certification requirement, valid for three years, they may maintain their certification in following years by simply attending two hours ofcontinuing instruction each year or taking an exam every three years.
For more information about dates and locations of the county certification meetings, contact your local ISU County Extension Office. In addition, information is available on ISU's Web site at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.