Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association

Constitution as amended 12/7/89, 12/03/97, 12/18/06, 12/12/2023

Constitution

Article I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association, hereinafter named “NICCA.”

Article II

PURPOSES

The purposes of NICCA shall be to:

1) Encourage crop consultants to make recommendations which are in the highest interest of their clients, economically and environmentally.

2) Provide an instrument through which all members may act in concert on matters concerning the crop consultant profession.

3) Promote the crop consultant profession.

4) Continually upgrade the profession of crop consulting.

5) Provide a means for members to share information of common interest.

6) Participate in legislative procedures which affect crop consultation and the use of the recommendations by their clients.

7) Encourage and participate in research on crop management techniques.

Article III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. There shall be at least six types of membership: Independent Consultant, Associate Consultant, Commercial Consultant, Allied, University Liaison, and Honorary.

Section 2. Requirements for memberships:

Independent Crop Consultant Member: An Independent Crop Consultant member shall

possess a four-year college degree in an agricultural field and shall also have a minimum of two

full time years of experience in crop consultation. Or an Independent Crop Consultant member

shall possess a two-year college degree in an agricultural field and shall also have a minimum

of four full time years of experience in crop consultation. An Independent Crop Consultant

member shall be an independent crop consultant who derives his primary livelihood from fees

paid by his clients directly to the individual or to the firm that employs the individual. The term

“independent” shall mean that the individual and/or the firm which employs the individual does

not sell agriculture input products* for a profit.

*Agriculture input products are defined but not limited to: Inorganic or organic fertilizers, soil amendments, seed or

plant materials, commercially available equipment, machinery, or implements; chemical or biological pest control

inputs; animal feed or medical products.

A candidate for Independent Crop Consultant membership shall submit an application for such

membership which shall include names of three references, all being clients whom the applicant

has served as a crop consultant.

Election to Independent Crop Consultant membership shall be by at least two-thirds favorable

vote by the Executive Body.

An Independent Crop Consultant member shall have voting power in NICCA, and shall have the

privilege of serving as an officer, executive board member or a committee member.

Independent Crop Consultant members shall be listed in Association rosters.

Associate Member: An Associate member shall possess a minimum of a two-year college

degree in an agricultural field and shall be employed as a crop consultant at the time they

submit their membership application. Alternatively, the candidate shall meet the educational but

not the experience requirements for Independent Crop Consultant membership. A candidate for

Associate membership shall submit an application for such membership, which application shall

include three references, all of being clients whom the applicant has served as a crop

consultant. Election to Associate membership shall be by at least two-thirds favorable vote of

the Executive Body.

An Associate member shall have no voting power in NICCA and cannot serve as an Officer or

Executive Board member. They shall have the privilege of serving as a committee member.

Associate Crop Consultant members shall be listed in Association rosters.

Commercial Crop Consultant Member: A Commercial Crop Consultant member shall possess a

four-year college degree in an agricultural field and shall also have a minimum of two full time

years of experience in crop consultation. Or a Commercial Crop Consultant member shall

possess a two-year college degree in an agricultural field and shall also have a minimum of four

full time years of experience in crop consultation. Except Commercial Crop Consultant

members may derive income from the sale of agricultural input products as well as crop

consulting. An Independent Crop Consultant member will automatically be placed in the

Commercial Consultant category when they sell a tangible agricultural input product* or any

agricultural product which could create a potential conflict of interest surrounding the

independent nature of the profession.

*Agriculture input products are defined but not limited to: Inorganic or organic fertilizers, soil amendments, seed or

plant materials, commercially available equipment, machinery, or implements; chemical or biological pest control

inputs; animal feed or medical products.

A Commercial Crop Consultant member shall have voting power in NICCA, and shall have the

privilege of serving as an executive board member, a committee member, or an officer with

exception of presidency. Commercial Crop Consultant members shall be listed in Association

rosters.

Allied Member: An Allied member shall be an individual deriving income from the

manufacturing, distribution, or sales of materials, inputs, supplies, or laboratory services used

for the production of agricultural commodities and is not engaged in the profession of crop

consulting.

A candidate for Allied membership shall submit an application for such membership, with

election to Allied membership requiring at least a two-thirds favorable vote by the Executive

Body. Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements for membership provided herein, such

members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges set forth in the Constitution and By-Laws,

excluding the right to vote or hold office other than when serving as the organization’s Allied

Board Member (Director) where voting privileges are allowed during the elected or appointed

term.

University Liaison: Individuals employed by the Cooperative Extension Service may be

designated as a University Liaison Member. Election to University Liaison membership shall be

by at least two-thirds favorable vote of the Executive Body. A University Liaison member shall

have no voting power in NICCA.

Honorary Member: An individual who has compiled a distinguished record of exemplary service

to the agricultural consulting profession. Any current NICCA member can nominate an

individual for Honorary membership status shall be by at least a three-fourths favorable vote of

the Executive Body.

Section 3. Membership of an individual in NICCA may be canceled, with just cause, by at least

two-thirds vote of the Executive Body. The member whose membership is under proposed

cancellation shall be informed of such proposed action at least a month before the cancellation

is acted upon and shall have the right and opportunity for a hearing before the Executive Body

before the cancellation is finalized.

Section 4. Any member may change membership status as necessary due to changes in

employment or experience without additional payment of NICCA dues within the current fiscal

year.

Article IV

MEETINGS

Section 1. An Annual Meeting of NICCA shall be held each year. The date and site of the

Annual Meeting shall be determined by the Executive Body.

Section 2. Additional meetings may be called by the Executive Body or by petition of a majority

of the Voting members.

Section 3. Additional meetings may be called by the Executive Body or by petition of a majority

of the Voting members.

Article V

OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE BODY

Section 1. The officers of NICCA shall be President, President-Elect, Immediate Past

President , and Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 2. There shall be four Directors elected, none of which shall be an officer. No more

than two of the Directors shall come from the Commercial Crop Consultant category.

Section 3. The Officers, Directors, and the Immediate Past President shall constitute an

Executive Body.

Section 4. The President shall appoint an Allied member representative to serve a one year

term as a member of the Executive Body with voting privileges.

Article VI

ELECTIONS

Section 1. Officers and Directors shall be elected at each Annual Meeting by a majority vote of

voting members in attendance. Officers shall serve a term of one year with the exception of the

Secretary-Treasurer who will serve a term of two years, with two Directors being elected each

year. No Director may serve for more than two consecutive terms.

Section 2. Vacancies in the positions of Officers and Directors which occur between elections

shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Body upon majority vote. Provided: the

President-Elect shall become President whenever the office of President is vacated.

Article VII

DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. The President shall chair the Annual Meeting and the Executive Body meetings and

other called meetings of NICCA. They shall appoint members to Standing and Ad Hoc

Committees, delegate authority and duties to other Officers, Directors, and members of NICCA,

and perform other usual duties of the office.

Section 2. The President-Elect shall serve in all capacities as the presiding officer in the

absence of the President. In the absence of the President and President-Elect, the Past

President will serve in all capacities as the presiding officer.

Section 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive and disburse all the funds of NICCA

according to the By-Laws, and shall submit at the Annual Meeting a written report of all receipts

and disbursements. They shall keep a complete record of all meetings and shall prepare a

report of all proceedings of NICCA. They shall maintain a current register of the membership.

Section 4. The Directors, with the Officers, shall direct the Purposes of NICCA and shall make

decisions regarding the business and welfare of NICCA and its members relative to NICCA.

Article VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Constitution of NICCA may be amended at an Annual Meeting by at least

two-thirds vote of the Voting members present. Provided: The Voting membership shall be

informed of proposed changes to the Constitution by mail, email, phone, or announcement at

least three weeks before such Annual Meeting.