STERLING –The Livestock Management Facilities Act requires Illinois livestock facilities that house more than 300 animal units to have at least one certified livestock manager. The certificate is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and is valid for three years. University of Illinois Extension provides the educational support and houses the new online certification.

Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Certified Livestock Managers Training program. Approximately 1,000 livestock producers have participated in each of the eight three-year cycles.

Now, managers have a convenient online opportunity to complete the certification. In addition, four virtual live webinars will be held which will provide Illinois livestock producers the manure management training they need to meet the requirements of the state’s Livestock Management Facilities Act.

Online training should be considered the first, preferred option for everyone, says Jay Solomon, Extension educator. Producers take online training that consists of nine lessons. “The online training has been updated for 2021 to resemble face-to-face workshops more closely. It is available at any time and your own pace.”

Producers with less than 1,000 AUs will work through the lessons only. Having more than 1,000 AU requires completing the lessons and passing the online test. Until Dec. 1, 2021, livestock producers with more than 1,000 AUs can take the online test in lieu of the IDoA’s paper-based test.

Individuals may access the online training at go.illinois.edu/CLMT for a cost of $40. Any questions relating to the online program can be directed to Nesli Akdeniz at (217) 300-2644.

For those wishing a live webinar experience, four options are available:

Wednesday, Jan. 20 - 9 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 - 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - 9 a.m.

Thursday, March 4 - 9 a.m.

After the webinar, those with over 1,000 AUs (animal units) will be required to log in and take the 40-question online test in lieu of the IDoA’s paper-based test. Pre-registration is required ($40). Please go to go.illinois.edu/CLMT to register. For questions with registration, please contact UI Extension at (815) 858-2273.

To assist in the transition, optional informational sessions will be held to demonstrate the online application. To attend an optional informational session, visit go.illinois.edu/CLMT and click the link provided to join at any of these times at no cost.

Monday, Jan. 11 - 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 - 6 p.m.

The Livestock Management Facilities Act of 1997 requires facilities with 300 or more animal units to have at least one employee certified in proper manure handling procedures. In facilities with 300 to 999 animal units, the employee either must complete online CLM training or webinar or pass the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Certified Livestock Manager online exam. The employee of facilities with more than 1,000 or more units must complete one of the training options and pass the Certified Livestock Manager online exam to achieve certification.

The Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum continues to serve as a resource manual for CLM training. The manual provides more depth and additional topics than can be covered in a webinar or online training. This curriculum is available for free online at go.illinois.edu/manual.

“This partnership between the Department of Ag and Illinois Extension provides the tools, education, and training for our state’s certified livestock managers to become skilled in best management practices,” said IDOA Acting Director Jerry Costello II. “The goal is for our livestock facilities to be good neighbors and stewards of the land.”