Certified Livestock Manager Training Workshops 2025

University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Department of Agriculture will kick off the 2025 Certified Livestock Manager Training Workshop schedule on February 4. Seven locations around the state will host training workshops that meet the Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act training requirements for Illinois livestock managers.

Pre-registration is required to attend an in-person workshop. Class size is limited in some locations due to space constraints.

The 2025 workshop dates and locations include:

Each workshop location will open at 8:30 a.m., and training will begin at 9 a.m. The training lasts 3.5 hours, and IDOA staff will administer the exam after the training. The Illinois Extension training fee is $40, and IDOA’s certification fee is $30.
 
 A range of topics related to the operation, management, and utilization of livestock waste and waste facilities will be covered. Additionally, the latest regulations, best management practices, and research for manure-related issues will be discussed. The training manual used will be the “Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum.” It is available at go.illinois.edu/manual.

The LMFA requires facilities designed for 300 or more animal units to have at least one employee certified in environmentally aware manure management techniques. Facilities designed for 301 to 999 animal units must have at least one employee attend a workshop OR complete the online training. Facilities with more than 1,000 animal units must have a certified livestock manager attend a workshop and pass the IDOA exam OR complete the online training and pass the online test.

For the 2025 season, there will be 50 questions on both paper-based and online tests. The passing grade is 70% or 35 of 50 questions. A Spanish version of the test is now available upon request. Young family members under 18 are welcome to take the training, but they cannot be the only certified managers at the facilities.

Check for weather-related updates at go.illinois.edu/CLMT.

Have questions about the CLMT program, please contact University of Illinois Extension Educator Stanley Solomon at jssolomo@illinois.edu or by phone at 815-235-4125.