2022
Phase III: Implementing a Sustainable Model to Successfully Integrate CCA Preparation into Agricultural Curriculum and Educational Outreach Programs at SMSU.
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
DiseaseField management Pest
Parent Project:
Student Introduction to CCA Using Classroom and Field Education
Lead Principal Investigator:
Adam Alford, Southwest Minnesota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Gerald Toland, Southwest Minnesota State University
Project Code:
10-15-48-22022
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council
$6,000
Institution Funded:
Southwest Minnesota State University
$6,000
Brief Project Summary:

Southwest Minnesota State University’s Phase III of the project integrates student preparation for CCA into curricula and outreach programs. Faculty will reach out to first- and second-year students through diverse communication channels and a professional agronomist speaker series to spark interest in CCA Certification. The students will be encouraged to take the CCA exams later in their academic programs. Faculty will integrate the knowledge and skills emphasized in CCA Certification process into the university’s agronomy program. Another aspect of the project uses a portion of the funding to defray the financial costs associated with taking the CCA Exam.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, certified crop advisors, ag instructors

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

• One Phase III goal for project deliverables is to increase the number of SMSU Students who take and pass the International and Minnesota CCA exams. In November 2021, as part of the Phase II MSRPC grant, thirteen SMSU students took the International Exam, and five of them passed. We will strive to increase both the student interest and the pass rate in Phase III.

• We will create incentives to motivate students who did not pass the CCA exams on the first try to stay with the program and take the exam again in the next semester.

• The curricula for SMSU’s Agronomy Program will be adjusted to incorporate the knowledge and skills emphasized as part of CCA certification.

• We will increase public recognition of the importance of CCA certification, and emphasize SMSU’s growing reputation to graduate students who are also CCA certified.

Final Project Results

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.