2025 Livestock Manager Training now bilingual and flexible

By Andi Anderson

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the University of Illinois Extension are hosting the 2025 Certified Livestock Manager Training (CLMT) program. Designed to meet the Livestock Management Facilities Act requirements, this year’s program provides two flexible options: seven in-person workshops and an online training course.

In a move to improve accessibility, exams are now offered in both English and Spanish, making the program inclusive for a wider audience. IDOA Director Jerry Costello II highlighted the importance of training in equipping certified livestock managers with the tools and knowledge needed for responsible manure management.

In-Person Training Details: Producers can attend one of seven workshops across Illinois. These sessions begin at 9 a.m., last 3.5 hours, and include the "Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum" manual. Registration is required, and class sizes are limited. The workshop fee is $40, and the IDOA certification fee is $30.

The 2025 workshop dates and locations are:

• February 4: Effingham County Farm Bureau Building, Effingham
• February 5: Clinton County U of I Extension Office, Breese
• February 6: Pike County U of I Extension, Pittsfield
• February 10: Warren County U of I Extension, Monmouth
• February 11: Bank of Springfield Center, Springfield
• February 18: Stephenson County Farm Bureau Building, Freeport
• February 19: DeKalb County U of I Extension, Sycamore

Online Training Options: The online course features nine modules with 10–20-minute videos that can be completed at your own pace. Access is available for three months through Moodle.

Producers with over 1,000 animal units (AUs) must take an online exam, which is available year-round and allows multiple attempts.

The 50-question exam requires a 70% score to pass and is offered in both English and Spanish. Those with less than 1,000 AUs are not required to take the exam.

For more details or to register, visit go.illinois.edu/CLMT. This program ensures Illinois livestock producers receive the training they need for sustainable and compliant farming practices.

Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic