John Lee Named 2021 North Dakota Certified Crop Adviser of the Year

John Lee was recognized as the 2021 North Dakota Certified Crop Adviser of the Year during the Advanced Crop Adviser Workshop held February 8, 2022 at the Fargo Holiday Inn.

With a career spanning more than 40 years in the soil testing business, John Lee has made an indelible mark on North Dakota agriculture. John Lee, who recently retired, was a soil scientist with AGVISE Laboratories in Northwood, ND.

John was raised on a diversified crop and livestock farm near Benson, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota-Crookston, studying soils and fertilizer technology, then went to North Dakota State University for his bachelor of science degree in soil science, graduating in 1981. During his college years, he quickly put his education to use, working part-time for Valley Soil Testing, one of the early soil testing laboratories in the region. This was when soil testing became a new practice and service to growers. After graduating from NDSU, John worked for Minnesota Valley Soil Testing in Grand Forks, ND. He joined the AGVISE team in 1992.

John was a member of the first class of Certified Crop Advisers. He also served on the North Dakota CCA Board for two terms. Over the past 40 years, soil sampling and soil testing has changed. Always an innovator, John along with his AGVISE colleagues, helped deploy the chloride soil test for small grains and the carbonate soil test for soybean iron deficiency chlorosis risk prediction commercially. During his years at AGVISE, John was most known for helping his clients across the northern Great Plains: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. He helped countless people decipher soil test reports, develop fertilizer plans, and answer their sticky soil questions. Among the subject areas in agronomy, soil science is often considered the hardest. John helped make soil science more accessible, more understandable, and ultimately more useful for everyone.

A good summary regarding John’s achievements from a peer:

John Lee has been a Soil Scientist for AGVISE laboratories for many years. He has been a technically sound soil scientist providing good information for many years to crop consults, ag retailers, and farmers throughout North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Manitoba. He actually had his Certified Professional Agronomist certification for a number of years, as well. He is retiring this year. His career has left its fingerprints all over this region and agriculture in this area is better for it. He is an excellent candidate to receive this award.

 Congratulations John. Enjoy your retirement.