UniversityNews for August 2, 2012

A nutrient management specialist with MAFRI expects a field clinic in soil and manure management planned for next week to be of particular interest to commercial manure applicators.
A field clinic in soil and manure management, slated for August 10th at the University of Manitoba's National Centre for Livestock and the Environment will focus on a range of soil and manure management techniques and technologies.
Mitchell Timmerman, a nutrient management specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, notes the clinic offers participants a field opportunity to meet formal requirements for professional development and informally broaden their knowledge, skills and contacts.

Clip-Mitchell Timmerman-Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives:
Commercial applicators in the province of Manitoba have for a few years now been required to obtain a license in order to conduct their business and that requires completion of a course via Assiniboine Community College.
It's a fairly modest undertaking in that the focus is on the fundamentals in terms of fertilizer value of manure, risk to environment, how to minimize those risks and conducting one's business in a professional manner to minimize environmental risk and as well any concern over nuisance odors or other factors.
The course is typically offered in the form of a one day seminar that is voluntary and then there is an exam that must be completed.
Once the course is completed and proof of that is generated then the applicator staff submits a request to our department, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, to obtain the license so it's a two step process and that is to acquire the education and then acquire the license.

Timmerman says the soil and manure management field clinic provides a hands-on applied experience in the great outdoors where the work actually happens.
For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

-For information or to register email Indra.Ariyaratne@gov.mb.ca by August 7, 2012

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