December 11, 2009,
Ames, Iowa – Confinement site manure applicators and anyone
interested in learning about applying manure should plan to attend one of the
2010 two-hour workshops being offered in January and February by Iowa State
University (ISU) Extension.
December 11, 2009,
Ames, Iowa – Confinement site manure applicators and anyone
interested in learning about applying manure should plan to attend one of the
2010 two-hour workshops being offered in January and February by Iowa State
University (ISU) Extension. 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 66 confinement site applicator workshops will be
held in 59 Iowa counties. In addition, 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/2010confinementbrochure.pdf.
Workshop participants will learn about land application
rules, separation distances for land application of manure, newly proposed rules
regarding winter application of manure on snow-covered and frozen ground, and
case studies regarding manure spills. This is the twelfth year that ISU
Extension has offered the training in cooperation with Iowa Department of
Natural Resources.
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 .
