Enhancing a Soybean Curriculum for Certified Crop Advisor Professionals.

This project was undertaken to identify knowledge gaps and topics appropriate for a meaningful soybean (Glycine max) curriculum, and to recommend programming items for individuals certified as a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA). The authors crafted five ‘competency areas’ aligning with current CCA guidelines, including nutrient management, insect management, disease management, weed management, and cultural practices. Within each competency area, three levels of understanding (proficiency) were established; fundamental, proficient, and advanced (list in order of increasing understanding). The authors based specific programming items in each competency area in part on a 2016 CCA survey developed and conducted by Dr. Aslihan Spaulding and Ken Smiciklas. Illinois CCAs were contacted requesting their participation in the survey. We received 212 useable surveys (19% response rate) from within Illinois. On average, the respondents have been CCA certified for 14.1 years. About 67% of the respondents work for retailers or seed industry and spend about 37% of their time working on soybean topics. Key findings of the survey include a strong desire for more programming for soybean nitrogen fertilization (most requested topic of the entire 2016 CCA survey). Many questions regarding timing, rates, and fertilizer sources were noted in the individual responses. Additionally, survey responses revealed that CCAs were less confident about insect pollinator management (protection of bees at pollination) than any item in the insect management portion of the 2016 CCA survey. The CCA survey participants were most uncomfortable with their level of knowledge in the disease management competency area, especially with soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines). The weed management competency area had the greatest understanding (most confidence) by the 2016 CCA survey participants. Recommendations will be made for specific items that need additional programming to foster more complete and confident understanding of key soybean management principles.