INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

NAICC exists to serve its members. We say that right up front, in the mission statement.

“This alliance exists to unify and support independent consultants and researchers and provide a forum for information exchange within the agricultural community.”

How Do You Benefit by Becoming a NAICC Member?

1. Information – NAICC’s first priority is to provide you with the most up-to-date information you need to run your business. We do this through:

  • NAICC Newsletter: the newsletter keeps you posted on developments that impact you and your business, ways to increase your profitability, and technical information to keep you on the cutting edge.
  • NAICC Annual Meeting: this is the only national event tailored directly to the needs of independent crop consultants and contract researchers. The program is structured to serve your professional needs. The communication that takes place between sessions and after hours is the most important exchange crop consultants and contract researchers have access to all year. It is available nowhere else.

2. Representation – People join groups to extend their influence. NAICC extends your influence by:

  • Monitoring and responding to legislative and regulatory developments on the federal level.
  • Forming coalitions with other organizations to impact public policy. Consulting with institutions of higher education to tailor curricula to the needs of the profession.
  • Monitoring the Federal appropriations and budget process to ensure that consultants and their clients are treated equitably in any new programs or changes in fiscal priorities.

3. Public Relations – NAICC serves its members by educating others about the work of our members, and the advantages our existence offers to our clients and society in general. We do this by:

  • Establishing the profession within agricultural circles through articles in trade publications written by NAICC members, the professional staff, or by reporters and editors. Our professional staff conducts formal media relations programs to increase awareness of crop consultants and contract researchers as valuable information sources.

4. Certification – NAICC offers the only certification program for professional independent crop consultants and contract researchers. This program, the Certified Professional Crop Consultant says a lot about us:

  • It tells clients that you are the best available at what you do.
  • It tells government policy makers that there is a group of professionals in the field who are concerned about wise stewardship of resources.

What are the Membership Dues?

  • Voting/Associate/Provisional – $275.00
  • Student – $10.00
  • Retired – $65.00

What are the Membership Categories?

  • VOTING MEMBER is an individual who: (a.) is an independent crop consultant/contract researcher/quality assurance officer involved in the agricultural industry providing recommendations and/or technical data for a fee that is itemized and billed to clients; and who receives no compensation from a client’s purchase of products based on those recommendations and/or data and further, if compensated as an employee, whose compensation is not subsidized or supplemented by any portion of the employer’s revenue which is derived from the sale of products. Products are defined as including, but not limited to: inorganic or organic soil amendments; seed or plant materials; commercially available equipment, machinery, or implements; chemical or biological pest control inputs and/or animal feed or medicinal products; and (b.) possesses a four-year college degree in an appropriate field of study (or has attained ten years or more of experience as an independent crop consultant or contract researcher); and (c.) has had a minimum of four years of experience as an independent crop consultant, one year of which may be substituted by a Master’s degree or two years by a Ph.D. degree; or six years of non-consulting experience in an appropriate field may be substituted for two years’ experience as an independent crop consultant or contract researcher; and (d.) has provided references of individuals or other entities for whom the candidate has personally provided consultation and/or research services; and (e.) has agreed with the objectives of the Alliance; and (f.) has agreed in writing to conform to the Code of Ethics of the Alliance.
  • PROVISIONAL MEMBER is an individual who wishes to support the mission and goals of the Alliance.  It is possible, though not necessary, to move to other membership categories when specific requirements are satisfied.
  • ASSOCIATE MEMBER is an individual who: (a.) possesses a four-year college degree in an appropriate field of study (or has attained ten or more years of experience as a crop consultant or contract researcher); and (b.) has had a minimum of four years of experience as a crop consultant, one year of which may be substituted by a Master’s degree or two years by a Ph.D. degree; or six years of non-consulting experience in an appropriate field may be substituted for two years’ experience as a crop consultant; or (c.) whose service on the staff of a public institution or agency preclude Voting Membership.
  • STUDENT MEMBER is an individual enrolled in an academic training program.
  • RETIRED MEMBER is an individual who is retired from active crop consulting and/or contract research, and previously held Voting Member status in the Alliance for at least three years.

How do I join?