Why It’s Important Certified Crop Advisers Are Heard
June 22, 2026 Recently, I had the opportunity to spend the day at the California State Capitol advocating on behalf of Western Region Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs). As a member of the WR CCA Executive Board, I joined fellow board members, including Chairman John Allan and CCA Board member Jose Ramirez, for a full day of meetings with legislators, legislative aides, and consultants who work closely on agricultural policy.
The purpose of our visit was to represent the important work Certified Crop Advisers do every day in the field and to help policymakers better understand the value CCAs bring to agriculture.
A Certified Crop Adviser is more than someone who makes a product recommendation. The CCA credential represents an industry standard of knowledge, experience, continuing education, and professionalism. CCAs advise growers on soil fertility, water management, irrigation, nutrient management, crop protection, regulatory compliance, and overall farm management. They help connect scientific research with practical, real-world agricultural decisions.
That voice is increasingly important.
Farmers today are operating on razor-thin margins. They do not have the luxury of being inefficient with any input. Every recommendation matters. When a CCA helps a grower improve fertilizer efficiency, reduce nutrient loss, manage irrigation more precisely, or comply with programs like the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program, that work has real economic and environmental value.
During our day in Sacramento, we met with legislators and staff connected to agricultural issues and committees. We discussed several active bills and shared practical, field-level insight from the perspective of advisers who work directly with growers. Our goal was not only to advocate for the CCA program, but also to serve as a resource for future legislation. Good policy needs input from people who understand how regulatory decisions play out in the field.
One encouraging outcome was the interest we received from several offices in continuing the conversation. Some asked about having CCAs participate in agriculture-related panels. Others expressed interest in district tours where they could see agriculture up close and better understand the complexity of the decisions growers and advisers make every day.
California agriculture is essential to the state’s economy, rural communities, and food supply. Supporting CCAs means supporting the professionals who help growers use fertilizer wisely, protect water quality, improve efficiency, meet regulatory requirements, and remain viable in a challenging business environment.
I left Sacramento encouraged and reminded that advocacy is not only about policy. It is about helping decision-makers understand the people, science, and stewardship behind modern agriculture. CCAs are doing important work in the field, and that work deserves to be seen, understood, and represented.
To learn more about the CCA program, find a CCA in your area, or become a CCA yourself, visit https://wrcca.org.