Commercial manure applicators who have not fulfilled their 2011 manure applicator certification training requirements can attend the three hours of annual continuing instruction required to maintain their manure applicator certification on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will conduct a statewide re-show of the 2011 Commercial Manure Applicator Certification training. There is no fee to attend the workshop, but commercial applicators must register by Aug. 24 by calling the Cass County ISU Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

Commercial applicator business owners and managers are reminded that existing or previously certified employees must meet certification requirements prior to hauling or land applying manure. New employees can work for the first 30 days of employment without meeting the certification requirements, but must be actively seeking certification status. Applicators who are unable to attend the Aug. 31 training need to schedule time at their local ISU Extension office to watch the training DVD. Due to scheduling conflicts, many ISU Extension offices will no longer accept walk-in appointments to watch the DVD. If meeting training requirements by attending the 3-hour training session is not convenient, commercial applicators may contact their local DNR field office to schedule an appointment to take the certification exam to meet certification requirements.

Commercial manure applicators that have already completed training for 2011 are not required to attend.

If you have questions about this training session or the Manure Applicator Certification program, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or go to
http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html