If you’ve been snow-bound, ice-bound or cold-bound, you still have some options to complete your manure applicator certificate training by March 1. Yes, that’s Friday of this week. But don’t panic.

If you need to renew a certificate, there are still some training options before the deadline to help you avoid paying the $12.50 late fee.

The late fee and March 1 deadline do not apply if you are a new applicator, or a confinement site applicator completing annual training requirements.

All applicators: There are two education options for all manure applicators.

  1. Contact the local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office to watch a scheduled video training. Registration ensures there will be space and training materials available.
  2. Stay home and take advantage of DNR’s online training and fee paying option. Go to the E-Learning course information on the DNR’s www.iowadnr.gov/manureapplicator certification page. Please note: If your education completion certification doesn’t show up right away, you will need to wait 24 hours, check the MAC database again, and then either pay fees online or print the completion certificate and mail fees in. This is a temporary issue that will be fixed soon.

Confinement site applicators: There are still a few live MAC training sessions. Check the Iowa Manure Management Action Group’s (IMMAG) website for current offerings ending Feb. 28.

Confinement and commercial applicators: If you are renewing your certificate, you can take and pass a test in lieu of training. Please schedule a testing time at your local DNR field office.