Columns by John Fulton

Logan County Extension Unit

Ag News Elsewhere
 (fresh daily from the Web)

Livestock training tackles red tape, feedlot runoff       Send a link to a friend

[JAN. 29, 2005]  URBANA -- Manure storage capacity and containment of feedlot runoff are issues that plague many livestock facilities, large and small. This year's Certified Livestock Manager Training workshops in Illinois will address those issues and assist producers in their efforts to comply with the latest round of environmental regulations affecting the livestock industry.

University of Illinois Extension sponsors the workshops. There are six remaining and they have been approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as meeting the training certification requirement for the Certified Livestock Manager designation

The remaining workshops will be in these locations:

  • Jan. 31 at Bloomington (focus on swine)
  • Feb. 23 at Nashville (focus on swine)
  • March 1 at Freeport (focus on beef and dairy)
  • March 2 at Mount Carroll (focus on swine)
  • March 3 at Sycamore
  • March 9 at Springfield

The Illinois Department of Agriculture requires producers with more than 300 animal units to attend an approved training session or successfully complete the department’s written examination. Producers with more than 1,000 animal units must attend an approved training session and complete the written exam.

Randy Fonner, U of I Extension specialist and coordinator of the workshops, knows that livestock producers face a monumental task in their efforts to comply with all of the regulations that different state agencies require.

"In May, the Illinois EPA passed a new CAFO permit requirement that will require virtually all large livestock production facilities to apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Many medium and small-size facilities may also need to get a permit," said Fonner. "There are 105 pages of forms and instructions for doing an NPDES permit. And once you get a permit, you're in the program for five years."

That could be a problem, said Fonner, especially for the smaller facilities that don't have as much help as the larger producers. They will have to do just as much paperwork, including inspections.

"So our message has been that producers should actively pursue funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Producers can use these funds to improve manure storage and contain feedlot runoff, and that could possibly make a permit unnecessary."

However, receiving funds from that program, sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, brings with it yet another requirement -- a comprehensive nutrient management plan.

"The thrust of all these regulations," said Fonner, "is containing manure and polluted runoff and keeping clean water clean. So those are some of the issues that we'll be talking about specifically in these workshops -- manure storage and feedlot runoff."

To register for a workshop or purchase a manual or CD, call (800) 345-6087. Prices are listed below and payment is by phone or mail:

  • Manual only: $40 + $6.50 shipping = $46.50
  • Manual CD only: $16.50 + $6.50 shipping = $21.50
  • Manual and CD: $53.50 + $6.50 shipping = $56
  • Workshop registration: $15 per person
  • Workshop walk-ins: $75 per person

If you register two weeks before the workshop you would like to attend, the manual or CD can be mailed to you. If you have questions, contact Fonner at (217) 333-2611 or e-mail him at refonner@uiuc.edu.

[to top of second column in this article]

Workshops

Jan. 31, Bloomington -- focus on swine
Location: McLean County Farm Bureau Building, 402 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington
For directions, call (309) 663-8306
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Workshop starts: 8:50 a.m.
Participants arriving after 9:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop.
Written exam from Illinois Department of Agriculture: 1:30 p.m.
This workshop will primarily be aimed at swine producers but is open to all producers.

Feb. 23, Nashville -- focus on swine
Location: Washington County Extension Office, 9623 Wall St., Nashville
For directions, call (618) 327-8881.
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Workshop starts: 8:50 a.m.
Participants arriving after 9:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop.
Written exam from Illinois Department of Agriculture: 1:30 p.m.
This workshop will primarily be aimed at swine producers but is open to all producers.

March 1, Freeport -- focus on beef and dairy
Location: Highland Community College, Student Conference Center Room 201B, 2998 W. Pearl City Rd., Freeport
For directions, call (815) 235-4125.
Registration: 9:30 a.m.
Workshop starts: 10 a.m.
Participants arriving after 10:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop.
Written exam from Illinois Department of Agriculture: 2 p.m.
This workshop will primarily be aimed at beef and dairy producers but is open to all producers.

March 2, Mount Carroll -- focus on swine
Location: Naaman Diehl Auditorium, Carroll County Farm Bureau Building, Route 64 and Route 78, Mount Carroll
For directions, call (815) 244-9444.
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Workshop starts: 8:50 a.m.
Participants arriving after 9:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop.
Written exam from Illinois Department of Agriculture: 1:30 p.m.
This workshop will primarily be aimed at swine producers, but is open to all producers.

March 3, Sycamore
Location: DeKalb County Farm Bureau Building. 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore
For directions, call (815) 758-8194.
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Workshop starts: 8:50 a.m.
Participants arriving after 9:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop.
Written exam from Illinois Department of Agriculture: 1:30 p.m.

March 9, Springfield
Location: Sangamon-Menard County Extension Office, Illinois State Fairgrounds, South Gate 11, Bldg. 30, Springfield
For directions, call (217) 782-4617.
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Workshop starts: 8:50 a.m.
Participants arriving after 9:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop.
Written exam from Illinois Department of Agriculture: 1:30 p.m.

[University of Illinois news release]

Previous articles

Ag scholarships

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor