National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants

How To Predict Farm Profitability With Yield History

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:01:00 GMT

By Daniel Fowler, NAICC president

For the past 25 years, we’ve tried to base crop recommendations around proven IPM and all crop fertilization based on soil test results and Liebig’s law of the minimum. I feel this has, for the most part, served our clients well. This winter, while sitting down having conversations with growers about cutting waste and maximizing efficiency in inputs, there isn’t much fat left for them to trim. However, for some clients, this isn’t enough — and that’s difficult to say. Agronomically, I still believe this ‘Keep it Simple’ approach is the foundation to any successful farm operation, but what happens when the agronomics are there and the economics still aren’t working out?

It’s always amazed me how numerous growers can farm in an area around each other with similar crop mixes and all have their own unique styles and approaches. It’s a blessing to be able to step back and attempt to look at a 20,000' perspective to try to see the intricacies of each operation. From this vantage point, we get to see both the good and the bad. As independent consultants, this gives us a unique perspective that is sometimes hard to articulate because these are all hardworking businessmen and businesswomen who are putting it all on the line.

So as agronomists, we stay in our lane. When we see some of the common pitfalls, we often bite our tongues. Many times, the hurdles to farm profitability are issues in the scalability in an operation. The common hazards are usually too much labor, too expensive land rent, lower productive soils, poor marketing plan and/or an excess of equipment for the acres and crop mix. All these pitfalls in this economic environment ultimately cause debt, and we know debt is the leading cause of a farm operation not being profitable.

How We Can Help
With these threats out of our control, how can we help our growers remain viable in a low commodity price environment? One of the ways we are addressing this issue is encouraging growers to research each farm’s yield history. When we examine crop budgets, with inputs already in line, the only way for that budget to show a profit is to increase yield or price. As simple as that sounds, many growers do not examine the yield history on a field-by-field basis. If a field’s yield history does not match or exceed the yield needed for at least breaking even on a budget, then we are simply not setting ourselves up for success. This goes for production potential of a farm and also the ability to properly insure your revenue.

Unfortunately, in many areas, farms are coming available this spring. This will be an opportunity for many operations to grow. If your clients will have growing operations, encourage them to avoid many of the pitfalls this year. And above all, even though times are tight, one area we don’t want our clients to cut is fundamental recommendations based on years of proven university data. These recommendations are foundational. They are not excessive and should provide a return on investment.

How Relationships Can Shape The Success of Regulation

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

By Daniel Fowler, NAICC President

Since 2005, NAICC has jointly sponsored multiple winter “Focus on” workshops. These two-day trainings have covered numerous topics focused on boots-on-the-ground implementation of sound agronomics with new technologies. Past cosponsoring organizations have included Info Ag, American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers, Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants, Iowa Independent Crop Consultants Association, and Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association. On March 4-6, this biannual event will be cohosted by North Carolina Agricultural Consultant Association and called “Focus on Ag.”

During NAICC visits to Capitol Hill, the government affairs committee has strengthened and expanded our relationships with members of Congress and multiple agencies such as EPA, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, etc. During these conversations, it was suggested we could play a pivotal role at county and state level implementation of Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations.

A Unified Voice For Ag
This past summer, NAICC and Weed Science of America hosted local EPA, Fish and Wildlife and other regulatory groups at a farm tour in Wisconsin. Organizing opportunities like these to obtain one-on-one conversations and sharing our expertise is proving to be highly effective to communicate with government officials in the field.

As we try to communicate at the grower, county, state and national levels, there is a need for us to have an informed and unifying message. Each NAICC state affiliate will be given the opportunity to appoint a liaison to the NAICC government affairs committee in hopes this will strengthen our relationships and the flow of information. This subcommittee can be an outlet for each regional group to give their input on national issues as well as receive the latest information from NAICC contacts in Washington, D.C. Increased involvement, with a better exchange of information, can help us leverage our unique position as the independent voice between growers, government agencies and other stakeholders.

Implementation of ESA
Part of this year’s “Focus on Ag” will be the implementation of ESA at the farm level. This is a continuation of focusing on boots on the ground implementation, this time in a changing regulatory environment. It’s also part of a concerted effort to strengthen our relationships at the local level by providing educational opportunities for our members. We hope other state organizations will see the value in these efforts by participating in the new government affairs subcommittee and perhaps reach out to host an event in the future.

NAICC Program Helps To Eliminate Redundancy In Technical Service Provider Training

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 21:08:34 GMT

By Daniel Fowler, NAICC president

USDA-NRCS has recently streamlined the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program by deleting certain AgLearn training modules from the required certification criteria.

The intent of streamlining the TSP certification is not to eliminate all AgLearn training or accept professional certifications as replacement for additional training. Instead, the intent is to eliminate redundancy in training that may already have been achieved through a professional organization certification curriculum and exam requirements.

In response, NAICC developed the Certified Professional Crop Consultant-Nutrient or CPCC-N program that has been approved by NRCS. USDA also determined that the CCA program requirements are acceptable as well.

The TSPs must take the two introductory courses, Field Office Technical Guide (NRCS-NEDC-000149) and TSP Orientation and Conservation Planning (NRCS-NEDC-000191). These were presented at the NAICC meeting in San Antonio, and plans are underway to present them at the upcoming annual meeting in Monterey.

Certified Professional Crop Consultant-Nutrient
In addition to the current requirements for CPCC, anyone who also wants to become a CPCC-N will be able to satisfy the new requirements by completing the following steps:

Take and pass the 4R certification program.
Send the completion certificate to the NAICC headquarters.
Become designated by the NAICC headquarters as a CPCC-N.
Sign up as a TSP using NAICC certification designations: CPCC-N for nutrient management programs or the CPCC designation for all other programs (i.e., IPM conservation programs).

The NAICC CPCC and CPCC-I program are listed as acceptable requirements for TSP under/over 40.

The CPCC-N program will satisfy the following modules:

Nutrient Management, Part 1, Track 1 (AgLearn NRCS-NEDC-000083)
Nitrogen Management and Concerns-No. 2 (AgLearn NRCS-NHQ-000039)
Phosphorous Management and Concerns-No. 3 (AgLearn NRCS-NHQ-000040)

Discover Unique Takeaways For Your Career Path At NAICC’s 2025 Gathering

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:03:01 GMT

By Debra Stroschein, NAICC president

Our 2024 season is winding down, and NAICC is looking ahead to our January 20-24 annual meeting in Monterey, California, at the Monterey Conference Center.

We encourage all members to attend as the event will have educational tracks for crop consultants, contract researchers and QA professionals. Each will cover current trends, regulations and new tech.

Session Highlights
Our emerging and evolving technology session will be held on Thursday. Industry partners and members will showcase new crop protection products under development, new uses of current chemistries and new equipment and software. The consultant sessions will begin with a joint session with researchers on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and herbicide and insecticide strategies. Other sessions include the consultant’s role in ESA implementation, integrated pest management and soil fertility.

Speakers will explore timely artificial intelligence in agriculture, biologicals, employee management, the product development process and becoming a better auditor.

California Farm Tour
In addition to a full education lineup, we will also have a researcher capability poster session, which is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Another highlight to anticipate on Tuesday is the California farm tour. We will start at Tanimura and Antle and tour its facility, looking at drip tape installation and planting and application technology.

Then, we will head to the Ocean Mist plant and follow that stop with lunch and a tour of Odonata Winery. This outing will highlight California agriculture: artichokes, wine grapes and everything in between.

Salinas is widely known as the “salad bowl of the world” in agriculture. Its large-scale production of lettuce and other leafy greens make it a major production center for fresh produce in the country. Here’s a fun fact to share with others on the tour: the Salinas Valley produces about 70% of all the lettuce grown in California and a little more than 50% of the lettuce grown in the U.S.

I can’t wait to see everyone in my home state of California in January! NAICC, to me, is family, so I look forward to seeing everyone again and getting educated.

NAICC's Third Annual Equipment Auction Is Open

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:52:50 GMT

NAICC is hosting its fall equipment auction now through Friday, Nov. 22 to benefit members.

The auction is fully online and bidding is open to ag researchers and the crop consulting community. Previous sales have seen both large and small equipment such as:

Smith NL400 Backpack Sprayer
Almaco Seed Sorter
Almaco Push Planter - 1 Row Crop Seeder
1948 Farmall M Tractor
2000 Spray Tech Shrouded Sprayer
1993 Polaris Sportsman Quad 500cc
2014 SRES Adjustable 4- row Planter
1988 ALMACO SPC20 Base Combine
2008 Wintersteiger Classic Plot Combine
2014 Kincaid 8-XP 2 Row Research Plot Combine

Sellers’ fees are based on determined value. Buyers’ fees range from 4.8% (with a minimum of $1,250) to 12% (up to $10,000). There is a cap of $1,500 for items priced over $30,001.

Lot fees are $25, and sellers have the option to place a reserve on an item. Consignments will be accepted until November 19.

To enter a consignment, email NAICCAuctions@naicc.org. To bid, visit www.naicchibid.com .

NAICC's Wisconsin Farm Tour Focuses on Finding Common Ground

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 21:29:20 GMT

This fall, NAICC and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) hosted a farm tour in Wisconsin for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officials to discuss what successful implementation of Endangered Species Act (ESA) mitigation practices looks like for EPA and FWS, brainstorm how success is defined by each group and find common ground. We welcomed seven EPA attendees and three from FWS.

The first stop on the tour was in Delavan, Wisconsin, at Great Lakes Ag Research Service’s farm. FWS educated the group on the habitat of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. The group discussed how farmers can continue to farm field edge to field edge while protecting the habitat through the use of mitigation practices and preserving essential habitat.

Stop No. 2 was at Dale and Denise Theel’s farm in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Here, the group learned how farmers are actively improving habitat for pollinators such as the rusty patched bumble bee. By utilizing cover crops and prairie strips, a habitat is being created to attract pollinators and still allow for normal crop production. This farm is part of the Wisconsin Demonstration Farm Network, and the group discussed how such a model could be used in other regions.

Next up was Coloma Farms in Coloma, Wisconsin. This stop focused on potato production and how pivot corners could be utilized to create habitat. Discussion centered on ESA buffers and how they affect potato pest management.

Day two began at Jim and Nodji Van Wychen’s cranberry farm in Warrens, Wisconsin. The group learned about cranberry production and its unique challenges. EPA offered input into how buffers would be interpreted on this farm and how most of the practices utilized by producers would be recognized as mitigations for ESA. EPA emphasized its goal is to give farmers as much credit for things they are already doing for conservation to count toward ESA mitigations. The group also learned more about cranberry production at the Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station in Black River Falls.

The final stop on the tour was the WinField United Innovation Center in River Falls, Wisconsin. Here, everyone learned about WinField’s work to test drift reduction agents and nozzles. The group discussed how this technology is helping preserve critical habitats for endangered species.

The Takeaway
One important discussion that took place is how farmers and agronomists don’t understand the ESA right now. Soon after the tour ended, the NAICC governmental affairs committee met with Tim Kiely, a farm tour participant and acting deputy director for EPA’s pesticide re-evaluation division. His team is working on ways to communicate with not only growers but also commodity groups and consultants. They are currently developing a mitigation calculator to help farmers meet the label requirements.

Crop Consultants Speak to Value of Keeping Good Company

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:16:54 GMT

By Deb Stroschein, NAICC president

I have been an NAICC member for more than 30 years and can remember meeting Bill Cox. He introduced himself, took me by the hand and led me to the research education committee meeting. He introduced me to Ray Young, and we all chatted for about an hour. The following year, they both told me I would be president one of these days. Little did I know.

Over the years, I’ve learned the benefits of being a member are huge, and the more you become involved, the more you get back. I can call up just about any member across the country, ask a crop-specific question and get an answer within hours.

The education opportunities are another benefit. I come to meetings, learn about topics relevant to my career and get updated on current issues.

Making connections may be the greatest benefit. Meetings have become somewhat of a family reunion.

Trips to Washington, D.C., are also extremely valuable. We know what affects our farmers, and we get to advocate for them.

I didn’t know Ray and Bill would be right, but I’ve had the privilege of being president twice. It’s an honor to be in such great company.

NAICC: Sustainability Isn’t New To American Farmers

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:15:08 GMT

By Debra Stroschein, NAICC President

Sustainable agricultural practices are intended to protect the environment, expand the earth’s natural resource base and maintain and improve soil fertility. A goal is to increase farm-level profitability.

People say the American farmer is not doing such practices, but I say American farmers have promoted sound environmental practices since they started farming. Some farmers have implemented no-till practices or cover crops that allow them to keep the soil viable and active.

Almost 20 years ago, our valley started a fallowing program due to the drought. We needed to save water because Lake Mead and Lake Powell were getting low. We can fallow some fields up to five years in the program. Then, they must be brought back into production. When fields are brought back into production, I’ve noticed the soil profile is quite dry, and it needs moisture. This takes a lot of water. Plus, all the nutrients placed in the soil are now gone, which hurts the soil profile. The soil needs a lot of work to be viable. So, what is the solution? Revising the program so that it would allow for growing a cover crop on the surface—one that would use relatively little water—would be a happy medium. A different program needs to focus on soil health.

Regenerative Benefits

Regenerative agriculture is defined as a way of farming that focuses on soil health. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition. It also stores more carbon, and the biodiversity is increased.

In Blythe, California, one farmer has been running studies on regenerative farming for two years—a conventional field next to a no-till field. All practices are the same, except the no-till field does not use conventional practices such as deep tillage. The soil in the no-till field is healthier; retains more water; and percolates through the soil profile easier, which results in less runoff. The farm can become a net emitter of carbon. When I was younger, this was how it was. I remember my dad putting back into the soil what it had given.
American farmers have the passion to grow crops without taking away from one of the most precious resources—their land. I grew up using tools around us. We put manure from feedlots on fields, and in the summer, we grew a crop of hemp and chopped it to add to the soil. My father called it regenerative farming.

NAICC Recognizes Their Outstanding Leaders

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 20:30:00 GMT

Since the Consultant of the Year award was established in 1993, NAICC has sought to honor its members who have illustrated leadership within and outside the organization. Last year, the program was updated to honor three professionals with these awards : Crop Consultant of the Year, QA of the Year and Researcher of the Year.

NAICC is extremely grateful to our previous award winners for representing the organization well, and we congratulate the new recipients of these awards.

Consultant of the Year Award: Josh Erbes
Centrol Inc. | Argusville, North Dakota
Josh Erbes specializes in general agronomy, variety selection and resistance management on soybeans, corn, wheat, sugar beets, sunflowers and dry edible beans. He has been in the consulting business for 15 years in North Dakota and Minnesota and covers more than 5,000 acres.

Erbes has been an NAICC member for 10 years and is also a member of the Ag Consultants Association of North Dakota where he served as president. He is a certified Technical Service Provider and a Certified Crop Adviser. He also has been elected by his peers to a three-year term to the Centrol board of directors.

QA of the Year Award: Angela Barricklow-Dawson
Quality Assurance Manager | The Carringers Inc. | Boody, Illinois
Angela Barricklow-Dawson is an expert on EPA and OECD Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations and has been an instructor for the NAICC basic GLP training for more than 10 years.

She conducts studies in agriculture and biotechnology and continues her education by attending NAICC meetings and has been presenting since 2010. She is a member of the research/QA education committee; QA education subcommittee, where she served as chair for four years; and CropLife America Working Group.

Barricklow-Dawson is a member, mentor, liaison and committee member of SQA; member of Midwest SQA; and member of GAIAC.

Researcher of the Year: David Moore
President, founder and research scientist | Southeast Ag Research | Chula, Georgia
David Moore specializes in conducting efficacy and GLP research on all Southeast-grown crops, including standard row crops, vegetable crops and orchard crops.

He places GLP trials handling MOR, decline and biotech or regulated seed and efficacy work including herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, biostimulants, nutrition and variety trials.

AI’s Role In Consulting

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 22:09:15 GMT

By Debra Stroschein

Could artificial intelligence (AI) replace a consultant?

In the digital world, AI is bringing forward the ability of a computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings, as defined by Britannica. The world population is expected to grow to 10 billion people by 2050, and agriculture will have to maximize production and yields to keep up with this population boom. How can we address the food shortages, use technology to enhance productivity on existing farmland or expand land use by adopting large-scale farming?

Today, so many obstacles prevent a farmer from achieving maximum productivity. During the past president’s session at the recent NAICC conference, keynote speaker Ray Starling asked attendees about the issues we face today. Several issues were raised. They included limited land holdings, labor shortages, environmental issues, water issues and diminishing soil fertility. Agriculture today evolves so quickly, and the industry is very innovative. Constantly, new technologies are available to improve efficiency and yield.

Can AI Help?
Can data-based decisions fit in the agricultural world? Can AI replace a person such as a consultant? Can a computer pick up the meticulous insights, thoughts, talents and experience a seasoned consultant brings to clients? The consultant knows the history and the little details of the field that the computer may only have an opportunity to pick up on the data entered into it.

Many clients also prefer the face-to-face interaction and wealth of knowledge their consultants offer relative to technology-based solutions. For example, a client may choose a seasoned consultant who works long hours instead of one who flies a drone to the field, sends the information to his phone and writes the recommendation from home.

Another example of AI is auto traps, which automatically count insect moths. Here’s an example of how they’re used with navel orangeworms. A picture is taken daily, and the number of worms is counted. The bottom of the trap rolls daily. This sounds good in theory. However, a few days go by, and on day three, a bird gets caught in the trap, and a second bird lands. Then, the telemetry goes down at the tower and breaks the T-post in half. Turns out a cougar chasing deer had hit the trap. What did the AI technology save the consultant? Nothing. AI can be useful in cases such as capturing soil and fertility data. But then again, you are only as good as your input.

I feel AI is a tool, but it will not replace the consultant. You can’t use AI to figure out what you know, and you can’t use AI to figure out your talent.

Meet The New NAICC President: Debra Stroschein

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:22:22 GMT

I am honored to lead NAICC into 2024. I have been a contract researcher in California for 30 years, and I have my crop consultant license for California in all categories. I am also a third-generation farmer in southern California. My family has farmed in Blythe since 1943, and I currently farm 1,400 acres—mainly alfalfa. With this experience, I see what agriculture faces today from many perspectives. It is daunting.

As I watched my dad farm over the years and saw all the stresses of farming—examples include managing the risks and constantly trying to deal with things that were out of his control—I learned farming wasn’t easy, but it was something he loved to do. He had a passion for it. American farmers still do the job they love to do with the full passion that my dad had until the day he died.

I inherited that passion and drive. I remember the good and the bad. The alfalfa market in California was at an all-time high in 2022, but so were the inputs. Our farming skills were put to the test. We had to fight the input costs as well as the drought. The other crops in California were at an all-time low in return. Supply chain issues caused materials to not be available, which was another major concern for the farmer. This held true across the U.S.

The same issues remained throughout 2023. Fertilizer prices seemed to level off, and demand lowered a bit, but the drought was still a concern. Consultants were the saving grace. Having an independent crop consultant on your team is valuable. As a grower, I value the assistance the consultant gives me with looking at changes in the laws, researching the correct tools and making sure I have the right product at the right rate and at the right time.

Who knows what 2024 will bring us, but I am glad I have a consultant on my team to help me navigate my way through the rough roads. I know California is supposed to have an El Niño year, so let’s see what Mother Nature throws at us. There is not anything we cannot do. My father always said, “The farmer is not just a farmer today; he or she is a scientist, a computer expert, an engineer, a mechanic, a mathematician and sometimes a psychiatrist.”

We just need the correct tools to handle the challenges and opportunities, and I feel one of them is having an agricultural adviser assist you.

We invite you to attend the 2024 NAICC Annual Meeting and Ag Pro Expo . There, you can network with the crème de la crème of crop consultants, contract researchers and quality assurance professionals from all across the U.S. and the world.

NAICC's Look Back On 2023

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:47:14 GMT

By Clark Poppert

The year is coming to an end, and I am finishing my term as the NAICC president. This year as president has been an enjoyable one that was highlighted by working with a great executive board. Many significant things have happened in the past year, and I felt it would be appropriate to look back and search out the most important occurrences of the year.

The summer’s drought expanded eastward and affected much of the Corn Belt. The western regions of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and the Dakotas saw substantial improvements as did the western third of the U.S. — with only a small amount of Washington becoming drier. The southern tier of the country faced worsening drought conditions from Arizona to Alabama as Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina all fell into conditions warranting a severe drought notation in areas. Southeast Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri went from bad to worse, and the yields in these areas were down when compared to normal. The drought in these areas was labeled as extreme to exceptional.

Overall, weather conditions in the U.S. did improve dramatically throughout 2023.

WOTUS was the big agricultural newsmaker out of Washington, D.C., this year. In my opinion, this was a landmark ruling in favor of agriculture. I wrote about this subject in last month’s article with the main takeaway being that the Supreme Court ruled against WOTUS and stated the policy had too much overreach and power of the intermittent streams and non-navigable rivers in the U.S. This was welcome news for the American farmer and all of U.S. agriculture.

Commodity prices concern some growers as we approach the end of the year. Corn prices have fallen from close to $6/bu. to $4.75/bu. as I am writing this. Weather concerns in Brazil have some of the markets looking bullish, but that outlook changes from week to week. Soybean prices start around $13.90/bu. and are currently at $13.95/bu., though they did drop to $12/bu. over the summer. Wheat prices have continued on a steady decline throughout the course of the year. We had two nice spikes this summer around harvest, but they again declined from approximately $8/bu. to $5.75/bu. in mid-November.

It has been a pleasure to write NAICC’s column for The Scoop this past year. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a profitable 2024.

WOTUS: Where Do We Go on the Clean Water Act?

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:30:00 GMT

By Clark Poppert, NAICC president

On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court decided Sackett v. EPA—a case with significant implications for the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Although the Court unanimously agreed the lower court had applied the wrong standard for determining when wetlands are considered waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) based on their adjacency to other jurisdictional waters, it split 5-4 on the appropriate test. Given CWA’s lack of a clear definition of WOTUS, the majority formally adopted an earlier approach taken by a four-justice plurality in the 2006 case Rapanos v. U.S.

Under the majority’s test, “waters” are limited to relatively permanent bodies of water connected to traditionally navigable waters and wetlands. They are “waters of the U.S.” in their own right because they have a continuous surface connection to other jurisdictional waters.

The Supreme Court’s opinion made it clear that the significant nexus test is unlawful. However, the government didn’t provide guidance on how to proceed. A revised rule was released in August.

Why It’s Important Now
I recently spoke at a meeting on issues NAICC has been working on throughout the summer.

Most knew of the pilot projects that EPA released on the Endangered Species Act and the Herbicide Strategy Framework. However, I was surprised that many weren’t aware of the details of WOTUS or the recent court decision.

A few attendees asked more about WOTUS and what the decision might mean for growers and consultants.

I’m not an attorney, but these conversations led to discussions on the importance of being fully informed on federal-level regulatory activities.

NAICC, along with other organizations, will continue to monitor the work of the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers as they construct regulations consistent with the court’s decision to ensure the best possible outcome for our grower-clients.

The Difference Between Scouts and Independent Consultants

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:14:50 GMT

By Clark Poppert

NAICC has been active in our nation’s capital for many years, and 2023 is no exception. We promote independent crop consultants, contract researchers and quality assurance professionals to policymakers and educate them on how we assist growers in farm profitability and environmental stewardship decisions.

We explain to them the wide range of services offered and while our members play different roles, they are united in providing quality service to growers.

Answers to Unknown Symptoms and Pests
Independent crop consultants diagnose field problems and make recommendations. We work to improve our growers’ management of changing field conditions.

NAICC consultants prepare field-level maps and record planting dates, varieties and acreage to keep an accurate account of each field. Through this process, the grower or farm manager receives reports of field conditions and yield assessments.

We also maintain awareness of crop health and carry out additional assessments. Independent crop consultants supervise all scouts while on farms by providing safety training, directing them to fields, recommending walking routes for field coverage and identifying areas that need more intensive sampling.

The crop consultant interprets all observations from the scout(s) and other consultants into actionable items for the farm owner or manager.

Scouts Monitor Fields
They assess, identify and characterize infestations, diseases and crop performance. Scouts communicate observations to independent consultants with concise and accurate reports.

Many scouts assist independent consultants in soil sampling and other business requirements. We encourage scouts to pursue continuous knowledge acquisition and skill improvement as well as communicate ideas and recommendations for systems improvement to senior-level consultants.

Field scouts and independent crop consultants work hand in hand to provide trusted, reliable services to our grower-clients. It is our job to remind those in Washington, our neighbors and clients of the differences between the two, so they understand how both are essential for profitable production agriculture.

NAICC: A Wild And Bumpy Ride

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:00:00 GMT

by Clark Poppert, NAICC President

This year has become a nightmare for some U.S. farmers while others have enjoyed the reprieve from drought. The past three years have featured higher than normal commodity prices, but much of that price has been offset by record high input prices. Inflation took its toll as did supply issues and weather phenomena.

In 2022, the High Plains were the epicenter of the drought. Nonirrigated corn in areas that usually receive less than 19" of rain per year annually received far less than that, and corn did not reach the appropriate growth stages before dying. In many cases, cutting for silage was not an option because of high nitrate concerns in the crop. Many of these areas have received normal to above normal rains so far in 2023 and have been lowered to abnormally dry or the moderate stage of drought.

Kansas continues to suffer from heavy drought conditions that have affected crops for at least two years. This year specifically has seen the drought area move east to include the majority of the Corn Belt. At the time I am writing this article, the Midwest or eastern Corn Belt has gone from 80% of the area being normal to 85% showing some level of dryness to drought. The High Plains region or western Corn Belt has regressed from 80% in an area of abnormal dryness to drought all the way back to 40% in that category. Kansas and Nebraska remain the most affected.

Eric Richardson, a row crop farmer and cattle rancher, owns a feedlot close to Lake City, Iowa. He has been debating what to do with the corn stored in the elevator. He would have liked to have priced it earlier but saw the dry conditions spreading from the High Plains into the Midwest.

“I wanted to market the corn before the prices dropped, but I am considering bringing it home from the elevator to feed cattle this winter,” he said. “It all depends on the weather this year. As of now, we have about 4" of moist soil on top, but it gets very dry below that.”

If there is not much of a crop this year, then he will have to feed what he has stored in town at the elevator and then face the problem of what do you do with next year’s calves.

The past two years have brought about immense supply chain issues that range from chemicals to equipment. The issues seem to be sorting themselves out, but delays and parts are still issues. Chemicals were not immune to the shortages as we did not have the product inventory that we have had in the past. Prices of some chemicals increased dramatically. However, for some others, prices only increased a small percent.

Inflation has leveled off to some extent, but prices will probably never return to the ones to which we are accustomed. Demand has dropped, commodity prices have dropped, weather has turned dry, and input prices have increased. This is mostly due to fertilizer costs.

The year has been a wild ride so far and looks as if that will continue into 2024. Not too many people want to depend on insurance or any form of government help, but we must have a safety net. Hang on folks because it could get bumpy.

NAICC Focuses on Teaching, Not Lobbying

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:00:00 GMT

By Clark Poppert

March was a busy time for the NAICC with its yearly trip to Washington, DC. for visits to Capitol Hill, USDA, and EPA. Each year, the Government Affairs Committee and the Executive Board venture to our nation’s capitol to visit our representatives, Senators, Agency policy-makers, and the commodity groups in the DC area.

I will be the first to admit that I was not the most excited person in the world to venture to DC to lobby on behalf of agriculture. Not that I did not believe in what we stood for in agriculture, but more so the word “lobby.” At the time I envisioned the word lobby, meant that you would travel to “The Hill” and state your position to people that already had made their decision. “Money Talks” was another phrase that I heard from others when I discussed spending time in DC. My opinion was that we were wasting our time and that we were to small and insignificant to weigh in the decision that affected us and our clients. This attitude persisted until I met with my first Senator in 2018.

As I was setting up meetings with the Representatives from Nebraska, a sense of dread was hanging over my head. This feeling was prevalent until I met with Senator Fischer from my home state of Nebraska. We spoke with her Legislative Aid for 10 minutes until the Senator arrived. After a short time, I realized that we were not actually lobbying, we were teaching. Not only teaching but exchanging ideas, views and information. My attitude changed dramatically, 180 degrees to be exact. I found Senator Fischer as down to earth, thoughtful, and willing to listen and learn.

I also found that it is improbable if not impossible for a Senator or Member of Congress to know every detail of all of the bills that are presented or voted upon. I was very impressed with the knowledge of the Congressional aids and staffers possess and the reasoning they have for advising the Representatives the way they do. They are truly knowledgeable and do not receive the accolades they deserve. I have been in meetings with Representatives from other states that were not familiar with our positions as the voice of consultants, researchers, and QAs. The Legislative Aid explained our position to them in a very detailed way and then explained the Representatives’ position, and why they were positioned the way they are. It was at this time I understood that it takes far more than one person to come to a consensus and vote a certain way.

As we prepare for our 2023 visit to Washington, DC, I am excited to represent our industry and our positions to our elected leaders. Teaching, not lobbying, is our focus and I am proud that I will be in Washington, DC to assist in educating our elected leaders on the needs of agriculture.

Three Exciting Meetings Kick Off The New Year

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMT

By Clark Poppert, NAICC President

The 2023 NAICC Annual Meeting was held Jan. 26-28 in beautiful downtown Nashville, Tennessee, at the Omni Nashville. The site was only two blocks from the famed Broadway Street, which housed live bands up and down the bustling sidewalks. Great food was in abundance, and many landmarks were visited. Those included the Ryman Theater, Grand Ole Opry and Jack Daniel Distillery. The annual meeting was more than sightseeing. Sessions during the meeting focused on great topics. The meeting was separated into three tracks: one for consultants, one for contract researchers and one for quality assurance professionals.

The first sessions for consultants focused on carbon accumulation and sustainability. The speakers went into great detail explaining the subject of carbon accumulation in different soil types. This subject is in its infancy, and carbon storage in soils is a new path that needs to be investigated.

Later, the consultant track covered thresholds. The first session was a great revisit of why we use thresholds and why they are important in agriculture. This was a nice reminder of why they were developed and should be used. Another session covered developing thresholds for fungicides in corn and soybeans. This is such a tricky subject and not easily accomplished when looking at the variables included in this decision. Weather, variety, irrigation, planting dates and plant damage are all to be considered.

I spoke with researchers who said the sessions in their track were also very beneficial. Soil biome was the topic for one session, and emerging issues in row crop research and tree crop research were other topics during the week. Another session addressed “What is realistic in spraying and AI?” The pre-meeting’s efficacy workshop and good laboratory practices (GLP) training were high points, according to the researchers, and these are usually one of the favorites and most educational sessions offered.

The track for quality assurance professionals had interesting topics. One session compared and contrasted the EPA and the OECD regulations. The OECD regulations are followed outside the U.S. in countries such as Canada. The agriculture industry is changing so quickly that researchers and the EPA need to be on the same page. They are familiar with working together, but as time moves forward and technology continues to expand, teamwork is more important. Knowing what the EPA is allowing and how it wants it done is very important, and the session was very educational. The pre-meeting GLP training was a high point for attendees, and it is usually one of the favorites and most educational sessions that is offered.

NAICC celebrated its 45th anniversary in Nashville, and it was one for the record books. The Ag Pro Expo sold out, and it expanded into the main foyer. This year’s annual meeting had 827 attendees, which surpassed the old record of 772 in San Antonio in 2020. In each of the past five years, attendance has risen. The exception was 2021 when we were coming off of the pandemic and 538 attended in Orlando, Florida. The full-day Efficacy Research Training had 115 attendees, 54 attended the GAIAC/NAICC Biostimulants Workshop, and 152 attended the GLP training before the meeting.

Momentum For More Through 2023

NAICC began 2023 with a great start including 115 new members. We have a lot of plans for 2023. The Focus on Consulting workshop took place on Feb. 21-22, in Bloomington, Minnesota. Then, it’s on to Washington, D.C., where the executive board, the governmental affairs committee members and staff will canvas Capitol Hill and visit several federal agencies to discuss the farm bill as well as multiple regulations that are in the process of being implemented. We will conclude our trip with the 25th Annual Crawfish Boil on the Hill, March 22. NAICC is hard at work for its members.

NAICC: We The People …

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 15:00:00 GMT

By Grant McMillan, NAICC President

On July 4, 1776, something very important occurred in human history. It was the first time that a government was formed with the intention of it working for the people—where the people tell it what to do. Up until that point, the standard was that the government told the people what to do. President Reagan once said the government is the vehicle, and the people are the driver.

Your Call To Serve

This time of year, a lot of ag organizations begin preparing for annual meetings and selecting people to serve on boards to help guide these organizations through the upcoming year. For an organization to be successful, it needs these positions to be filled with individuals who represent its membership’s diversity and unique geographic, ethnic and generational demographics.

The more diversity that an organization is able to incorporate into its leadership group, the better its members will be able to drive the “vehicle” and the better the organization’s people will be able to relate to the organization.

A major roadblock that organizations face is the struggle to transition members to leadership positions. Having spent time on the boards of numerous organizations throughout my career, I cannot begin to sum up the time spent on selecting candidates for elections. And the concerning thing is the low percentage of people who accept to run versus the number of people asked.

Easier to Say ‘Yes’

I know the contributing factors to a “no” response center on questions potential candidates ask themselves. Those include “Am I qualified to do this?” and “Do I have enough time to commit to this?”

The answer to the first question should be “yes.” Sometimes, being humble can get in the way of owning your personal accomplishments. Remember, if you were not qualified, then you would not be asked.

For the second question, the answer should also be “yes” as the time commitment can be a fluid situation throughout the year as the organization’s needs change, depending on goals or issues at hand. But in the grand picture, the time commitment is not that great.

With any new experience, we are getting outside of our comfort zones, and that entails a certain level of fear and anxiety about failing yourself, the people who you look up to or the people who depend on you. Organizations have various support structures in place to help with onboarding new people, and they realize new board members will need time to get up to speed, feel comfortable in their roles and get their feet under them.

The Present of Your Presence

While playing with my daughter, I have realized it’s sometimes not all about the physical role of playing but more about the supportive role of being present and available when needed. The situation is similar when you serve on boards. You represent the people. Just be present and available to support them when needed.

NAICC: #LETSTALK Mental Health

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 20:24:33 GMT

Over the past few years, we in agriculture have had an increased awareness of mental health—and rightfully so. The agriculture industry is dynamic, and growers are at times under extreme pressure as they deal with factors they can’t always control. I personally know a farmer or two who struggled, and the outcome was not what it should have been. The consulting world is no different. We inherit the problems of our clients and are expected to provide solutions to their problems. We’re often expected to perform miracles to keep a program moving forward—with the expectation that our advice cannot be wrong. We experience all of this on top of running our own businesses and taking part in family activities.

Midway through the summer, I got a call out of the blue from a researcher whom I had not heard from for some time. Almost immediately after I said hello, the caller spent a good five minutes telling me about the various stresses that they were dealing with as the result of business struggles caused by weather, personnel and clientele deadlines. At one point, this person was very forward and said “By the way, Grant, this is a mental health call!” For me, this call was a timely one as I was having a difficult period navigating the daily stresses of my season. Our call lasted a good 20 minutes, and in the end, it did us both good to hear others are dealing with the same problems. The discussion provided an outlet and a sounding board for both of us.

Traditionally, this type of conversation would have been classified as a sign of weakness and perceived as whining or incapability to do the job. We know better. These discussions have become more accepted, encouraged and viewed as signs of strength.

I have been a researcher-consultant for 20 years, and I feel I have built up a good tolerance to the stresses this job can bring to the table. Often, by Thanksgiving, I find I can take a breath, and by Christmas, I can breathe. But I will not lie that the cumulative sum of stresses caused by short staffing, weather and other pandemic-related factors during the past three seasons has pushed me to an extreme. The only thing getting me through it is by talking to my peers, family and colleagues, and I encourage you to do the same to catch your breath, too.

WOTUS Comment Period Is Underway

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:28 GMT

Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) is back in review for changes that could positively affect the agricultural community. According to the WOTUS update website:

“The proposed definition specifically clarifies that “waters of the United States” do not include features that flow only in response to precipitation; groundwater, including groundwater drained through subsurface drainage systems; certain ditches; prior converted cropland; artificially irrigated areas that would revert to upland if artificial irrigation ceases; certain artificial lakes and ponds constructed in upland; water-filled depressions created in upland incidental to mining or construction activity; storm water control features excavated or constructed in upland to convey, treat, infiltrate, or store stormwater run-off; wastewater recycling structures constructed in upland; and waste treatment systems. In addition, the agencies are proposing to clarify and define the terms “prior converted cropland” and “waste treatment system” to improve regulatory predictability and clarity.”

This proposed adjustment will remove some of the “fuzzy” restricted areas that were previously proposed that could greatly affect agricultural fertilizer and pesticide use across the U.S. and reduce our ability to properly treat the fields we and our customers farm. The public comment period ends February 28, 2019, so we will hopefully soon have a better understanding of the new rules.

You can get more information on what’s going on with WOTUS here: https://www.epa.gov/wotus-rule

Certification Shows Agronomists' Commitment To The Industry, Farmers

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:28 GMT

With agriculture ever-changing, and regulations becoming more and more stringent, being certified by a state or local certification program is becoming crucial to practicing as a professional agronomist in the U.S.

We are all aware California has led the charge in environmental restrictions that choke agriculture and have Europe-like restrictions that affect the whole country. An agronomist in California must be a pest control adviser (PCA) certified to make recommendations to growers unless he or she is an official of the Department of Agriculture, a University of California staff person or the operator of the property.

Whether a PCA is independent or works for a retail outlet, he or she must pass the laws, regulations and basic principles exam and must be licensed in each of the categories in which he or she will be making recommendations. After an agronomist has obtained PCA certification, he or she must register with the county agricultural commissioner in the county where he or she will practice, retain a copy of each certification, provide property operators with a copy of written recommendations prior to an application and provide pesticide dealers and applicators with a copy of written recommendations. A PCA must complete 40 hours of continuing education courses within a two-year period of each cycle. These courses must be approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

North Carolina has a similarly structured requirement with its own certification program. The regulations are not as stringent as those for a certified professional crop consultant (CPCC) or certified crop adviser (CCA), but you must be certified.

In contrast, in the United Kingdom (U.K.), for an agronomist to make a chemical recommendation, he or she must be registered and a member of the British Agrochemicals Safety Inspection Scheme (BASIS). BASIS is an independent organization that sets and audits the standards for recommending chemical and fertilizer recommendations. Within BASIS, agronomists must perform 50 points or hours of continuing education units per year just to keep their certificates valid. Additionally, for an agronomist to make any fertilizer recommendations to a grower, one must either be a member of BASIS or a Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme (FACTS) Qualified Adviser. To become a FACTS Qualified Adviser, one must pass an initial exam, maintain 20 hours of annual training and complete an annual exam.

After an agronomist meets all the qualifications, he or she is ready to start making recommendations to a grower. However, before an agronomist makes a recommendation to a grower, the grower must be certified with the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO). The grower must maintain 12 hours of continuing professional development and pass a test annually. On top of these requirements, the grower or retailer must be tested for accuracy through the National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS). An agronomist in the U.K. must be very well-trained to make any fertilizer or chemical recommendations.

If your state does not have these requirements or certifications, then NAICC has three categories within the CPCC program. It has the CPCC for industry professionals, an independent status for consultants and a researcher status for researchers. For more information, please visit NAICC.org.

Being certified has long been a model of professionalism. Having your certification shows your clients you have the education, training and expertise to give them the best advice possible. Strict regulations are not going away and will be the norm across the union. Be ahead of the game, and get certified.

NAICC: Are UAVs The Future of Crop Consulting?

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:28 GMT

Matt Eich is the current NAICC president and a consultant with Centrol Crop Consulting in Volga, S.D. For more, go to www.NAICC.org.

Every year, I question if using UAVs—or drones as I’ll refer to them here—this season will help me become more efficient and help my customers.

Since drones entered the agriculture scene, they have been pushed as the next best thing and as a replacement for a person in the field. Consultants had the promise of virtually scouting fields from the comfort of their offices. Although many practical uses of drones have been discovered and implemented, replacing boots in the field has yet to become a reality.

PRACTICAL USES OF DRONES IN AGRICULTURE
Most commonly, drones create imagery—visual or multispectral images—to produce an in-depth overview of the field. One can determine crop health at a snapshot in time, identify areas that need additional fertility, gauge whether the crop is moisture-stressed from drought or excess rain or assess whether a crop has disease that we cannot yet see with the naked eye.

When my company, Centrol Crop Consulting, first acquired a drone many years ago, deciding how to use it was up in the air. In the early years, having a drone seemed like the thing to do, so we went through the process of purchasing one. At the time, fewer companies were selling drones, so it wasn’t as easy then as it is today to find a suitable drone. We used the drone to fly fields using visual, near infrared or NDVI imagery to calculate the results. We saw some decent results; however, in the end, we decided that engaging a firm with higher quality equipment was better suited for our needs and our customers.

Drones do have practical uses, however. Here’s one example. A local insurance company had heard that Centrol had a drone, and it contacted us with a claim in which one of its insured had cattle get in a neighbor’s fields and damage the crop. We learned 120 cow-calf pairs had decided that the nearly mature corn in two sections was tastier than the forage growing in their own pasture. After learning how large of an area had been impacted, a drone was the perfect tool to measure the damage.

We flew the two sections of corn with the drone, and then, we took the data back to the office and processed multiple maps from the flight. After importing the images into our software, we found the total acreage with yield loss.

After viewing the areas that were affected, I was then able to cross-check the damage in several areas using the maps generated from the drone flights and give the insurance company an accurate estimate of damage.

This was a huge savings in time, and it would have been almost impossible to do from the ground.

Many Options But Still Many Obstacles
Today, drones have highly technical and advanced imagery equipment available. A large number of companies offering drones, equipment and software make the promise that you can do about anything a human in the field can do—and then some. Although this may be true when it comes to collecting NIR, thermal and other technical data, the flying and data collection are the “easy” parts at this time. Once you have your data, you must process the data into usable information. This is something that still takes a lot of time and is really an additional tool in the toolbox, not a replacement for a scout in the field.

As of now, drones are tools that we as consultants can use to help us serve our customers with more options than we could before. However, there are still limitations, especially with the amount of time it takes to process data. This makes boots on the ground a more practical approach. I can see a day where we may be able to process the data on the fly, but for this season, you’ll find me out in the field looking at the crops from an ATV.

6 Ag Consultants Give A Mid-Year Update

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:28 GMT

This growing season has been a challenge for most in agriculture, however the farmer and their trusty crop consultant can weather the storms. Six members of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants give a crop update from six states:

Texas High Plains growers faced unusual challenges this year from cold temperatures, rain and hail. Temperatures did not reach the upper 80’s until late May which delayed planting. James Todd in Plainview reports that his growers lost 70% of their cotton to weather related issues. It has been a race to get late corn planted after failed cotton. One of his customers was able to plant approximately 4000 acres of corn in 2.5 days by using 4 planters. “There is so much on the line and everyone was hoping this was going to be the good year after suffering low yields and low crop prices in 2018. Farmers just want someone to help them see the light at the end of the tunnel and help make these important decisions,” Todd says.

Flooding and a very wet spring plagued growers in the Mid-South. This along with low commodity prices are hitting growers hard and according to Louisiana crop consultant Harold Lambert, the only price that is not at a low is sugar. About 90-95% of the seven different crops in his area is planted compared to normal 99%. “Growers are smart”, Lambert says. “They are very good about having a Plan B or even a Plan C. If we are planting late or replanting by certain dates, I will continuously remind them about the risks and keep them on schedule.”

Rice acres in Missouri are down by 25-30% depending on the county reports consultant Amy Beth Dowdy. Those acres were half preventative planted and half were planted to soybeans.

For researcher and crop consultant Matt Winslow, the problem facing growers in North Carolina is extreme weather and changing insect pressure. With one of the driest springs on record, they had to stop planting because the moisture was too deep. Insects that usually are not an issue in the area are becoming a problem. For example, they are battling blister beetles in potato. Typical insect pests are a problem earlier than normal with stink bugs hitting pre-tasseling corn and plant bugs hitting pre-square cotton. When asked about the relationship between consultants and growers, Winslow says, “Most folks think that when we have a down year in prices that the consultant will be the first on the chopping block when farmers face decisions about budget. We have found this to be the exact opposite. It’s during the leanest times that consultants become so valuable. It is during that time the money savings are realized by the farmers.”

In addition to weather and low commodity prices, Debra Keenan in Chico, CA commented that growers are also having to deal with geopolitical concerns about commodities tariffs. From a researcher standpoint, Debra reports that at bloom the weather was wet and it was tricky to make the requested application in a timely fashion on almonds. Many growers had to apply by air and they had to be creative on missing plots. Most of the crops were planted on time with the exception of about 5% of the rice as it was still wet past the last planting date.

Further north in the Red River Valley of North Dakota, weather was not the main concern for Dan Moser. According to Moser, the biggest problem he has is teaching farmers how to use all the new technology that has been incorporated into the crops, i.e. Dicamba, Liberty, etc. “It’s a whole new way to farm for many. Trying to make the different deadlines state by state for dicamba is also a challenge,” says Moser. About 95% was planted at the time of this writing compared to the usual 100%. On the preventive plant acres Dan recommended to plant radishes, barley or winter rye for soil health reasons instead of tillage. Most of these crops will be planted by mid-July.

Whether we have been through the worst for the 2019 season is yet to be seen. Like the mailman, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will deter the farmer’s best friend, the crop consultant, from providing timely and quality advice.

This article was written by Allison Jones, executive vice president of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants.

NAICC: Iron Sharpens Iron

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:24 GMT

As we near our 42nd annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, I have taken some time to reflect about how much the NAICC has impacted my career in agriculture. In 1999, I attended my first annual meeting in Memphis, Tennessee with my dad. This was the first time I had traveled more than a few hours from our home in Belvidere, North Carolina and it truly opened my eyes to the enormity of agriculture within our industry. Dad took me to several more meetings throughout high school and college, and it was during those years that I began to figure out what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become.

In 2007, I moved back home after college and 5 years with industry and joined our family consulting and research business, Tidewater Agronomics, Inc. That year at the annual meeting in Seattle, Washington, I became a voting member of NAICC. In 2010, I proudly watched my dad take the stage as President of NAICC in Orlando, Florida. Now just 12 years later, I am truly humbled by the opportunity to lead this organization as its next President. In a way, I’ve grown up in this organization and consider many of the friends and colleagues I’ve met along the way as members of my own family. The NAICC has given so much not just to me, but to my family and our business. It is my hope that I can give back just as much.

BECOMING INVOLVED

Over the years, I have served on numerous committees. Often, I realize that I am presented with more networking and learning opportunities because I am actively involved than if I were to only attend the sessions and training. The one-on-one interaction with other like-minded members is invaluable as I grow and develop my skills and business. The openness in which members share their experiences with each other is one of the many things that makes me proud to be part of an elite group of professionals. It is through this engagement that I have developed a passion for this association, its leadership, and its role in Washington, DC. I encourage those of you who are new to this organization to become involved. You will not regret it.

IRON SHARPENS IRON

One of my favorite bible verses has always been Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”. In the field of agriculture, there is no greater opportunity for consultants, researchers, quality assurance, and industry professionals to “sharpen one another” than at the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants annual meeting in January. This year’s meeting will take place January 20-25, 2020 at the Henry B. González Convention Center and the Grand Hyatt hotel in San Antonio, Texas. The meeting will offer numerous training opportunities in topics such as CRISPR Technology, Efficacy Research Fundamentals, and Good Laboratory Practices. In addition, the meeting program will cover topics such as: nematodes and cover crops for consultants, technical skills and utilization of equipment and technology for researchers, and techniques for becoming a better auditor for quality assurance professionals. I encourage you to visit the NAICC website to check out the preliminary program. I look forward to meeting with you all in January.

Matt Winslow is current the NAICC president and the research director at Tidewater Agronomics, which serves northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

NAICC: Necessary Changes During Uncertain Times

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:24 GMT

Matt Winslow is the current NAICC president and the research director at Tidewater Agronomics, which serves northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

For the first time in nearly 25 years the NAICC Executive Board did not hold its Spring Board meeting, meet with government officials or have the annual Crawfish Boil on the Hill in response to travel restrictions placed on many states including Washington, DC due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While our board was not able to meet in person, we have been working diligently via conference calls and electronic communication to handle NAICC business and manage legislative issues with key stakeholders in Washington, DC.

We had 40 meetings scheduled with Congressional members, House and Senate ag committees, USDA and EPA personnel as well as numerous commodity and ag groups. All were cancelled; however, we are holding conference calls with USDA and EPA to continue dialogue on issues such as resistance, biologicals, and loss of pesticide registrations.

During these uncertain times, NAICC maintains its purpose to educate and support our crop consultants, research consultants and quality assurance professionals. In doing so, the NAICC Governmental Affairs Committee received confirmation from USDA that crop and research consultants, including QA’s are classified as Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers.

On March 16 President Trump issued the Guidance On The Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce that states: “If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”

Further, USDA responded to NAICC’s request for clarification stating, “Based on our inputs and feedback to the production of this document, we understand the following to encompass your membership:

Farm workers and support service workers to include those who field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs.” ( This can be found in this hyperlink: Food and Agriculture Section; bullet #5. )

The NAICC has developed forms to assist our members who may encounter movement restrictions as they continue to service their clients. Members can access travel forms for employees and company vehicles to have on hand from the NAICC website . Also included is an overview of the Department of Homeland Security guidance to carry with them.

These are uncertain times and unchartered waters we are having to navigate. With our scouting season just beginning for 2020, we plan continue our normal field scouting programs but limit face to face meetings with clients until restrictions are lifted. I am praying that all of our members and their families remain safe during these difficult times. It is also my prayer that your businesses remain successful and that we can continue supporting our farmers through our vast wealth of agricultural knowledge.

For more, go to NAICC.org.

Plugging The Ag Brain Drain

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:19 GMT

When we hear of crises that negatively impact agriculture, the topics are typically agronomic, environmental or economic in nature, and they focus on the acute impacts to agriculture. Rarely do we hear about agriculture’s chronic long-term crisis—that is, the ag brain drain.

For most kids who grew up on the farm, the consistent message heard was “don’t get a job in agriculture,” or “don’t become a farmer!”

This was typically followed by a list of careers that were not agriculture-related. All too often, the message is strong and consistent enough that farm kids do grow up and enter nonagricultural professions, and they never considered a career in agriculture. Why? Because all too often, farming is only associated with production agriculture. But it’s so much more than just putting hay in front of the cow and milking it. At the farm level, consideration is never given to fields upstream or lateral in nature. As such, kids growing up on farming operations—those who firmly understand agriculture’s unique operations and processes—are lost to other industries. These kids who may be wizzes at numbers and economics, for instance, go off to become successful in nonagricultural fields. They never considered their upbringing as an asset and never considered a specialized ag field that would leverage the knowledge and skills that they learned on the farm.

This brain drain is detrimental to our industry. It erodes the skill base and holds back the industry.

As consultants, we can offer a sustainable career path for these talented farm kids and keep them in agriculture. Every day, our researcher-consultants work with the leading edge of ag technology from various sectors and help to develop it for tomorrow’s agriculture. Every day, our crop consultants find solutions to growers’ problems and become educated on the next new trends. As an independent ag researcher with a degree in plant science, I tell my new recruits that I feel I use a good majority of my education on a day-to-day, week-to-week and month-to-month basis because of our job sector’s diversity.

The first quarter of the year is typically very fluid in the job market, and as consultants, we have an opportunity to reach out to universities, colleges and even high schools.

We can connect with the farm kids who are interested in a career in agriculture and show them that there is a viable future in this sector.

The inroads and connections we make today will pay dividends tomorrow by helping to retain A-level talent in our field and not allowing it to by siphoned away by another sector.

Chlorpyrifos, Bumblebees, Pesticide Registration Improvement Act And More Important Regulations

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:19 GMT

By Rick Kesler, Governmental Affairs Liaison for NAICC

EPA’s Final Rule On Chlorpyrifos

The final rule to stop use of chlorpyrifos on all food crops was effective Oct. 29, 2021, and the tolerances for all commodities expire on Feb. 28, 2022. NAICC partnered with the Pesticide Policy Coalition to submit written objections stating the rule is inconsistent with federal statute; the agency’s own record on chlorpyrifos; and sound, science-based and risk-based regulatory practices. It is hoped the agency will stay implementation of the rule until objections can be formally addressed.

By EPA’s own admission, though all chlorpyrifos food tolerances would be revoked, a number of food uses would still meet all safety standards even after applying EPA’s most stringent criteria. Nevertheless, EPA’s action would revoke tolerances for food uses even where, in certain crop production areas, use could be allowed. Examples include alfalfa, apples, asparagus, cherries, citrus, cotton, peaches, soybeans, strawberries, sugar beets and wheat.

BumbleBees

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a 90-day finding on bumblebees and will conduct a status review on whether those bees should be on the threatened or endangered species list. A petition filed with the agency says the pollinator’s population dropped by nearly 90% during the past 20 years and is no longer seen in eight states. The agency will assess the American bumblebee’s status in the next year. It is asking for any data that might be out there. The petition was filed, in part, by the Center for Biological Diversity. It says habitat loss, pesticides, disease, climate change and competition from non-native honeybees are reasons for bumblebees’ decline.

Pesticide Registration Improvement Act

The next PRIA isn’t due until 2023, but work still continues under the current PRIA. A PRIA funding increase recently passed out of the House and is currently in the Senate. One key issue driving this could be that EPA continues to miss deadlines in the registration process.

Technology Is … A Return On Investment

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:54:19 GMT

Create a long-term strategy that pays

In the quest to grow the most profitable crop, technology tools can offer a double-edged benefit — solving problems and helping to measure the gains made.

A Farm Journal study shows most farmers (66%) expect new technology to pay for itself in three years, and 22% expect payback in the first year.

“A technology may take a few years to pay off, but we want to see some benefits right away,” says Brian Scott, a farmer from Delphi, Ind.

Before adopting a new technology, assess your expectations and how you’ll track its impact on your farm. Define the outcomes of using the technology so you can measure its success and return on the investment.

TECHNOLOGY AS A MEASURING STICK

As simple as it sounds, you can’t improve what you don’t measure. That’s particularly true with on-farm technologies, says Shay Foulk, an Illinois farmer and farm business consultant with Ag View Solutions. As such, it’s important to find the metrics most important to you. He highlights four ways to measure success with technology:

Yield
Timeliness in the field (planting date, spray windows, etc.)
Efficiency (with inputs, labor and time)
Dollars saved

“We are all guilty of wanting to see a return quickly, but we need to step back and think about how it’ll impact us long-term,” Foulk says. “Decisions should be mapped out and numbers put to them.”

On one end of the spectrum, variable-rate and auto-swath technologies can provide a fast recovery of the investments made.

“On average, it’s 4% on some of those technologies’ savings to the farmer in terms of inputs used, but we see easily 7% to 10%, and depending on the field size and shape it can be in the 30% savings, as far as inputs,” says John Fulton, precision agriculture specialist for Ohio State University Extension.

MEASURE ACCURACY

Fulton also says there is value in how technology can record and track agronomic performance.

“Technology can be used to ‘verify’ accurate competition of field operations and input placement,” he says. “Though not measurable in dollars, there’s value in knowing crop and marketing plans are on track versus not knowing.”

Longer-term analysis aided by technology and data collection can illuminate how investments in concepts such as soil health have added to the bottom line.

“Just because you are not seeing immediate payback, doesn’t mean you won’t see future benefits,” Foulk says. “For example, many people who start doing strip-till or using cover crops won’t stick with it beyond three years if they don’t see the benefits.”

Foulk says some technologies can uncover opportunities that may be lost by the time you are in the combine.

“With remote sensing, there’s value in seeing the in-season progress, and when you can correlate that back to yield, it will tell you something,” he says. “For example, we have a field that was planted half on April 9 and half on April 11. All season there’s been tremendous difference in aerial imagery, so we can’t wait to see if there’s a difference on the yield map.”

When evaluating technology advantages, determine how it can also improve your work-life balance.

“If you are running a profitable farming operation, it’s OK if a technology has a negative ROI if it improves your quality of life,” he says. “It’s how you define success — and it doesn’t have to always be about money.”

Hold Technology Accountable

Illinois farmer and farm business consultant Shay Foulk gives these insights on how every farm can find its best path forward with maximizing technology.

Make an informed decision. “Know the dollars you are investing,” he says.
Have a plan. “Set an expectation for its return on investment and how you will measure that,” Foulk says.
Set timelines. “Know when you expect to reach certain milestones,” he says.
Know your next step. “If a technology doesn’t perform as expected or meet the return on investment you outlined, have a plan in place for how you will handle that,” Foulk says.
Let it inform your next decision. “Use your experiences to have information for the next time you go to make a decision on technology improvements,” he says.

Hear from Brian Scott on how he uses technology to improve his on-farm conservation efforts .