COON RAPIDS – A collision between two manure tankers owned by Schon Manure Hauling about 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9 led to a 9,500-gallon manure spill near Coon Rapids in Carroll County. No one was hurt.
A DNR investigation Oct. 10 verified manure did not reach a water source or a tile intake. The manure applicators cleaned up the spill, spreading manure in the crop field and incorporated it.
Of three employees involved in the incident, only one, Brady Brehmer, was certified as a commercial manure applicator. Chris Edwards and Jamie Hansen were not certified, although they finished annual training in February. The business and employees completed certification Oct. 13 by paying the required fees.
“Producers should make sure they are hiring certified manure applicators,” said Alison Manz, DNR environmental specialist. “Even businesses who are hiring from another business should check to make sure the person they are hiring is certified.”
The first and easiest way to check is to ask to see their 2015 manure applicator certificate and business certificate, and check the expiration date.
Other options to check commercial certification status include:
- Look at currently certified businesses on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website at www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/maccma.html
- Call the local Extension office
- Call Colleen Conroy at 515-725-8268 at the DNR.
- Call the regional DNR field office.
The DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action for not having current certification as manure applicators.
Manure applicators who need to renew their certificates can schedule an appointment with their local Extension office to complete video training or with their DNR field office to take a test. More information is available on the respective websites at www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html or http://iowadnr.gov/manureapplicator. Certification is not complete until paperwork is filed with DNR and fees have been paid.