5th Annual Crop Scouting Competition
The event was well attended and was composed of 12 teams that came from across the State of Iowa. Several of the teams were headed up by FFA leaders, local Pioneer dealers and other individuals in the Ag industry serving as the team coach.
The competition was held at the ISU FEEL lab west of Ames. The students were required to complete questions at 11 stations scattered across the FEEL lab. Topics included: weed I.D., calculating yield estimates and disease I.D. to name a few. I was fortunate enough to lead one of the 11 stations at the event. I was able to spend 15 minutes with each group and talk with them about the importance of agriculture, what is the CCA program and how the CCA can potentially help them in their future ag careers.
The group consisted of mostly high school sophomores and older. It was a great opportunity for the students to start thinking about their future careers in Ag Business will be very rewarding to the CCA program in the long run.
Photos Courtesy of Adam Sisson, ISU
2015 CCA Summer Workshop – Registration Open
Thursday, August 20, 2015
9 AM – 3 PM
Jeff & Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center Ames, Iowa
As an Iowa CCA member, the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference would like to inform you of an upcoming educational workshop. This workshop is being offered to CCA’s who attended the 2015 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference at no charge. All other attendees will be charged $50. By attending this workshop you will earn six (6) Soil & Water CEU credits.
The 2015 workshop topics will inform you about critical policy issues facing Iowa agriculture and the implications of those policies for you and your customers. Information will be provided about tools, practices and approaches available to help you and your farmer customers identify and implement science-based nutrient management and environmental stewardship approaches to address these issues in a voluntary and proactive manner. Below is a briefing on what topics will be covered during the 2015 summer workshop.
Emerging Policy & Tools for Managing Crop Nutrients – Advising & Equipping Farmer Customers
Corn Belt Nutrient Policy Issues – Enhancing Crop Advisor Roles to Build Understanding by Farmer Customers & the Public
- Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit
- Toledo, Ohio Lake Erie Drinking Water Issue 2014
- National & Iowa Actions Calling for “Permit to Farm”
- Ohio Ag Retailer Code of Practice & 2015 Ohio Legislation Governing Crop Nutrients
- Talking Points for the Public on Nitrogen Use and Concerns
Emerging Tools for Crop Advisors to Equip Farmers to Respond
- Updated Findings on Cover Crop Strategies
- Key Aspects of the Nitrogen Cycle for Use with Producers
- In-Season Nitrogen Testing Tools for Producer Education & Engagement
- Soil Nitrate Sampling & N Watch
- Demonstration of 360 SoilScan Soil Nitrate Testing
- Nitrogen Test Strips for Use with Drainage & Stream Water Sampling
- New Initiatives for Measuring & Demonstrating Environmental Progress by Farmers
Please see registration form and email to [email protected]
or
visit us at AgribizShowcase.com to register online
Largest Indoor Field Day – Winter 2015 Good Advice
2015 Sessions Highlights
Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015 the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference will include speakers covering industry specific topics. Learn about Climate, UAV Drones, Economics, Soil Testing, and much more! Represented companies include IDALS, ISU, AgSolver, Monsanto, Pioneer, GROWMARK, and other names in your industry.
Iowa CCA of the Year
The Iowa CCA of the year award will be presented at the 2015 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. The recipient will be recognized among peers during the All Industry Luncheon on the Showcase stage. Register today at AgriBizShowcase.com so you can attend this once a year event!
New Board Member Announcement
Adam Kramer of Three Rivers Company, Earlville, Iowa is the newest member of the Iowa CCA Board of Directors. Adam is currently serving as the Agronomy Manager at Three Rivers Company supporting four Iowa Counties. The Iowa CCA Board of Directors wants to welcome Adam in his term from 2015 to 2017; and thank the members who voted in this election. See attached document for more about Adam Kramer and his accomplishments.
Visit the Conference Web site
Download the entire Good Advice Newsletter Here
Greg Schmitz Recognized as Certified Crop Advisor of the Year at AAI Conference
Greg Schmitz, 2014 Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year addressing his fellow CCAs during the Iowa Certified Crop Advisers Recognition Luncheon.
Greg Schmitz, Marketing Manager with Crop Production Services, Inc. was recognized as the Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year. This honor was awarded to Schmitz during the Iowa Certified Crop Advisers’ recognition luncheon at the Agribusiness Association of Iowa’s (AAI) Agribusiness Showcase & Conference, held on February 11 in Des Moines at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) utilize their skills in nutrient and pest management to assist growers with economical and efficient crop production. They also ensure that growers are aware of regulations and utilize best management practices to protect the environment.
Iowa CCA board initiated the Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year designation to recognize a member of the industry who exemplifies CCAs providing professional and effective “good advice” to clients. Past recipients include Mike Gannon (2010), Tracy Cameron (2011), and Bruce Baier (2012).
Schmitz, who lives in Wall Lake, IA, has worked in and around agriculture for the majority of this life. His career began at a retail inputs operation that his father was involved with when Schmitz was in sixth grade. Schmitz worked for Boyer Valley and UAP before joining Crop Production Services, Inc. in 2009.
In addition to awarding the Iowa CCA of the Year to Schmitz, the Iowa Certified Crop Advisers Board of Directors recognized 97 individuals for fifteen years and 58 individuals for twenty years of professionalism and years of service to agriculture as CCAs during the luncheon. EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey and Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp were the luncheon’s featured speakers.
At the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference, approximately 200 CCAs received continuing education training to maintain their certification. AAI offered fourteen hours of continuing education units (CEUs) at the event and will offer six additional hours during a summer session in 2014. A CCA must accumulate a total of forty hours of CEUs every two years to maintain their certification.
Certified Crop Advisors Recognized for Tenure at AAI Conference
The Iowa Certified Crop Advisers Board of Directors recognized 97 individuals for fifteen years and 58 individuals for twenty years of professionalism and years of service to agriculture as CCAs during the annual CCA Recognition Luncheon at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference on Tuesday, February 11. EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey and Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp were the luncheon’s featured speakers.
CCAs utilize their skills in nutrient and pest management to assist growers with economical and efficient crop production. They also ensure that growers are aware of regulations and utilize best management practices to protect the environment.
“Your status as a certified professional demonstrates your dedication to your profession, your employer and your client. Being a CCA shows that you are willing to put in the extra work to get ahead in your field,” said Walter Armstrong, chair of the Iowa CCA board.
Joel Brinkmeyer, CEO of Agribusiness Association of Iowa stated, “I congratulate the CCAs who were recognized for their years of service. CCAs are a valuable resource for producers as they begin to implement new water quality best management practices outlined in Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy. We are delighted the CCAs attended our event for continued training and education. As farmers continue to refine their business, their suppliers and crop advisers will be well trained and ready to share valuable information that will improve their farm operations efficiency, while maintaining an emphasis on environmental improvement.”
At the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference, approximately 200 CCAs received continuing education training to maintain their certification. AAI offered fourteen hours of continuing education units (CEUs) at the event and will offer six additional hours during a summer session in 2014. A CCA must accumulate a total of forty hours of CEUs every two years to maintain their certification.
Chance to Win a Shotgun by Showing Your CCA Pride
The Iowa Certified Crop Advisers will be holding a special shotgun drawing at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference on Wednesday, February 12 just for Iowa CCAs.
How to Enter
- Write your name and CCA number on an 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper.
- Take a picture of that paper next to your CCA sticker which was sent to you in 2013 (click here for example).
- Send the photo to [email protected] by February 7, 2014 for a chance for your name to be drawn for the shotgun on the second day of the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference on Wednesday, 12, 2014.
- You must be present to win.
Good luck!