USDA Works with Certified Crop Advisers to Help Agricultural Producers

WASHINGTON, May 5, 1998--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently signed the first national memorandum of understanding with a third party vendor organization--the American Society of Agronomy Certified Crop Advisers.

Third party vendors--authorized in the 1996 Farm Bill--are organizations in both the private and public sectors that the Secretary of Agriculture certifies as approved sources of conservation assistance.

NRCS Chief Pearlie S. Reed said, "This is an historic occasion. We look forward to working with the Certified Crop Advisers at the national, state, and local levels. This partnership certainly expands the amount of conservation assistance available to America's agricultural producers."

The Certified Crop Advisers will provide technical assistance to agricultural producers in nutrient management, pest management, and residue management. Any assistance provided by members of this group will meet NRCS standards and specifications, and become part of the producer's overall conservation plan.

The Certified Crop Advisers will establish a registry of participating members, the service they are qualified to provide, and the geographic area they cover. NRCS will distribute the registry to USDA Service Centers and local conservation districts.

"The Certified Crop Advisers' expertise in nutrient and pest management will be beneficial to our staff at the field level and especially to farmers and ranchers across the country," Reed said.

Producers are not required to use third party vendors, but have this resource available to help them implement their conservation plans. Third party vendors increase the amount of conservation assistance available to farmers and ranchers. USDA looks to third party vendors to provide additional assistance in conserving the Nation's natural resources.

Dr. Robert Barnes, American Society of Agronomy, and Perry Petersen, Chair of the International Certified Crop Advisers Program, signed the agreement for the American Society of Agronomy Certified Crop Advisers.

#

< Back to News Releases