By Daniel Andersen, Rachel Kennedy, and Melissa McEnany–Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
AMES, Iowa — Confinement site manure applicators and anyone interested in learning about manure issues should plan to attend a two-hour workshop offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in January or February 2021. These workshops are offered in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, registration is required. No walk-ins allowed. There is no fee to attend the workshops, but 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 Dan Andersen, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State University and coordinator of the manure applicator certification program.
A total of 64 counties will participate in the confinement site manure applicator workshops. In addition, a series of six dry/solid manure applicator certification meetings will be held in February. These meetings are tailored toward dry/solid manure for either Commercial or Confinement Site manure applicators. ISU Extension and Outreach county offices have a complete list of workshop dates and locations, or view a list online.
The workshops serve as initial certification for those applicators who are not currently certified, recertification for those renewing licenses, and continuing education for those applicators in their second or third year of their license.
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 for those who are re-certifying. Those unable to attend one of the workshops need to schedule time with their ISU Extension and Outreach county office to watch the training video. Due to scheduling conflicts, extension offices will no longer accept walk-in appointments to watch these videos but do offer scheduled dates and times to provide this training. If you can’t attend training during one of the scheduled reshow dates at your county extension office, you will be charged a $10 fee to view the training at your convenience.
If attending the workshops or watching the two-hour training video is not convenient, confinement site manure applicators may contact their local DNR field office to schedule an appointment to take the certification exam to meet certification requirements.
Applicators also have another option, online certification, through which an applicator can take their training online at DNR MAC eLearning site at https://elearning-dnr.iowa.gov/. The applicator will need to sign-in and get an A&A account.
Contact your ISU Extension county office for more information about the Manure Applicator Certification Program or visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/immag/confinement-site-applicators.