By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), in collaboration with the University of Illinois Extension, is offering the Certified Livestock Manager Training (CLMT) to support Illinois livestock producers in meeting the state’s manure management requirements. This training initiative includes both in-person workshops and an online option to cater to a wide range of participants.
"This partnership between IDOA and the University of Illinois Extension provides the tools, education and training for our state's certified livestock managers to become skilled in best management practices," said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. "I am extremely proud of the Department and University for working to increase accessibility by including bilingual options to ensure everyone on the farm has the ability to learn and implement these tools to become good stewards of the land."
The in-person training will take place at seven different locations across the state in February 2025. These workshops aim to equip livestock managers with the necessary skills to implement best management practices for livestock and manure management. Participants can register for the workshops at the University of Illinois Extension’s website, and class sizes are limited in certain locations. A registration fee of $40 is required for the training, in addition to a $30 certification fee from IDOA.
The 2025 workshop schedule includes locations such as Effingham, Breese, Pittsfield, Monmouth, Springfield, Freeport, and Sycamore. Each workshop will run for 3 ½ hours, beginning at 9 a.m. The training will utilize the "Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum," which is available online for further reference. Producers with over 1,000 animal units (AUs) will need to take a paper-based exam after attending the workshop.
For those unable to attend in-person, an online training option is available. This consists of nine modules, with 10 to 20-minute videos that participants can watch at their own pace. The online training also includes optional enrichment content for further learning. Producers with more than 1,000 AUs must complete the lessons and pass an online exam, while those with fewer than 1,000 AUs only need to complete the lessons.
Exams are available in both English and Spanish, and individuals need to score at least 70% to pass. The online exam is accessible throughout the year, and multiple attempts are allowed. For further inquiries, participants can contact the University of Illinois Extension or reach out to Stanley Solomon via email.
For more details and registration, visit the CLMT webpage.
Photo Credit: illinois-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Illinois, Education