Newswise — Dr. Paul W. Tracy of Columbia, MO, has been elected to the position of Vice-Chair on the International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Board. He will begin his term in January 2011, and he will become chair in January of 2012. Tracy succeeds Russell Duncan of South Carolina, who will become Chair of the ICCA Board in January 2011.

Tracy received a B.S. degree in agriculture from Montana State University, an M.S. degree in soil science from the University of Idaho, and a Ph.D. degree in agronomy from Colorado State University.

Tracy is a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) and Director of Agronomy Services at MFA Incorporated in Colombia, MO. MFA Inc. is a farmer’s cooperative that serves more than 45,000 members in and around the state of Missouri. He also operates as the liaison to state and federal agricultural and environmental programs as well as the private sector technical representative.

“Paul is a long time member of the American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America. He has been actively involved in the CCA program at the state and international levels,” says Luther Smith, Director of Certification Programs for the American Society of Agronomy.

There are currently more than 12,000 Certified Crop Advisers worldwide. CCAs must pass two exams, adhere to a strict code of ethics, and submit their education credentials to become certified. CCAs are recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as agricultural experts and are approved as technical service providers in nutrient management, pest management, and land treatment. For information, visit www.certifiedcropadvier.org. The CCA program is managed by the American Society of Agronomy, based in Madison, WI.

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, is a scientific society helping its 8,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.