American Society of Agronomy International Certified Crop Adviser Program

1. American Society of Agronomy International Certified Crop Adviser Program

2. American Society of Agronomy (ASA) • Started in 1907 • 11,000 members • Membership comprises: • Academia • Government • Industry or private sector

3. American Society of Agronomy (ASA) • Products and Services: • Scientific Publications - Agronomy Journal • Monthly Magazine – CSA News • Bi-monthly Magazine – Crops and Soils • World Class meetings • Latest research updates • Educational programs • Advocacy • Certification: • Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) • Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg)

4. American Society of Agronomy (ASA) • Certifications: • protects the public and the profession • helps establish the profession through standards • enhances professional development • Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) • Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg)

5. International Certified Crop Adviser Program (ICCA) • 13,000 + (CCAs) certified in the USA and Canada • CCA Mission: The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Program validates the credentials of professional crop advisers by establishing standards for knowledge, experience, ethics and continuing education. • CCA Vision: To be the most valuable certification a professional crop adviser can hold by establishing Certified Crop Advisers’ (CCA) essential role in agricultural production, food safety and environmental stewardship.

6. International Certified Crop Adviser Program (ICCA) *Crop advisers provide advice and counsel to farmers, ranchers and other agricultural entities in their decision making process. *This responsibility requires a proficient understanding of crop production science, food safety, technology, economics and the environment. *Crop advisers combine their knowledge in these disciplines as well as their local experience to provide sound recommendations to their clients.

8. Questions ? • What you always wanted to know …

9. Certification or Membership • Certification: • A credential you “earn” and must meet a set standard, usually defining a profession and /or professional conduct, employment related • Membership: • Something you “join”, usually open to anyone with the common interest, pay fees

10. Words • Certification: voluntary, professional standards, defines profession • License: mandatory, government required, defines practice, title, responsibilities • Registry: list of those who meet a standard or requirement, voluntary or mandatory

11. Structure • American Society of Agronomy (ASA) • International CCA Board (ICCA) • State/Province/Regional (Local) CCA Board

12. Structure/Relationship • ASA is the credentialing organization • ICCA Board is the certifying body • Sets the policies and procedures • Local CCA Boards implement the program – grants/denies certifications to individuals

13. ICCA Board Structure • 45 voting • 1 voting member from each local board (37) • 3 chairs – vice-chair; chair; past-chair • 1 ASA Board representative • 4 standing committee chairs • Finance; S/E; CEC; EPC • 8 ex-officio – government and staff • 2 CSREES; NRCS; EPA; FSA; ASA CEO; ASA Pres.; Dir. Certification

14. Local Board Structure • 7 minimum members • Similar to ICCA board • State / Province equivalent for government agencies • At least 50% should be CCA and elected • Chairs serve 1 or 2 year, non-consecutive terms • Vice-chair; chair; past-chair rotation • Members serve up to 2 – 3 year consecutive terms

15. Duties of the ICCA Board • Set the policies and procedures for the program • Policy and Procedures manual – online: https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/files/policy_manual.pdf

16. Duties of the Local Board • Administer the CCA program, actively market • CEU opportunities, ensure availability • Enforce the code of ethics • Rule on work exp. & ed. Requirements • Develop the local exam • Administer the exams • Grant certification • Approve expenses and update ASA on board member changes

17. Board Member updates • Very Important ! • Not on list = not covered by E & O Liability insurance provided by ASA • Madison will send reminders annually but don’t wait for those

18. Supporting Documents • Credential Booklet • Performance Objectives • CEU Application • Reporting Forms • All found on the website or we can provide paper copies as needed

19. Basics • “This is a football.” VL • Exams • Experience / Education • Ethics • Enforcement • Continuing Education

20. Exams • International • Local Board • 4 primary competency areas • Nutrient management • Soil and water management • Integrated pest management • Crop management • First Friday in February and August (optional) • Deadline to register is 6 weeks prior

21. Exams • Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) • Performance Objectives • Content experts draft (academia, gov’t, industry) • End user review, relavence • Exam question development • Validation of exam questions by end users • All exams must follow the same procedures • Is yours?

22. Experience / Education • 4 years / no degree or not related degree • 3 years / associate degree, 15 semester hours • 2 years / BS degree agronomy or close

23. Experience • NOTE: If an applicant spends less than 30% of his or her time engaged in the activities described previously, partial credit might be assigned based on the following: • Actual Experience CCA Experience • 30% 1.00 year per year involved • 25% 0.83 years per year involved • 20% 0.66 years per year involved • 15% 0.50 years per year involved • <15% No credit is given. This is not to be retroactive • For example, an applicant spends 20% of his or her time in activities outlined in 3a, b or c and lists 10 years experience. The applicant should receive 6.6 years credit for experience (i.e; 0.66 x 10 years = 6.6 years)

24. Education • Degree must meet the minimum course work listed on the forms • Agronomy Degree or • Closely Related • Agronomy related course work is key • 15 semester hours minimum

25. References • 1. Two completed reference forms (one from the employer and one from a client or individual who is familiar with the applicant’s work experience in crop production). Be sure the two reference letters are signed and witnessed or notarized. • 2. Do the references recommend the applicant for certification? • 3. Are the references familiar with the applicant’s work history?

26. CCA vs. CCA Candidate • CCA - meets all of the requirements • CCA Candidate – does not have the full experience, defined time frame set by the local board, ideal for students • Pass exams • Has at least one reference • Course work/degree if claiming • Does not have CEU or annual fee requirements

27. Continuing Education • 40 hours (continuing education units CEUs) • With at least 5 in each of the 4 categories • 2 year cycle – calendar based • No yearly minimum • Minimum of 20 as Board approved • Max of 20 as self study • No limit on Professional Development or self reported but indirectly they do

28. Forms/instructions • CEU event application • Sign in sheets • Self study instructions • Scanners – electronic version of sign in sheet

29. Types of CEUs • Board Approved – professional meetings, structured field days/research plot tours, seminars, workshops – can be face to face or live internet delivered with a way to track attendance – board reviews and approves = CCA CEU • Self Reported – same as board approved but board did not review, CCA self reports • Board Approved Self Study – distance education, must have a quiz attached

30. CEUs • Online access 24/7 • Local board administrators have online access • CCAs have access • Reports mailed 2x / year, Jan. and Sept.

31. CEUs • Unique tracking number assigned to every event once approved • Assigned by local board or Madison office • Identifier through system

32. Ethics • Code of Ethics • Enforcement Procedures • Starts with a written complaint • Local board standards and ethics committee • Process is very deliberate and needs to be followed closely to ensure fairness

33. Calendar of Events • Updated in Dec./Jan. each year • Deadlines for activities

34. Promotions and Communications • Advertisements • Press releases • Articles • Logos • Exhibit booth • Posters/brochures

35. Government • Recognized by • USDA • EPA • RMA • Technical Services Provider MOU • Nutrient management • Integrated pest management • Land management – tillage practices

36. TSP • CAPs new in 2009 • Conservation Activities Plans • Focused on using TSPs • 17 categories

37. USDA – NRCS New Program • Mississippi River Conservation Initiative • RFPs coming out on how to implement focused, comprehensive on farm conservation practices that will help improve water quality • Practical • Production enhancing • 12 states along the MS River • Cooperative partnership approach

38. Webinars • ASA sponsored each month • Timely topic of interest to CCAs • Future – need an advisory team of CCAs who would communicate the latest events that a webinar should address, will help make the events more timely

39. Fundamentals in Applied Agronomy • Online course, 12 sessions, 2 hours each • Fall and Spring • Prep to become certified and good review • Follows ICCA POs

40. Crops and Soils Magazine • ASA – delivered 6X per year • Educational focus on what is important to Certified Professionals in Agronomy and Soil Science [CCA, CPAg, CPSS/C] • Need more local content – available to local boards provide updates

41. Questions ?? • Board meeting starts at 10:30 • Thank you.