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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2020
 Construction and concrete pouring at an animal feeding operation.
Sign up now for Concrete and Construction for Contractors workshop
Concrete contractors building deep pit barns should plan to attend a DNR training session on concrete design and construction. Six sessions begin next week and are offered throughout the state.
DNR permit engineers Paul Petitti and Cindy Garza will lead the sessions, focusing on the pre-permitting process and state requirements for constructing a deep pit hog barn. Producers, engineers, consultants and staff from geological technical firms are welcome.
Expect in-depth coverage on successful construction in alluvial soils (sands and gravels) and karst terrain, an overview of flood plain requirements and tips for constructing in challenging weather. Each two-hour session will feature lessons learned from 44 years of experience in animal feeding construction and engineering.
Also featured: How to use the AFO Siting Atlas to locate environmentally sensitive areas with special regulations, and the nitty-gritty of rebar spacing, water stop installation, concrete curing and perimeter tiles.
Sessions are offered at the following DNR field offices:
- 18 at 10 a.m. – Atlantic, 401 Sunnyside Lane.
- 18 at 2 p.m. – Des Moines, Third floor conference rooms, Wallace State office building, 502 E. Ninth St.
- 19 at 9 a.m. – Washington, 1023 W. Madison St.
- 19 at 2 p.m. – Manchester, 909 W. Main St.
- 20 at 1 p.m. – Mason City, 2300 15th St. SW
- 21 at 10 a.m. – Spencer, 1900 N. Grand Ave., Suite E17
Please pre-register by calling the appropriate DNR field office as space is limited.
Exactly the same as the last two years, 89 of Iowa’s 99 counties plan to use the master matrix to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed sites for animal confinements this year. From Feb. 1 to Jan. 31 of 2021, producers who need a construction permit in these counties must meet additional requirements.
The ten counties that did not pass a construction evaluation resolution were: Davis, Des Moines, Keokuk, Lee, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, Warren and Washington.
Find more news about the matrix and a map of participating counties on the DNR animal feeding operations website at www.iowadnr.gov/afo.
Reminder: Certificates expire annually on March 1 for commercial manure applicators. Confinement site certificates are viable for three years ending on Dec. 31, with a two-month grace period for renewals. All applicators renewing certificates – commercial and confinement site -- need to complete training or testing, and pay fees prior to March 1 to avoid a $12.50 late fee. The late fee does not apply to new applicants for a certificate.
Get ready for spring.
Confinement site applicators have just under three weeks to take live manure applicator certification training. The last on-site training session is offered Feb. 28.
Dry or solid manure handlers: Whether commercial or confinement, applicators have four remaining opportunities for live training. Dry manure sessions are offered in Washington, Buena Vista, Sioux and Hamilton counties from Feb. 17 to 24. Check the Iowa Manure Management Action Group -- IMMAG website for more information.
All applicators: can contact the local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office to watch a scheduled video training. Registration ensures there will be space and training materials available.
Or, consider taking advantage of DNR’s online training and fee paying option. Find more information about the certification program at www.iowadnr.gov/manureapplicator or on the IMMAG website.
Finally, applicators may take and pass a test in lieu of training. Please schedule a testing time at your local DNR field office.
To help producers and contractors, DNR has posted the Construction Certification form which notifies the agency after confinement construction is complete. With the time delay between receiving a construction permit and construction completion, contractors sometimes neglect to certify construction. However, the certification is required before populating any permitted confinement with more than 1,000 animal unit capacity.
Called the Construction Certification for Confinements, DNR form 542-0627 must be filed with DNR prior to storing any manure. Once the form is received, one of the DNR engineers will issue a written “authorization to use.” The facility can be populated after the authorization is received.
Confinement producers with new, expanded or modified buildings totaling greater than 1,000 animal units are required to obtain a construction permit prior to building.
Find forms on the DNR’s Animal Feeding Operations webpage.
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