Needs Assessment for Developing Mid-Atlantic Crop Adviser and Nutrient Management Study Materials

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: nutrient management
• Education and Training: other
• Pest Management: integrated pest management
• Sustainable Communities: employment opportunities

Mid-Atlantic agriculture is facing several challenges including a shrinking land base due to rapid population growth and a need for sustainable practices to protect the sensitive Chesapeake Bay watershed. Agricultural service providers are essential to navigating these pressures, yet the national certification program Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) is experiencing a critical decline with national attrition rates doubling recruitment. In Delaware, declining pass rates for the Nutrient Management Consultant exam further threaten the availability of qualified consultants. Current challenges include a lack of accessible, modern, and federally compliant study materials for the Mid-Atlantic Board and state-level exams. From the perspective of providers and the farmers they advise, there is a clear need for targeted educational tools to support professional certification and ensure farm-level compliance with environmental regulations. This project will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to identify specific challenges to national and local certification programs and evaluate the potential impact of redesigned study materials.

The ultimate goal of this project is to combat the declining number of certified agriculture service providers in the Mid-Atlantic by replacing and improving the current training materials. Current study materials for the Mid-Atlantic Board Exam are slated for removal in April 2026 due to accessibility non-compliance, our solution focuses on rebuilding these resources using evidence-based educational strategies.

The project team will deploy targeted surveys to four key groups: current CCAs, aspiring agriculture service providers, agricultural professionals opting out of formal accreditation, and professionals who work with agriculture service providers. These surveys will explore firsthand experiences regarding exam preparation, content gaps, and learning preferences. Data collection will occur through email, phone, and in-person outreach at major regional events. Ultimately, this assessment lays the foundation for a robust educational framework that supports service providers in their role as vital stewards of the Mid-Atlantic's agricultural economy and environmental stewardship.

The goal of the needs assessment survey is to seek feedback on the challenges for agriculture service providers in the Mid-Atlantic region who are seeking to become Certified Crop Advisers and if targeted study materials would help them become a Certified Crop Adviser. Members of the project team will seek to ask four groups to complete target surveys; professionals who work with and instruct agricultural service providers, agriculture service providers who are seeking to become Certified Crop Advisers, those who are Certified Crop Advisers in the Mid-Atlantic, and agricultural professionals who do not seek professional certifications. The survey questions will explore firsthand experiences of those providing guidance and instruction, those who have already sat for one of the exams, those who do not seek professional certification, and those planning to take the exams in the future. The surveys will be distributed to individuals identified by project team by email, phone, or at in-person events like the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School in November 2026, 2027 Delaware Ag Week in January 2027, and various other educational events as they arise. The project team will seek to survey 75 participants who work or plan to work throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.