FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2001
COMPREHENSIVE WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR CROP ADVISERS & CONSULTANTS
SANTEE---The Clemson Extension Service of Calhoun County and Clarendon County invite advisers and consultants who spend the majority of their time advising growers on agronomic practices to attend a CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER WORKSHOP on November 28-30, 2001 at the Ramada Inn in Santee, SC.
To be a Certified Crop Adviser, advisers and consultants must meet the requirements of the American Society of Agronomy’s Certified Crop Adviser Program, the largest certification program in agriculture with over 14,000 certified throughout the US and Canada. In order to be certified program participants must pass two comprehensive exams and have at least 2 years experience with at least a Bachelor of Science Degree in agriculture or 4 years with no degree. In addition, participants must document education and crop advising experience with transcripts and supporting references, sign and agree to uphold the CCA Code of Ethics after certification, earn 40 hours of continuing education (CEUs) every two years, and pay an annual maintenance fee.
Russell Duncan, Clarendon County Extension Agent, and Charles Davis, Calhoun County Extension Agent, have geared the workshop to the four areas of competency that a CCA must complete---Nutrient Management, Soil and Water Management, Integrated Pest Management, and Crop Management.
Duncan said, “These credits are not always easy to obtain. Credits for certain competency areas are more difficult to obtains than others.” He added, “Our goal is to offer a training session that will give Certified Crop Advisers the opportunity to get all 20 credits over a three day period.”
With the topics to be covered at the workshop, each participant should be able to acquire the 5 credits needed in each of the 4 competency area necessary to be certified for the year. Those topics include: Using Precision Ag for Nutrient Management, Diagnosing Problems in Corn & Soybeans, Waste management Fertility Issues, Nutrient Removal Rates vs. Yield Goals, Are Clemson’s Nutrient Recommendations Adequate?, Conservation Tillage Issues, and Soil & Water Considerations in Nutrient & Pest Management. Other topics include: Vegetable Production Issues, Soil Quality Issues, Sales Opportunities in Sustainable Ag, Cotton production Issues, Soil Quality Issues, Weed Identification, Field Crop Nematodes, Wheat “Cheat” Sheet, and Narrow Row No Till Crop Production.
Clemson Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pioneer Seed Co., and Monsanto Company will provide all instruction. Reciprocal CCA CEU credits will be available for North Carolina and Georgia Certified Crop Advisers. In addition, workshop sponsors have applied for pesticide applicator recertification credits from those states and South Carolina.
A $120 fee registers participants for the entire workshop and includes class material, speaker handouts, refreshment breaks, and lunch each day. For those who cannot or do not wish to attend the entire session, registration is $50 a day. Lodging ($43.20/single and $52.20/double) is available at the Ramada Inn, Exit 98 and I-95 at Santee, SC, by calling 803-854-2191.
For more information about the CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER WORKSHOP, contact: Charles Davis, Calhoun County Clemson Extension Service, at 803-874-2354 cdvs@clemson.edu or Russell Duncan, Clarendon County Clemson Extension Service, at 803-435-8429 rdncn@clemson.edu.