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When a producer gets advice from a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA), that producer can be sure he is getting sound agronomic, economic and environmental information, according to an administrator with the program. And now that adviser could get some recognition in return, with the kick-off of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Crop Advising Award.

Brian Peach, executive director of the Ohio Agribusiness Association and board secretary for Ohio’s CCA program, said each CCA is a working partner with the producer. "One backbone we have for the program is the code of ethics that each CCA must sign. That code says that a person will abide by the criteria set forth in the CCA program."

And that program has been growing since its inception in the early 1990s. There are more than 14,000 Certified Crop Advisers in the U.S. and Canada, with about 600 of them working in Ohio, according to Harold Watters, agronomist with Monsanto and chairman of the Ohio CCA board.

Watters, a member of the Union County Farm Bureau said, "I got involved because I thought the program was important for the industry. Now, as CCAs, we’re trying to provide a service to producers and represent ourselves to the entire agricultural industry."

That representation includes working with Ohio Farm Bureau to develop an annual awards program for an outstanding crop adviser, who will represent the Buckeye State at the American Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in the national awards program. The national CCA award program is co-sponsored with AFBF by the American Society of Agronomy.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s participation in the national awards program is new this year. Both Peach and Watters described a two-fold benefit to offering the award.

"This will be another way to get the CCA message out to the people who can use it," Peach said. "Something we’ve done poorly is promote ourselves to the producer."

Watters echoed those comments: "We’ve got more than 600 CCAs in Ohio, and we’re a somewhat quiet 600."

The second benefit is that it gives producers a way to "recognize those in the industry who do an outstanding job," according to Peach.

"No matter who is nominated, I know it will be a very good individual," Watters said. "And no matter who gets the honor, it will be someone who deserves it."

"This is a voluntary, personal and professional accomplishment," Peach said. "It’s peer-reviewed and nationally recognized as a way to increase the level of professionalism for those who work with producers."

Training for the program includes classroom and hands-on educational experiences and a test. Once someone is certified, he must complete annual continuing education requirements to stay up-to-date with current best management practices.

CCAs are available to answer producers’ questions and give direction about soil fertility, planting guidelines and other aspects of crop production.

Although it’s not required, higher education seems to be the norm with CCAs.

"Virtually everybody has some higher education," Watters said.

One of the easiest ways to find a CCA is to ask for one at your local seed or chemical dealer.

"CCAs can run the gamut from agency officials to Extension personnel to independent crop consultants," said Peach.

More information about the Certified Crop Adviser program is available through a link on the OFBF Web site at www.ofbf.org under Featured Links.

"Producers can know that a CCA has some education; they can know a CCA has signed an ethics statement; they can know the CCA will do the best he or she can for that grower," Watters said.

Nominations can be made by completing a form on Farm Bureau’s Web site, by contacting your county FB office after June 1 or by calling Amy Hurst at 614-249-1775. Nominations are due by Aug. 15, and Ohio’s inaugural winner will be announced at this year’s Farm Science Review in September.