As agriculture becomes continuously more technologically intensive,
farmers increasingly find themselves in need of expert advice. More than ever, finding a qualified and conscientious professional crop consultant to aid growers in making crop production decisions can make a difference on the bottom line -- and reassure the public.
The process of finding a professional crop consultant is similar to the search for any other professional advisor, such as an attorney, veterinarian, or accountant. Both qualifications and personal interactions are important. Be sure the individual is ethical and qualified, then be sure you are comfortable with his or her personal style.
All established professions have mechanisms for certifying the competences of individual practitioners. Attorneys must pass the bar exam, physicians have to be licensed by state boards of examiners; and accountant who wish to offer their services to the public for a fee must demonstrate their competency in several areas through the CPA exam. Crop consultant and advisors also have certification mechanisms.
The most common designation is the Certified Crop Advisor, or CCA. Those who hold this certification must have a high school diploma and two years of experience in the field. They must also pass a national and regional exam and prove each year that they have received 20 additional hours of training.
Those who wish to go beyond the base standard may seek the Certified Professional Crop Consultant certificate. This program requires a B.S. or B.A. in an agricultural discipline, six years of experience advising farmers, the national and regional exams and 36 continuing education units per year. It also stipulates that applicants must write an essay describing an actual problem encountered in the practice, the various options considered, the course of action actually taken and the outcome. The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate the range of multidisciplinary considerations that are usually factored into decisions and recommendations.
We strongly recommend that growers ask prospective candidates whether they are certified. We also recommend to crop consultants and advisors that they become certified. These programs have gone along way towards reassuring the public that farmers' crop production decisions are being made or aided by qualified and conscientious professionals.
Don L. Jameson
Past President National Alliance of
Independent Crop Consultants
