Confinement site manure applicators are encouraged to attend a two-hour workshop offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to maintain or renew their confinement site manure applicator certification. The Hardin County workshop will be offered on Tuesday, January 14, at 1:30 p.m. at the Ellsworth Community College Ag Center. An additional date is scheduled for Thursday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hardin County Extension office.
Each year, nearly 300 confinement site applicators fail to attend training and must pass the remedial exam prior to being eligible to renew their certification for the following year.
The workshop serves as initial certification for applicators not currently certified, recertification for those renewing licenses, and as continuing education for applicators in the second or third year of their license.
Operators must be certified to handle, transport, and apply manure if the confinement livestock operation has more than a 500-animal unit capacity, unless the manure is applied by a commercial manure applicator. The certification fee is $100 for a three-year certificate. This fee is paid when applicators initially get certified and then every three years thereafter when they re- certify to apply manure.
Applicators are encouraged to complete certification requirements annually prior to March 1. Learn more by contacting Hardin County Extension.
