FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2001
Cubbage Receives CCA Award
BISHOPVILLE---Randy Cubbage, Director of the Lee County Clemson Extension Service, was honored recently by the South Carolina Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association (SCFAA) as the Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) of the Year.
In one of his final duties as SCFAA President, Frank Oberg presented the award. He said, "Mr. Cubbage is an outstanding example of how CCA's provide hands-on assistance for farmers and others in the industry of agriculture to meet it's environmental changes."
Cubbage encourages growers to use the best management practices possible to continue to be good stewards of the environment. He also manages the "Center of Excellence" demonstration farm near Bishopville, SC, an operation which allows growers to see and compare the labor, time, and fuel cost-savings benefits of minimum tillage versus normal conventional farming.
SCFAA is a professional organization consisting of over 200 fertilizer and crop protection chemical dealers, manufacturers, application equipment company representatives, university professionals, and other representatives of public and private agricultural organizations in the state. The association encourages better understanding, cooperation, and higher ethical standards among all involved in crop protection.
The SCFAA presents the CCA-of-the-Year Award to motivate Certified Crop Advisors to provide a higher degree of service for their customers. The recipient is selected from nominees submitted by their peers to the SCFAA Board of Directors. Previous recipients of the award include Dr. William Hair of Orangeburg and Tom Kemp of Pamplico.
The CCA Program is sanctioned by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Qualified CCAs must adhere to a strict code of ethics mandated by the ASA. To qualify, each CCA must have participated in a training program and passed a rigorous testing. Each CCA candidate is required to complete 40 hours of field and classroom training every two years. Training is provided in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management, and crop management. Dr. Ralph Franklin of the Soils Department of Clemson University administers the ASA program in South Carolina. Currently, there are 104 qualified CCA's in the state registered in the national program.
For more information about the CCA program, visit www.agronomy.org. For more information about the SCFAA or Randy Cubbage, Certified Crop Advisor of the Year, contact Jack Cullipher, SCFAA, at 803-732-9093.