The Natural Resources Division offers training in the following courses

Nutrient Management Plan Writing Certification:

Planners prepare Nutrient Management Plans to indicate how Nutrients should be applied to fields and other lands for crop production while protecting groundwater and surface water from excessive Nutrient enrichment.

Plans contain operating procedures based on expected crop type, existing Nutrient levels in the soil, organic residuals, optimum timing and placement of Nutrients, environmental resource protection, and agronomic practices such as liming, tillage, and crop rotation. The requirements for a Nutrient Management Planner Certification are as follows:

An applicant may obtain certification by satisfying all of the following requirements

1. Satisfactorily completing and submitting to the Commission an application form
2. Attending the Certified Nutrient Planner training course provided by the Commission's Delegate; the U of A Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
3. Obtaining a passing score on the Certified Nutrient Planner examination administered by the Commission or its Delegate
4. Submitting a $100.00 certification fee

Nutrient Management Applicator Certification:

The program is divided up into two categories; Private and Commercial Certifications.

The Private Certification is primarily for those that apply nutrients directly to their own land or land under their control; refer to Title 21 for a more detailed definition. The requirements for a Private Nutrient Applicator Certification are as follows:

An applicant may obtain private applicator certification by satisfying all of the following requirements

1. Satisfactorily completing and submitting an application form to the Commission
2. Attending the Certified Private Applicator training course on proper Nutrient application provided by the Commission's Delegate; the U of A Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
3. Submitting a $30.00 certification fee.

The Commercial Certification is primarily for those that apply nutrients to other lands not owned by them and operate as a profession under a contract situation. Under the definition of a Commercial Applicator, the applicator must derive a significant portion of their income from nutrient application; refer to Title 21 for a more detailed definition. The requirements for a Private Nutrient Applicator Certification are as follows:

An applicant may obtain commercial applicator certification by satisfying all of the following requirements

1. Satisfactorily completing and submitting an application form to the Commission
2. Attending the Certified Commercial Applicator training course on proper Nutrient application provided by CES.
3. Obtaining a passing score on the Certified Commercial Applicator examination administered by the Commission
4. Submitting a $60.00 certification fee
5. Submitting a $25.00 testing fee

To register please contact:

Monica Hancock, Environmental Program Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Division
10421 W. Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 479 250-7444
Email: Monica Hancock