Congratulations to Adam Johnson on being named the 2025 MN Certified Crop Adviser of the Year!
Adam has been with Centra Sota for 22 years and works as a Crop Advisor in our Santiago location. Adam is considered to be very knowledgeable on a variety of ag topics, but has extensive knowledge on weeds and can identify nearly any weed he encounters. He also works with some of our specialty crop growers on edible beans, potatoes, pumpkins, as well as other vegetable crops. As a regular speaker at educational events, Adam has a passion for agriculture and is willing to share it with anyone interested in learning.
He’s also an award-winning giant pumpkin grower and won second place at the 2025 MN State Fair with a pumpkin weighing in at 905.5 lbs!
The Minnesota Crop Production Retailers (MCPR) and the Minnesota Certified Crop Adviser Board introduced this newly-created award this year. The award “recognizes an individual who has performed superior service for their farmer customers in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management, and crop production. The CCA Award is designed to recognize a crop adviser who is highly innovative, delivers exceptional customer service, and is a leader in their field. To be considered, CCAs must be certified in Minnesota.”
The goal of the award is to create more awareness of farmers and their partners who are striving to make economically and environmentally sound cropping decisions. Any adviser/consultant who spends the majority of their time advising growers or farm managers/operators on agronomic practices and can meet the standards of the program can be nominated. This year, there were 10 people nominated, and 3 of them were from Centra Sota! Our other nominees included Amy Robak, Lead Environmental Specialist; and Doni Martin, Lead Sales Agronomist in Santiago.
What does it mean to be a CCA?
The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) requires passing a comprehensive international exam and a state, regional, or local exam to evaluate knowledge of soil fertility, soil and water management, integrated pest management, and crop production. Each applicant must document their education and experience (up to 4 years depending on educational background), plus sign and agree to uphold the CCA code of ethics. There’s also a continuing education requirement (40 hrs every 2 years) to maintain certification, ensuring that CCAs are up to date on the latest practices, products, and innovations.