Manure applicator certification workshops are scheduled for January and February 2003. Manure applicators who need to maintain or renew their certificates, or who need to be certified for the first time should contact their local extension office for details on scheduled workshops. For more details about the manure applicator certification program please access the MAC web page at: http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html

Commercial Manure Applicators
Currently, all certified commercial manure applicators have certificates that will expire on December 31, 2002. Commercial applicators have a grace period from January 1 to March 1 to apply manure without a current certificate. Previously certified commercial applicators must attend training and submit forms and fees prior to March 1 to avoid paying a late fee of $12.50 for their certificates. Commercial applicators are highly encouraged to fulfill their annual training requirements by attending the satellite downlink workshop offered through Iowa State University Extension on Tuesday January 7, 2003 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For workshop locations and more details, please click here (pdf). Please register for these meetings. Beginning January 1, 2003, the fee for commercial applicators is $200 per year.

Applicators who are not able to attend the workshop on January 7, 2003 may schedule an appointment with their local county extension office to view the videotape. There is no guarantee that these tapes will be available for training prior to February 1, 2003. Applicators may also choose to take and pass the certification exam. Please contact your DNR regional field office to schedule an appointment to take this exam.

New applicators may become certified at any time throughout the year, by taking and passing the exam or by watching the training videotape.

Confinement Site Applicators
Confinement site applicator workshops will also begin in January and will be held in a 60 counties across the site. For a workshop near you, please check the workshop schedule.

All confinement site applicators who were originally certified in 1999 have certificates that expire December 31, 2002. Some of these applicators missed their annual training requirements and will have to take and pass an exam prior to starting their next three-year certificate. If you are not sure about the status of your certificate, please contact your regional DNR field office or your local county extension office. Applicators are required to attend 2 hours of annual training each year of their 3-year certificate or take and pass an exam once every three years. All confinement site applicators are also encouraged to attend training prior to March 1 and submit the appropriate fees and forms to avoid paying a late fee. Beginning January 1, 2003 the fee for confinement site applicators is $100 every 3 years.

Due to changes in the law and definitions as to who needs to be certified to apply manure based on facility capacity, all confinement site operators should review the certification requirements. Any confinement site facility with more than 500 animal units needs to have applicators licensed to apply manure. For more information on this issue, please click here and see question 15.

Questions regarding the manure applicator certification training workshops can be directed to Angie Rieck-Hinz at (515) 294-9590 or amrieck@iastate.edu

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Previous feature articles:

• Resources for proposed new animal feeding operation rules, including the master matrix and opportunity to provide comments to the rule making process - by Angela Rieck-Hinz, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
• Mastering the Matrix and Other Manure Matters - by Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center
• Mastering the Matrix and Other Manure Matters - by Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center
• Web resource identifying frequently asked questions about manure management is now available -
  Angela Rieck-Hinz, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
• Manure management field days are in full swing - by Angela Rieck-Hinz, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
• Information and resources regarding the development of the Master Matrix for siting confinement facilities - Angela Rieck-Hinz, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University; Karen Grimes and Robin Pruisner, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• Upcoming Meetings on Iowa's Livestock Regulations and Other Information Resources - by Angela Rieck-Hinz, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
• Information Regarding Iowa's New Livestock Bill-SF 2293 - by Angela Rieck-Hinz, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
• Review of Alternative Technologies for Manure Treatment from Open Feedlots - Jeff Lorimor and Brad Woerner, Agricultural Engineers, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, ISU
• Manure Applicator Certification Workshops for 2002 - Angela Rieck-Hinz, Extension Program Specialist, Department of Agronomy, ISU
• Managing Manure and Residue at the Same Time - Paul Miller, Manure Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS