Mulvaney elected as national leader on American Society of Agronomy board
Mike Mulvaney
Mississippi State University agronomist Mike Mulvaney has been elected to the American Society of Agronomy’s Board of Directors, where he will serve as the Certified Crop Advisor, or CCA, representative beginning in 2026.
Mulvaney, the university’s Hartwig Endowed Chair in Soybean Agronomy and associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, will represent over 13,000 CCAs across the U.S. and Canada for a three-year period. In Mississippi, he also directs the state’s CCA program and manages a strong research and extension portfolio focused on helping producers with science-based solutions to increase agronomic efficiency for soybean production.
“It’s a true honor to serve in this capacity,” Mulvaney said. “This opportunity formalizes a role I’ve already been fulfilling -- advocating for CCAs at the state and national level and connecting the academic and practitioner sides of agriculture. I’m proud to represent a group of professionals who are, quite literally, walking fields and delivering real-world expertise to producers every day.”
Mulvaney said the CCA certification remains the only standardized designation for crop advisors in the U.S., offering farmers an independent, research-backed alternative to product-driven advice.
“Too often, anyone can call themselves a crop advisor, but without the CCA credential, there’s no guarantee of training or accountability,” Mulvaney explained. “Our agricultural sector needs a pipeline of well-informed, independent advisors who aren’t just selling something. The CCA program ensures that growers get trusted guidance rooted in evidence, not marketing.”
A former Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia and an experienced agronomist for both the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the United States Agency for International Development, Mulvaney brings decades of international fieldwork and development experience to the American Society of Agronomy Board.
“I have experience in more than 50 countries and that global perspective -- combined with my work at MSU -- helps me understand the critical importance of boots-on-the-ground expertise,” Mulvaney said. “My roles both as a Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station researcher and in outreach through my MSU Extension Service appointment puts me in a position to represent the needs of farmers, advisors and scientists alike.”
Mulvaney previously served on the ASA Board as an Early Career Representative, gaining insight into policy development and member engagement. His goals for the coming term include improving communication between ASA and the CCA community and promoting the value of CCA certification on a national scale.
“People need to be heard, and CCAs have an important voice that deserves more attention,” Mulvaney said. “I want to ensure their needs are better represented and that the value of this certification is clearly understood across the agricultural industry. We need stronger messaging, increased visibility and better recruitment and retention strategies.”
Since joining MSU in 2021, Mulvaney has led a dynamic research team focused on applied agronomy, sustainability and on-farm impact. He has authored 72 peer-reviewed publications and helped secure over $43 million in competitive research funding. He also serves as a technical editor for Agronomy Journal and participates in the United Soybean Board’s national Science for Success initiative.
“Land-grant universities like MSU play a vital role in delivering the latest science directly to producers,” Mulvaney said. “We don’t have products to sell -- we provide solutions that work. That’s the power of extension services, and that’s the foundation of the CCA mission.”
The American Society of Agronomy is a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing agronomic science and practice. Its Certified Crop Advisor program offers continuing education and credentialing to professionals to help growers improve productivity, sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Learn more about MSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at https://pss.msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.
Kaitlyn Church | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing
