Washington,
D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today expressed its strong support for a new
4R Nutrient Management Planning
Specialty Certification (NMP) Specialty Certification for Certified Crop
Advisors (CCAs). Interest in the new
professional designation is high, with more than 70 CCAs in six states taking
the first 4R specialty certification exam on August 7.
“Enabling
implementation of science-based fertilizer best management practices on the
farm has never been more important for the fertilizer industry,” said TFI
President Chris Jahn. “We know that many farmers find value in working with CCA’s because they have the
commitment, education, expertise, and experience to make a difference and
attainment of the 4R specialty designation will now further certify advisors’ professionalism.”
CCA
certification provides a benchmark for more than 13,000 practicing agronomy
professionals in the United States and Canada. The 4R NMP exam is currently
being offered to Certified Crop Advisors in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,
Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with plans to expand to more states. Additional exams in the initial six states
will be offered later this winter.
The CCA program’s professional standards
are also widely respected by academia and government, and are referenced in
statutes. The 4R NMP Specialty
Certification was developed by the International Certified Crop Adviser
(ICCA) and the American
Society of Agronomy (ASA) and is open to all CCAs.
The Fertilizer
Institute has issued a letter of support the International Certified Crop Adviser
(ICCA) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) promoting the new 4R NMP
Specialty Certification. You can link to the letter of support here: Letter
of Support.