By Daniel Andersen, Rachel Klein
Commercial manure applicators can attend annual training Jan. 6, 2015, to meet commercial manure applicator certification requirements. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will conduct Commercial Manure Applicator training from 9 a.m. to noon at 72 Iowa locations, two Wisconsin locations and one location in Minnesota. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
There is no fee for the workshop, but applicators must register by Dec. 30 with the ISU Extension and Outreach county office where they plan to attend. A complete list of workshop locations can be found on the Iowa Manure Management Action Group at www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/certification/macprogrampostcard.pdf
Commercial manure applicators needing to recertify and those wanting to certify for the first time should attend. All currently certified commercial manure applicator licenses will expire on March 1, 2015. Those wanting to renew must complete training requirements and submit forms and fees to the DNR prior to March 1 to avoid paying late fees. The law requires all commercial manure applicators attend three hours of training annually to meet certification requirements. Businesses that primarily truck or haul manure of any type or from any source also are required to meet certification requirements.
Those unable to attend the program on Jan. 6 should contact their ISU Extension and Outreach county office for information on a repeat showing of the program. A fee of $10 will be charged to view the training at an alternate time. If attending the workshop or watching the three-hour video is not convenient, commercial applicators may contact their local DNR field office to schedule an appointment to take the certification exam.
In addition to the commercial manure applicator training offered on Jan. 6, ISU Extension and Outreach will offer seven dry/solid manure workshops for commercial manure applicators in February 2015. Information regarding these workshops and locations can be found on the Iowa Manure Management Action Group website. While the program requirements are the same, this program includes information for applying dry/solid manure.
Source:iastate.edu