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In 1998, the Oklahoma legislature passed the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations (RPFO) Act. As set forth in this act, poultry farmers producing more than 10 tons of poultry waste per year and confining birds for 45 days or longer in any twelve month period, are required by law to register their operation with the State Board of Agriculture. Additionally, they must develop an approved Animal Waste Management Plan (AWMP) and maintain records of poultry waste removed from the premises or applied to the premises. Poultry producers, as well as individuals who spread more than 10 tons of poultry waste or litter per year, are required to obtain 9 hours of initial training covering all aspects of waste management within the first year of becoming registered or licensed, and 2 hours of annual continuing education. The Agricultural Environmental Management Services (AEMS) division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) was given the responsibility for developing rules and enforcing the RPFO Act. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) is responsible for producing training curricula and conducting the required training. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) and the Office of the Secretary of Environment (OSE) are responsible for compiling data to determine if the act is adequately protecting the environment.
I. Registration and Certification
While poultry producers must register their operations, both commercial and private poultry waste applicators must apply to the State Board of Agriculture for applicator certification. Annual renewals are required for producer registration and commercial applicator certificates. Private waste applicators are required to renew their license every 5 years. Only certified private or certified commercial waste applicators are authorized to land apply poultry waste. Both private and commercial certified applicators are required to submit an official Applicator's Annual Report by December 31st each year to the AEMS Division of ODAFF, for poultry waste applied to land from July 1st of the previous year to June 30th of the report year. For example, poultry waste applicators who applied any amount of poultry litter between July 1st, 2011 and June 30th, 2012 are required to submit an annual report no later than December 31st, 2012. Certified poultry waste applicators who did not apply poultry waste during the year should submit their official annual report to AEMS with a check mark in the "No Litter Applied" box on the form. All official and required documentation and information you submit must be complete and accurate.
II. Education
The registered OPERATOR of a poultry farm is required to attend poultry waste management training conducted by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES). The OPERATOR (as named on the registration application) must personally participate in this training as outlined below. If two names (such as a husband and wife) are listed on the application as the operator, both persons must obtain the required training credits. If a poultry feeding operation desires to change the name of the operator of the facility, a new AEMS official registration application must be submitted.
Certified poultry waste APPLICATORS (those who are not also registered as OPERATORS) are required to attend poultry waste management training conducted by OCES as outlined below.
Effective January 1, 2012, Senate Bill 92 requires that poultry OPERATORS and poultry waste APPLICATORS attend:
• 9 hours of initial training within the first year of becoming registered or licensed, and
• 2 hours of continuing education each year until receiving a total of 19 training hours.
Upon receiving the 19 required hours, the OPERATOR or APPLICATOR will graduate from the program but shall be required to receive:
• 2 hours of continuing education every three years thereafter.
Operators and Applicators who fail to obtain the mandatory training may be subject to enforcement actions by ODAFF Legal Services Division.
Included in this notebook, you will find copies of the necessary forms to register as a poultry feeding operation, or to become a licensed private or commercial poultry waste applicator. These forms are also available online at the AEMS Division page of the ODAFF website.
If you have any questions regarding rules and regulations, or wish to receive copies of laws, rules, or official forms, please contact AEMS Division Director D.J. Parrish by writing the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry at P.O. Box 528804, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, by calling (405) 522-4659, or by visiting the website:ag.ok.gov/aems/
For information regarding dates, times and locations of OCES training sessions, please contact your local county Extension Educator, or look online at poultrywaste.okstate.edu
We at Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service look forward to working with you in this endeavor. It is our goal to make your Poultry Waste Management Training a positive and worthwhile learning experience.
Josh Payne, Ph.D.
Area Animal Waste Management Specialist
