Michigan is home to more than 300 Certified Crop Advisers who are certified through the American Society of Agronomy, and during the coming months MABA is spotlighting their contributions to Michigan agriculture! Every day, Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) play a crucial role in Michigan agriculture. They deliver expert advice and guidance to farmers, helping them grow crops with an eye toward economic ROI and environmental stewardship. JJ Metz with Nutrien Ag Solutions has been a CCA since 2004, and working as an agronomist for more than two decades. In fact, JJ took the initiative to get his start in ag retail before he graduated from Michigan State University in 2000 with his degree in agribusiness management. He was hired part-time during a break by then-Crop Production Services (now Nutrien Ag Solutions). “I was working in the shop and making maps for sprayers in December 1994,” JJ recalls. After completing his degree, he would join the company full-time and has been there ever since. Growing up in Ida in Southeast Michigan, JJ says he was familiar with row crop production when he started his career, but had more to learn about Michigan specialty crops. For example, sugarbeets, dry beans, cucumbers and more are unique hallmarks of Saginaw Valley and Thumb agriculture. JJ emphasizes the CCA program has been one part of being a well-rounded, professional agronomist – providing ways to expand his expertise in the industry. “The thing to realize about Michigan is being the second most diverse state in the nation, we have crops that a lot of crop consultants have never seen, never worked with. The CCA program pushes you to get a broader knowledge base.” He adds the program’s requirement to earn continuing education credits has been a good reason to network and attend industry meetings. “The continuing education encourages me to get to meetings, maybe pick up some things that I can talk with my growers and challenge them, and make sure we all know more about what’s happening in the industry,” he says. Administered by the American Society of Agronomy and local boards of expert agronomists, the CCA certification was established in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States and Canada. Today, there are approximately 13,000 CCAs across North America and around 300 in Michigan. JJ says the CCA program has been one way to keep growing professionally, and be prepared to help farmers across all they do. “I enjoy working with growers and helping them to be successful. As CCAs, we also have a responsibility to make sure we’re doing the right thing for our growers and working together with them to be good stewards of the land,” he says. JJ emphasizes the program is just one piece of the puzzle for professional growth, noting that constant development and a positive attitude are critical to achieve success in agriculture. “If you don’t have a positive attitude, you’re in a world of trouble. And you can’t be afraid of failure,” he says. As an industry leader and someone committed to growing the industry, JJ continues to set an outstanding example of the service delivered by Michigan’s Certified Crop Advisers! You can learn more about the program by visiting www.certifiedcropadviser.org.
