By Scout Nelson
Minnesota's commercial manure haulers and site managers have several opportunities for recertification in 2024. The Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) program will conduct five in-person workshops and an online course.
The in-person workshops are scheduled for Sauk Centre (January 25th), Hutchinson (February 15th), Slayton (March 7th), Owatonna Farm and Power Show (March 15th), and Farmfest in Redwood County (August 8th). An online training option will be available from late spring or early summer until October 31st, 2024.
Participants can register for either in-person or online training for a fee of $10. Payment for in-person workshops can be made at the event using cash, credit card, or check payable to UMN Extension.
The 2024 workshop topics include CAWT licensing, requirements and regulations, precision agriculture and equipment, safety considerations for manure gas emissions, manure phosphorus and environmental issues, manure phosphorus regulations, and best management practices for manure testing.
Speakers for the 2024 workshops will feature experts like Brian Clark from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Gary Esselink from Raven Industries, Rick Martens from the Minnesota Custom Applicators Association, and Chryseis Modderman from the University of Minnesota Extension.
Representatives from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Dairy Herd Improvement Laboratories, and Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories will also contribute.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture requires full attendance for recertification credit, which includes signing in and out on time. Initial certification requires watching a video and taking a quiz, while certified applicators can attend a workshop every other year or complete the video and quiz annually. Site managers must attend a workshop every other year.
For more details and to register, interested parties can visit the provided link: z.umn.edu/cawt2024. This program is a crucial component of maintaining high standards in manure management in Minnesota’s agricultural sector.
Photo Credit - university-of-minnesota
Categories: Minnesota, Livestock