Decades of dedication earn Nester top agronomy honor

By Brianna Smith

When Joe Nester first began working with farmers, agronomic recommendations were made using paper maps, field observations, and a much more limited toolbox of crop inputs. Yield monitors and GPS guidance did not exist. A farmer who planted 30 or 40 acres in a day considered it a productive day.

More than 50 years later, agriculture has become a world of digital maps, variable-rate applications, and equipment capable of recording dozens of data points in a single pass. Through every advancement, Nester has remained focused on one simple goal: helping farmers be profitable.

That dedication recently earned the Ohio Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) one of the industry’s highest honors. Among approximately 14,000 CCAs across North America, Nester was selected as the 2026 International CCA of the Year, an honor that recognizes not only his technical expertise but also his decades of service to farmers and the industry.

“It’s very humbling to receive this award from my peers,” Nester said.… Continue reading