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.

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.

Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association

By-Laws as amended 3/5/16 and 12/12/2023

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

DUES

Section 1. The annual dues for Independent, Associate, Commercial Consultant, and Allied
members shall be set at the discretion of the Executive Body.

ARTICLE II

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1. Notice of each Annual Meeting of NICCA shall be by mail or email to all members at
least three weeks and within two months before the date of the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE III

EXECUTIVE BODY MEETINGS

Section 1. Notice of Executive Body meetings shall occur by mail, email or phoned to all
Officers and Directors at least five days before the date of a specified Executive Body meeting.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees shall be:

A) Membership and Rules committee whose duties shall be to encourage eligible crop
consultants to join NICCA, to review the qualifications of applicants for membership, to make
recommendations to the Executive Body for membership of the applicants, and to suggest
additional membership standards than stated in the NICCA Constitution.

B) Other committees formed by the Executive Body, with their duties described by the Executive
Body.

Section 2. Ad Hoc committees may be formed by the President or the Executive Body with
duties designated.

ARTICLE V

FINANCIAL DISBURSEMENTS

Section 1. The Secretary-Treasurer may pay all justified NICCA expenses when such sums
total no more than $1,000.00 each. Sums over $1,000.00 must be approved by the Executive
Body before they are paid.

ARTICLE VI

FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. The NICCA fiscal year shall be from October 1 through September 30.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The By-Laws of NICCA may be amended by at least a two-thirds vote of the
Executive Body. Provided: That each Executive Body member is informed of the proposed
change(s) at least a week before the vote occurs; such notification shall occur by mail, email,
phone or announcement.