Navigating the World of Crop Consulting with Sterling Clifton
Some folks think crop consulting is just walking fields and writing prescriptions. Here’s the truth: it’s a whole lot more than that.
On our latest episode of Field Good Life, I sat down with Sterling Clifton, a Certified Crop Advisor out of Arkansas who’s been walking turn rows longer than some of us have been alive. Forty-plus years in agriculture gives a person perspective, and Sterling has plenty of it, the kind you only earn by sticking around when times get hard.
And let me tell you, times are hard right now.
The Evolution of Agriculture (And Why It Matters)
Agriculture doesn’t stand still. It never has. Sterling walked us through how farming has changed — from the way we manage crops to how we lean on data, research, and relationships more than ever.
The Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) program started back in 1992, and today it’s international. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happened because farmers needed trusted advisors who could help them navigate increasingly complex crop management decisions — fertility, weeds, economics, and ethics all wrapped into one.
Being a CCA isn’t a badge you hang on the wall and forget about. Continuous education is baked into the deal. If you’re not learning, you’re falling behind — and in today’s agriculture, falling behind costs real money.
Why Farmers Rely on Crop Consultants
Here’s something Sterling said that stuck with me: “I enjoy working with my growers. It’s a labor of love for me.”
That’s the heart of good crop consulting.
Farmers aren’t just hiring consultants for recommendations. They’re hiring them for clarity. For a second set of eyes. For someone who understands the science and the reality of farming in Arkansas, weather swings, input costs, and markets that don’t always make sense.
Economic challenges hit everyone. Farmers feel it first, but consultants feel it too. When margins tighten, every decision carries more weight. That’s why trust and professionalism matter so much in this line of work.
Collaboration Over Competition
One thing we both agree on: agriculture works better when we work together.
Universities, private industry, consultants, and farmers, none of us can do this alone. Sterling talked about how collaboration in agricultural education keeps everyone sharper and better equipped to serve the field.
And yes, there are tough ethical conversations in crop consulting. Sterling didn’t shy away from that. Maintaining professional standards isn’t optional; it’s the backbone of the CCA program and the reason farmers keep inviting you back to their farms.
Beyond the Bushel: Ag for Autism
Then the conversation took a turn, the good kind.
Sterling shared about Ag for Autism, an initiative raising funds to support schools and families with autistic children. This is agriculture showing up beyond the bushel, beyond the balance sheet.
Community support isn’t a side project; it’s part of who we are. Farmers know what it means to take care of your own, and this is a powerful example of that mindset in action.
The Road Ahead
The agricultural landscape will keep changing. Markets will swing. Technology will advance. Weather will keep humbling us.
But one thing won’t change, farmers will always need people they can trust. Certified Crop Advisors like Sterling play a critical role in helping operations adapt, survive, and succeed.
As Sterling said more than once, “It’s a whole other episode.” And honestly? He’s right.
Catch the full episode here:
🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-the-world-of-crop-consulting/id1795513436?i=1000747412759
💚 https://open.spotify.com/episode/109vjVQjSWw1aeRKjbwKBZ?si=zsMcWFNOQw-OLhCmaOq75A