CAFO Operator Curriculum

Class IA CAFO Operations must use certified operators under Missouri law. Specific requirements are defined in 10 CSR 20-14 CAFO Waste Management System Operations

There are two levels of certification. Class A operators have a supervisory role being in charge of the CAFO waste management system. Class B operators primarily are involved in the day-to-day activities applying manure. This curriculum identifies differnces betweeen a Class B operator working with dry manure (Bdry) and an operator working with primarily liquid manure (Bwet).

This webpage outlines a draft curriculum of the key concepts operators must know and will be tested on as part of the certification process.

There are five topic areas on the curriculum (see table of contents). For each listed concept we tried to provide a reference that includes key information on the concept. The linked guide is marked with information that is expected to be known by Class A operators.

Thanks to the contributions of Tony Boone, Nate Moore, Hugh Vogel, Deryl Niffen, Mark Klaus and Gordon Belcher for their contributions to this project.

Nutrient Management Curriculum – Manure Sampling

ID “Need-to-know” Concept A Bwet Bdry References Ref. Date
NM-A1 Manure sampling procedures for liquid systems Yes No No MUGuide EQ215 6/2000
NM-A3 Manure sampling procedures for solid manures Yes No No MUGuide EQ215 6/2000
NM-A4 Manure sampling procedures for lagoon sludge Yes No No Not available  
NM-A5 Manure sampling equipment Yes No No Not available  
NM-A6 Impact of variability on need for manure samples Yes No No MUGuide EQ215 6/2000
NM-A7 Recommended number of samples and sample pattern Yes No No MUGuide EQ215,
MUGuide G9340		 6/2000
4/1999
NM-A8 Sample container and handling requirements Yes No No MUGuide EQ215 6/2000
NM-A9 What the manure sample should be tested for Yes No No MUGuide EQ215,
MUGuide G9340,
CAFO Tech Std.		 6/2000
4/1999
3/2009
NM-A10 Preferred manure test units for liquid and solid manure Yes No No MUGuide G9186 12/2007
NM-A11 P and K can be expressed in different ways in test results Yes No No MUGuide G9186 12/2007
NM-A12 Forms of N in a manure sample Yes No No MUGuide G9186 12/2007
NM-A13 Convert from P and K to phosphate and potash Yes No No MUGuide G9186 12/2007
NM-A14 Convert test results from dry matter to wet basis Yes No No MUGuide G9186 12/2007
NM-A15 Convert manure test results to preferred units Yes No No MUGuide G9186 12/2007

Cited references:

Other useful references:

Nutrient Management Curriculum – Soil Sampling

ID “Need-to-know” Concept A Bwet Bdry References Ref. Date
NM-B1 Standard soil sampling procedures for crops, pastures and hay Yes Yes Yes MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217,
CAFO Tech Std.		 2/2005
1/2006
3/2009
NM-B2 Soil sampling fields with banded fertilizer and manure Yes No No MUGuide EQ217,
CAFO Tech Std.		 1/2006
3/2009
NM-B4 Soil sampling equipment types Yes Yes Yes MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217		 2/2005
1/2006
NM-B5 Required sampling depth and impact of sampling too shallow or deep Yes No No CAFO Tech Std. 3/2009
NM-B7 Ideal core characteristics for soil sampling Yes No No MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217		 2/2005
1/2006
NM-B8 Acreage requirements for soil sampling Yes No No CAFO Tech Std. 3/2009
NM-B9 Factors affecting nutrient distribution in fields Yes Yes Yes MUGuide EQ215 2/2005
NM-B10 Strategies to divide a field for soil sampling Yes No No MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217		 2/2005
1/2006
NM-B11 What to avoid when sampling a field Yes No No MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217		 2/2005
1/2006
NM-B12 Impact of variability on the need for soil sampling Yes No No MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217,
CAFO Tech Std.		 2/2005
1/2006
3/2009
NM-B13 Sample preperation, handling and container requirements Yes No No MUGuide G9215,
MUGuide G9217		 2/2005
1/2006
NM-B14 What the sample should be tested for Yes No No MUGuide G9112 11/1998
NM-B15 Typical and required soil sampling frequencies Yes No No CAFO Tech Std.,
MUGuide G9112		 11/1998
3/2009
NM-B16 Grid soil sampling procedures and uses Yes No No SB-7467 NCR-13 Committee 1/2001
NM-B17 Preplant nitrogen test and its uses Yes No No MUGuide G9177 1/2001
NM-B18 Interpretation of soil test rating levels Yes No No MUGuide G9112 11/1998
NM-B19 Different labs can use different tests and/or report results in different units Yes No No Not available  
NM-B20 Use soil test ratings to compare results from different labs Yes No No Not available  
NM-B21 How to locate the fertilizer recommendation on a soil test report Yes No No MUGuide G9112 11/1998
NM-B22 Impact of legumes in a rotation on recommended N rate Yes No No Not available  
NM-B23 Phosphate and potash basis of soil test recommendations Yes No No MUGuide G9112 11/1998
NM-B24 Yield goals and their impact on fertilizer recommendations Yes No No Not available  
NM-B25 Calculate phosphate and potash removal from yield goal and nutrient removal values Yes No No Draft G9120  

Cited references: