Precision Agriculture Specialty (PASp)
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The International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Program developed the Precision Agriculture (PASp) Specialty Certification to meet the growing demand for qualified advisers with focused knowledge and skills in precision agriculture. The Precision Agriculture Specialty is an additional specialty certification that builds upon the basic components of the International CCA Certification, to demonstrate the Crop Adviser’s proficiency in working with the Precision Agriculture concepts/technology and building it into a holistic management model.
This specialty, like others within the CCA program falls under the five major pillars of a CCA’s knowledge, which include Nutrient Management (4R Nutrient Management Specialty), Soil and Water Management, Integrated Pest Management (Resistance Management Specialty), Crop Management (Sustainability Specialty), and Professional Development. Not all CCAs work extensively on precision agriculture, but focus on other aspects of crop advising. The PASp Specialty allows those CCAs who advise on precision agriculture to become more visible and recognized for their integrated systems thinking and approach. An individual must be a CCA before they can register for the precision agriculture exam. This exam will not be offered in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan at this time. Once the exam is passed, an annual maintenance fee will be charged in addition to your CCA renewal and a CCA with the specialty will need to earn 5.0 CEUs in Precision Agriculture. The new CEU category will be added to records, but the total of 40.0 CEUs every two-years will not change. Please contact your local board contact if you have any questions.
- PASp Performance Objectives
- Precision Agriculture Basics
With the growing popularity and availability of precision equipment, farmers and producers have access to more data than ever before. With proper implementation, precision agriculture management can improve profitability and sustainability of production. Precision Agriculture Basics is geared at students, crop consultants, farmers, extension workers, and practitioners that are interested in practical applications of site-specific agricultural management. Using a multidisciplinary approach, readers are taught to make data-driven on-farm decisions using the most current knowledge and tools in crop science, agricultural engineering, and geostatistics. Precision Agriculture Basics also features a stunning video glossary including interviews with agronomists on the job and in the field. View the Table of Contents (PDF).