By Stanley (Jay) Solomon and Jenna Braasch
Livestock operations are strengthened by having certified individuals on staff. Certification helps minimize environmental impacts through increased awareness of regulations and proper manure nutrient management. Anyone responsible for managing a facility can benefit from increasing their knowledge and expertise.
Staff can get certified through one of University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s 2026 Certified Livestock Manager Training Workshops, kicking off on Feb. 3 in Effingham. Seven locations around the state will host training workshops that meet the Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act training requirements for Illinois livestock managers.
Depending on the size of an operation, livestock manager training certification is required for many Illinois production livestock facilities. A certified livestock manager is a full-time employee who is familiar with the farm's manure management system and is located within one hour's driving distance of the farm, accessible by phone when needed. Find facility and size requirements described online at go.illinois.edu/CLMT.
Pre-registration is required to attend an in-person workshop. Class size is limited in some locations due to space constraints.
Source : illinois.edu