Sometimes it feels like growers wear more hats than equipment salespeople give out. And while you can get by with knowing a little about a lot, you also can’t be an expert in everything. Sometimes you need an expert opinion. If you’re spreading yourself too thin, who should you call? A crop consultant.
Sometimes called agricultural consultants, these folks can help optimize your crop profitability while leaving you with more time to handle the myriad of other tasks that demand your attention.
Benefits of crop consultants
Crop consultants offer a wide variety of services and benefits for growers who hire them. A skilled crop consultant can:
- Keep consistent, accurate agronomic and financial records for your operation
- Help you navigate problems caused by volatile weather
- Provide training for workers
- Offer suggestions on herbicide, fungicide and insecticide products
- Suggest seed varieties/hybrids for next season
- Help interpret field data and create a management plan
Advising growers about seeds and inputs is helpful, but crop consultants also influence environmental impact by helping guide growers in choosing sustainable practices that promote water quality, soil health and mitigation of greenhouse gases.¹
How to hire a crop consultant
Crop consultants often specialize in certain aspects of crop production, but most have comprehensive, generalized knowledge across every phase of production. There are several factors to consider when hiring a crop consultant:
Level of consulting: Which topics or crops would you like help with? How frequently will you use a consultant, and for how long?
Necessary certifications: Look for a crop consultant with certifications such as Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) and Certified Professional Crop Consultant (CPCC). CCA indicates that the consultant has met the continuing education requirements of the certification. CPCC ensures the consultant has at least four years’ experience in the field.
History of crop consulting locally: For the best results, hire a crop consultant with comprehensive agronomic knowledge about the conditions your fields are likely to experience.
Don’t underestimate the importance of finding a consultant you trust and feel comfortable with. You will be interacting with your crop consultant frequently, so make sure you feel mutual trust and that your personalities work well together. Look for someone with excellent communication skills and make sure you’re on the same page about how your consultant will communicate their observations to you.
Where to find a crop consultant
The three main sources for finding crop consultants include CCA directories, consultants affiliated with dealers or distributors, and independent crop consultants. Some growers prefer working with independent consultants who don’t sell anything except their consulting services to ensure they are unbiased and not pushing product.
Regardless of where you start looking for your crop consultant, experts are available to help you make your decisions. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative to learn more.
________________________________________________
Endnotes
- “Crop Consultants Can Be Key Partners in Climate Change Efforts.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/crop-consultants-can-be-key-partners-in-climate-change-efforts. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
