Certification

Certification

 

Introduction

 

A wide spectrum of skills and knowledge is required of individuals in the various agriculture, food and natural resource careers. How can one demonstrate one’s skills and knowledge to an employer? While students attend and graduate from accredited colleges and universities the skills and knowledge possessed by each graduate vary.

 

A degree is, in fact, a kind of certificate. To accredit means to recognize as conforming with a standard, specifically to recognize an educational institution as maintaining standards that qualify the graduates for admission to more specialized institutions or for professional practice. The accreditation of a school is the certification that the school conforms to some process standard. Students then are certified by the school through the granting of degrees.

 

The skills of our workforce remain a top strategic priority and the most important driver of business success, Today’s workforce requires more education and higher level skills due to the growing technical demands of the modern agriculture, food and natural resources workplace. Our nation's community colleges have an important role to play in addressing these challenges. Deploying the industry-endorsed knowledge and skills certification for agriculture, food and natural resources through the community college system will be critical to their success.

 

In most areas of agriculture the methods of demonstrating knowledge and skills involve work experience, degrees from educational institutions, or product-based certificates.

 

To certify is to attest as meeting a standard, and in the educational arena, a certificate is a document certifying that one has fulfilled the requirements of a field. Some of the current certifications in agriculture and related areas are discussed below.

 

 

AgrowKnowledge Certification Project

 

AgrowKnowledge is working to formulate national certification examinations for the following: introductory animal science, introductory plant science, biofuels, introductory agricultural biotechnology, and geospatial technician. Future national certifications will include: equine science and aquaculture. This is a joint project with NOCTI.

 

These certification examinations will evaluate a student's knowledge and skills based on a set of National Standards.

 

Certifications in Agriculture

The discussion that follows lists and describes the known certifications, accreditations or audits that now exists in the broad definition of agriculture.

 

American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

The three certifications offered by American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) include:

• Certified Crop Adviser - CCA
• Certified Professional Agronomist - CPAg
• Certified Professional Soil Scientist/Classifier - CPSS and CPSC

 

Certification programs from the American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America are the benchmark of professionalism. The purpose of a certification program is to protect the public and the profession. The same is true of our certifications. They are voluntary professional enhancements to a person's career credentials. Once certified you are telling your clients, employer, and the public that you are serious about what you do as a professional.

 

For more information: https://www.agronomy.org/certifications

 

 

Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) provides the following certifications:

• Landscape Industry Certified Manager (formerly known as CLP)
• Landscape Industry Certified Technician – Interior (formerly known as CLT – Interior)
• Landscape Industry Certified Technician – Exterior (formerly known as CLT-E)
• Landscape Industry Certified Ornamental Maintenance Technician (formerly known as COLP)
• Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Manager (formerly known as CTP)
• Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Technician (formerly known as CTP – CSL)

 

For more information visit this page on the PLANET website: http://www.landcarenetwork.org/cms/certification/categories.html

 

 

Certified Pesticide Applicators

EPA regulations require that pesticide applicators be certified as competent to apply restricted use pesticides in accordance with national standards. Pesticide applicators are trained by state Cooperative Extension Service pesticide applicator training programs and are certified or licensed by the lead agency in each state. Certified applicators are classified as either private or commercial. There are separate standards for each. All states require commercial applicators to be recertified, generally every three to five years. Some states also require recertification or other training for private applicators. Although each state has different requirements, most states require that applicators obtain a set number of approved CEUs prior to recertification.

 

For more information: U.S. EPA Pesticides Program

http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/applicators/applicators.htm

 

 

American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS)

 

ASHS Certified Horticulturist is a voluntary program providing recognition of one’s professional knowledge by one’s peers. The current program is a U.S. national program and the test is currently only available in English. The ASHS Certified Horticulturist recognition is given by ASHS to those who 1) meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the examination as set forth in this application, 2) successfully complete the examination, 3) maintain the necessary number of continuing education units (CEUs) to recertify after 3 years, and 4) pay the necessary recertification fees every 3 years.

 

Certification exams are given at various times of the year around the United States.

 

 

Certified (Feed) Nutritionist (Certified Feed Management Planners)

Natural Resources Conservation Service Feed Management 592 Practice Standard. The Feed Management 592 Practice Standard was adopted in 2003 as another tool to assist with addressing resource concerns on livestock and poultry operations. Feed management can assist with reducing the import of nutrients to the farm and reduce the excretion of nutrients in manure.

 

During the early 2000s the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) developed a memorandum of understanding “that provides an opportunity for qualified ARPAS members to become Technical Service Providers for NRCS programs in the category of feed management.” Put simply, this means that consulting nutritionists are the most appropriate advisers to develop and implement a Feed Management Plan (FMP).

 

The details can be found in on a variety of website like this one at the University of Idaho Extension.

 

 

American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA)

The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) provides accreditation to members.

 

ASFMRA accredited members lead today's agribusiness by meeting the complex needs of agriculture's changing environment. ASFMRA professionals offer expertise in biotechnology, environmental issues, changing technology, land, property, and business valuation, market trends, and governmental involvement and regulations. Understanding and treating the land with respect is more than their job, it is their passion.

 

Those who have earned their professional designation proudly display a high level of competence and ethical fitness for the appraisal, consulting, and management professions. To earn accreditation, rigorous education and continuing education requirements must be met and extensive practical experience in the profession must be demonstrated.

 

Attaining a designation from the ASFMRA recognizes dedication to a profession and to personal growth. The accredited membership is a growing network of achievers. These are people seen every year at ASFMRA meetings, conventions, and educational offerings. This network of professionals is called on for advice and the exchange of information. Individuals in this network are also called upon when a client needs an ethical, highly-qualified professional to do the job.

 

• Accredited Farm Manager (AFM)
• Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA)
• Real Property Review Appraiser (RPRA)
• Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC)

 

To earn and maintain accreditation, ASFMRA members must achieve and demonstrate heightened levels of knowledge via thorough testing, continuing education, practical field experience, and ethical accountability within their designated discipline.

 

Details of these accreditations can be found on this page of the ASFMRA website.

 

 

Certified Veterinary Technician

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technician programs throughout the United States and Canada. Most AVMA-accredited programs lead to an associate degree after two years but some lead to a four-year baccalaureate degree. A period of clinical experience in a veterinary practice is required for all students in an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program. This period of hands-on training is called a preceptorship, practicum, or externship and is a critical component of the veterinary technician program.

 

The majority of states have regulations that provide for technician credentialing (certification, licensure, or registration). Candidates are typically tested for competency through an examination regulated by the state board of veterinary medical examiners. Most states require candidates to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) before being issued a license to practice.

 

For additional information visit the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website: http://www.avma.org/.

 

 

Other Agricultural Certifications

Food Alliance (http://foodalliance.org/) currently offers two certification programs in sustainable food production:

• Farm & Ranch Certification
• Handler Certification for Processors &  Distributors

 

Rainforest Alliance (http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/index.cfm) provides certification for farms using the Sustainable Agriculture Network Standards through a third party -- Sustainable Farm Certification, Intl.

 

Organic Certification is provide based on the USDA standards and sometime international standards. These certifications are for the farm/operation and not the individual. Some website examples include:

http://www.ccof.org/certification.php

http://www.goca.ws/Organic-certification/certifications.htm

 

The USDA-ARS provides this information about organic certification:

 

The National Organic Program (NOP) accredits private businesses, organizations and State agencies to certify producers and handlers of agricultural products according to the NOP Regulations.

• List of Accredited Certifying Agents
• TM-10CG: Application for Accreditation (PDF) This application is for those wishing to apply to become an Accredited Certifying Agent

 

Animal Welfare Audits and Certification Programs

 

Source: National Agricultural Library

 

In the United States, most livestock production industries have developed and implemented science-based animal care guidelines in response to consumer concerns that animals being raised for food production are treated humanely. Assurances that animals are being raised according to these guidelines are provided through voluntary third-party audits rather than legislation. The information on this page provides links to animal husbandry guidelines, animal welfare audit overviews, humane certification programs, food industry animal welfare policies, and related international policies.

 

 

Audit and Assessment Programs

American Meat Institute Recommended Handling and Stunning Practices and Other Information for Welfare Auditing
Links to articles and forms on animal welfare audits and humane slaughter provided by Dr. Temple Grandin at Colorado State University.

 

Certification and Education Programs: Current Status of Farm Animal Welfare, 2005  (PDF|366KB)
USDA. NIFA. Plant and Animal Systems.
This symposium presents various perspectives on animal welfare auditing and certification programs and educational efforts in food animal production.

 

Animal Welfare Audits for Cattle, Pigs, and Chickens that use the HACCP Principles of Critical Control Points
Colorado State University.
Dr. Temple Grandin presents information on critical control points for restaurant audits of animal welfare at slaughter plants.

 

Livestock and Seed Auditing Services
USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.
Information on Quality Systems Verification Programs (QSVP) provided by the USDA.

 

What You Need to Know About Animal Welfare Audits (PDF|104 KB)
Northeast Dairy Operations.
In this short article, Dr. Jim Reynolds answers questions about dairy cattle animal welfare audit programs.

 

Why Should I Know About Animal Welfare Audits? (PDF|154 KB)
Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference.
This article discusses what auditing tools are available and which programs fit different production needs in the dairy industry.

National Dairy FARM Program^SM
National Milk Producers Federation.
The National Dairy FARM Program is a nation-wide program that addresses animal well-being in the dairy industry through a third-party verification system.

 

Beef Quality Assurance: Past, Present and Future (PDF|95.7 KB)
Cattlemen's Beef Board.
This 2006 review examines the current status of the check-off funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program of the US and summarize possible future directions.

 

National Council of Chain Restaurants’ and Food Marketing Institute’s Animal Welfare Audit Program (PDF|84 KB)
An overview of the Animal Welfare Audit Program (AWAP) built around the needs of the member businesses of both the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

 

Animal Welfare
Food Marketing Institute.
Links to news releases and reports about the FMI-NCCR Animal Welfare Program.

 

Farm Animal Care Training and Auditing (FACTA)
FACTA provides science-based animal care training and auditing services independent of pork, beef, dairy or poultry production interests.

 

Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc. (PAACO)
Provides training and certification programs for animal welfare auditors.

 

Beef and Pork Animal Welfare Audit
Silliker.
Provides animal welfare auditing services for beef, pork, and poultry facilities.

 

Animal Welfare Review Program
Validus.
Provides auditing services for dairy animal facilities.

 

Animal Welfare Audits
New Horizon Technologies.
Provides audit services for the Animal Welfare Audit Program (AWAP) of the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

 

Certification Programs

 

Animal Welfare Approved
Animal Welfare Institute.
This standards program uses the "Five Freedoms" as goals that farmers aim to acheive in the care and handling of their animals.

 

American Humane Certified™
American Humane Association.
Gives information about the American Humane certification program for animal production facilities.

 

Certified Humane Certification Program
Humane Farm Animal Care
Non-profit group provides inspection, certification and labeling program for meat, poultry, egg and dairy products from animals raised to humane care standards.

 

United Egg Producers Certified
United Egg Producers.
A voluntary program in which companies may become United Egg Producers Certified if they meet certain requirements, including implementing the Animal Husbandry Guidelines for US Egg Laying Flocks.

 

FoodAlliance.org
This nonprofit organization operates a third-party certification program for sustainably produced food. Certified ranchers and farmers must also ensure the health and humane treatment of animals.

 

Milk & Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program
Milk & Dairy Beef Quality Assurance (DQA) Center.
Programs designed to improve the quality of milk and dairy beef. Educational materials cover milk safety and quality, environmental stewardship, dairy animal care, personnel management, dairy beef quality, and pathogen management.

 

Standards and Guidelines

 

Animal Handling and Audit Guidelines
AnimalHandling.org
Provides an animal handling and audit guidelines from the American Meat Institute (AMI) as well as links to companies that provide auditing services.

 

Animal Welfare Approved Standards
Animal Welfare Institute.
Humane husbandry standards are outlined for pigs, cattle, ducks, rabbits, and sheep. Housing, diet, health, and transport of animals are addressed.

 

Animal Husbandry Guidelines for US Egg Laying Flocks (PDF|290 KB)
United Egg Producers.
Guidelines that producers of egg laying flocks must meet in order to market their products as United Egg Producers Certified.

 

About the Chicken Industry
National Chicken Council.
In addition to other documents about the chicken industry in the US, this page provides links to:

• National Chicken Council Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist
• Physical Well-Being of Chickens

 

Animal Care Best Management Practices for the Production of Turkeys (PDF|580 KB)
National Turkey Federation.
These guidelines were developed to ensure that turkeys are humanely raised and receive expert veterinary care with the goal of providing a safe product to customers.

 

Beef Quality Assurance Guidelines and National Manual
National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Links to documents for the beef check-off program including guidelines on feedstuffs, feed additives and medications, processing/treatment and records, injectable animal health products, and care and husbandry practices.

 

Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg Laying Flocks (PDF|292KB)
United Egg Producers.
Provides recommendations for best management practices for cage and cage free egg production.

 

Animal Welfare Information from the National Pork Board
Pork Checkoff.
Links to fact sheets, publications, programs and research relating to animal welfare in the US swine industry.

 

Sheep Care Guide
American Sheep Industry Association
Published in 2006, these guidelines for sheep producers are intended to minimize animal stress and improve the health and well-being of sheep.

 

Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP)
National Pork Board.
Information about the Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP) and a searchable database to locate a Certified SWAP™ Educator (CSE) near you.

 

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide, 2007 Edition
American Meat Institute.
The AMI's audit guidelines recommend that companies conduct by self-audits and third party audits using specific criteria.

 

Food Industry Animal Welfare Policies

 

Whole Foods Market: Animal Welfare
Information on farm animal and meat quality standards as well as species-specific Animal Compassionate Standards required of producers who supply Whole Foods Markets.

 

Harris Teeter: Animal Welfare
Details about animal welfare policies at Harris Teeter, including information on controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK), controlled-atmosphere stunning (CAS), gestation crates, and cage-free eggs.

 

McDonald's Animal Welfare Program
Provides links to the McDonald's Animal Welfare Guiding Principles and program of standards and audit procedures for their producers.

 

Wendy's Animal Welfare Program
Information on animal welfare and handling audits required of its suppliers by Wendy's.

 

KFC Animal Welfare Program
Links to guiding principles for the humane treatment of animals set forth by Yum! Brands and to the KFC Poultry Welfare Guidelines.

 

Heritage Foods USA
Products with the Heritage Foods label have a sticker that contains a traceability number so that consumers can find where the food was produced. Farmers participating in the program meet humane standards through either the Certified Humane program or the Animal Welfare Institute.

 

International Programs

 

European Union Animal Welfare Quality Program
European standards for on-farm welfare assessment and product information systems as well as practical strategies for improving animal welfare. The program addresses consumer concerns and market demands.

 

Quality Assurance Programs in Beef Production: A Study Tour of Denmark, Holland and the United Kingdom (PDF|46.1 KB)
Iowa State University Extension.
Provides an overview of agriculture quality assurance programs in Europe in comparison to what currently exists in the United States.

 

On-Farm Verification and Audits
Alberta Farm Animal Council.
Links to information on animal welfare audits, assessment programs, and standards of animal care for livestock raised in Canada.

 

Certified Adherence to BC SPCA Farm Animal Welfare Standards
British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
This program is an independent third party certification system which assures consumers that food products comply with BC SPCA developed farm animal welfare standards for the handling of farm animals. The BC SPCA standard differs with the national code of practices published by the Canadian AGRI-Food Research Council in farm animal husbandry practices, including space per animal and transportation times.

 

Freedom Food
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
This page provides information about a UK farm assurance scheme, including welfare standards for all animal species on the farm and while being transported.

 

Prepared by

Rick Parker

AgrowKnowledge Director