Online Anhydrous Ammonia Safety Training Program Launched C


SPRINGFIELD, ILL.


ertified Grower Training is now available on the


Illinois Department of Agriculture


website. Under a new state


regulation (8 IAC 215), anyone who works on a farm and handles an- hydrous


ammonia


must complete Certi- fied Grower Training by


(IDOA)


quirement doesn’t take effect until 2022, I en- courage everyone who must complete the training to do so as soon as possible,” IDOA Acting Director Jerry Costello II said. “Anhydrous ammonia is potentially danger- ous if not handled properly,


and the


safety lessons taught in this training could


Anhydrous ammonia is potentially dangerous if not handled properly, and the safety lessons taught


in this training could prevent serious injury or even death.


April of 2022 and once every


three years


thereafter. This in- cludes not only farm workers who apply the nitrogen fertilizer to fields, but also those who transport nurse tanks to and from sup- pliers and those who maintain anhydrous ammonia equipment. “Although the re-


can


prevent serious injury or even death.” The training program be


accessed


through a link posted on the website’s home- page. It directs visitors to a portal that in- cludes step-by-step in- structions for creating a user account and viewing the training.


Other useful informa- tion such as answers to frequently asked questions and a copy of the new state anhy- drous ammonia regula- tions are also posted on the homepage. Plans are to offer a


classroom version of the training as well. However, the coron- avirus pandemic has put in-person courses on hold. The Department and


supportive farm groups are currently looking for qualified trainers to teach the in-person classes. Once face-to- face meetings are safe to resume, Train-the- Trainer sessions will begin to equip these volunteers with the materials they need to present the class. Trainers must pos-


sess the following qual- ifications: • Minimum 5 years of


experience in the anhy- drous ammonia indus- try;


practical experience with stor-


age, application and equipment operation, inspection and mainte- nance; • Comfort speaking in


groups and ability to relate to growers and answer their questions; • Experience using a computer,


projector


and microphone and have access to suitable meeting rooms or out- side venues to conduct training;


and


• Good organization communication


skills and an ability to maintain and transmit


training rosters to the IDOA; • Capability to be-


come a Certified Com- petent Attendant and commit to attend this IDOA-sponsored train- ing annually. Persons who meet requirements


these


and are interested in becoming a trainer should contact Jeff Squibb at the Illinois Department of Agricul- ture


(217-785-8212;


jeff.squibb@illinois.gov) , John Rebholz at the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association


( 3 0 9 - 8 2 7 - 2 7 7 4 ; john@ifca.com), Travis Deppe at the Illinois Corn Growers Associa- tion (309-557-3257; tdeppe@i lcorn.org) , Mike Levin at the Illi- nois Soybean Associa- tion (309-808-3606; levinm@ilsoy.org), or Lauren Lurkins at the Illinois Farm Bureau ( 3 0 9 - 5 3 0 - 0 3 9 8 ; llurkins@ilfb.org).


Regardless of whether


the training is online or in-person, it must be offered to participants at no cost.


∆


Workshop Helps New Farmers, Ranchers, Military Vets Understand ABCs Of USDA, Other Agencies


O penings


ELDON, MO. remain


for a free Jan. 24 workshop to help


beginning farmers and ranchers,


including


military veterans, learn about resources of- fered by state and fed- eral agencies. University of Mis-


souri Extension spon- sors the workshop. “Understanding the


ABCs of USDA Pro- grams” will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Eldon Community Cen- ter, 309 E. Second St., Eldon, said Pa- tricia Barrett, MU Extension ag busi- ness specialist. A session designed for military veter- ans will be held 2:30-4 p.m. Representatives


of Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conser- vation Service, Rural Development, MU Ex- tension and the Mis- souri AgrAbility Project will provide informa- tion on how to access their services. A free lunch is


Call Butch or Bill


2452 Old Orchard Road Jackson, MO


agrisystems.org 573-204-1955 6• MidAmerica Farmer Grower www.mafg.net / January 15, 2021


served. Register by Jan. 22. Contact Bar- rett at 573-369-2394 or


souri.edu(opens in new window) to register. You may also register at the MU Extension Center


in Miller barrettpr@mis-


County, 134 Second St., P.O. Box 20, Tus- cumbia, MO 65082. MU


Extension,


through a grant from the USDA Office of Ad- vocacy and Outreach to help military veter- ans and socially disad- vantaged persons who want to farm, offers the program to increase agribusinesses and en- terprise development. Karen Funkenbusch


More than 300,000 veterans are expected to return to their rural Missouri roots in the next decade. “Many of them will seek work in agriculture,” Funken- busch says. Latinos also represent one of the


fastest-growing


populations of new farm operators. USDA helps fund this


program as part of an $8.4 million set of


Representatives of Farm Service


Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development,


MU Extension and the Missouri AgrAbility Project will provide information on how


to access their services.


serves as director. Pa- tricia Barrett serves as co-director. The USDA 2501


grant helps beginning farmers and others evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Par- ticipants attend a set of practical seminars and field days to learn from MU Extension specialists,


farmers


and agribusiness oper- ators. The grant comes at a critical


time, Funkenbusch says.


grants to 24 states through the Outreach and Assistance for So- cially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Pro- gram, also known as the 2501 Program. “Understanding


the


ABCs of USDA Pro- grams” is offered near military bases and areas identified by USDA as “StrikeForce” and “Promise Zone” initiatives as part of the grant.


∆


Winter Discounts Available Now


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