For more than 50 years, Gary Dodd has provided advice and service to Northern California growers as a licensed pest control advisor (PCA). While the crops, inputs and technologies may have changed during his tenure, Dodd still follows a handful of guiding tenets. They are trust, integrity, maintaining a positive attitude, striving for strong customer service, nurturing relationships and taking ownership of problems.

“One of the rules is you never say no,” said Dodd, who works out of the Grow West Yuba City facility. “That’s the key to this – doing what makes the grower happy. Sometimes it’s doing the little things. One of the most important things for our whole business is all about relationships.”

As he has mentored those who have followed in his footsteps, Dodd has shared his philosophy and said he teaches by example.

For his years of service to his growers as well as to agriculture, Dodd was recently named the 2024 Rice Consultant of the Year. Sponsored annually by Corteva Agriscience and Rice Farming magazine, the award recognizes the dedication, leadership and innovation of this crucial segment of the U.S. rice industry. Accompanied by Scott Evans, who nominated him, Dodd will be honored during a special recognition event in Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 27. He also will receive a personalized Rice Consultant of the Year jacket and be featured in a four-page salute in the February issue of Rice Farming magazine.

Dodd, who is the eighth person to receive the award and the first California PCA to be honored, said he is humbled.

“I appreciate it in as much as it recognizes the lifetime I’ve put into this business, more than anything,” he said. “It’s satisfying that you did your job well, and you have growers that appreciate you. That’s because Grow West and growers had to send in their nominations.”

But Dodd is quick to point out the award isn’t an individual accomplishment and wouldn’t have been possible without the service team and office staff.

“To me, it really is recognition of all of the people who have made me successful, because without them, I wouldn’t be there,” he said.

MORE OF A BUSINESS PARTNER

Al Montna, an owner of Montna Farms south of Yuba City, has known Dodd for 43 years. The family farming operation focuses on producing specialty Japanese short-grain rice, which can be temperamental compared to many of the widely-grown Calrose medium-grain rice varieties.

Montna said Dodd’s contributions to their operation’s success are too numerous to count, noting his expertise and willingness to solve problems.

“Gary’s ability to navigate the vast changes in the rice industry, including new chemistries, varieties and resistance issues, has been remarkable to say the least,” Montna said.

Jon Munger, Montna Farms vice president of operations, said they view Dodd as more of a business partner than a consultant.

“Without him being out there, our success is nowhere where we’d want it to be,” Munger said.

Bill Warnock, who manages cultural inputs for Montna Farms, has known Dodd since 1975 when they’d meet for breakfast at the old Dingville Diner. He said Dodd brings a positive attitude and is always willing to discuss field issues with you.

“He’s always excited to be out there in the field, happy to be out there no matter what the conditions are,” Warnock said.

Over the years, Montna and Dodd also have become close friends to where during some visits, they spend more time talking about families than the rice crop.

“Gary will forever have an open door at Montna Farms, and even in retirement, will always be welcome to visit and share his opinions on any issues we may have,” Montna said.

FASCINATED BY SMALL CREATURES

Dodd, who grew up in a military family, said he first became interested in biology after a high school science teacher had students monitor a piece of parkland for a year. Originally intending to study wildlife biology in college, he became fascinated with insects after taking a couple of agricultural classes. During summer breaks, he worked as a field checker for a large agricultural chemical chain.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in entomology from the University of California, Davis, and immediately started working for Growers Ag Service in Dixon in 1976. Back then, Dodd said service was mostly nonexistent. The market was

controlled by a few independents as well as major oil companies that also had retail stores.

To differentiate themselves, owners Jim and Beverly Imbach partnered with Dodd to expand their business and introduce innovative ideas to the industry. They brought a new standard of excellence and service that emphasized personal relationships with growers and solving their problems.

Dodd credits the Imbachs and later, Les Lyman, with providing him the support critical to his success while allowing for personal growth and initiative.

Eventually Growers Ag opened a second store near Tudor – frequently referred to as Yuba City – that Dodd was sent to manage. The Tremont Group acquired Growers Ag in 1999, and it was rebranded as Grow West in 2019.

“I was running this store and doing all of my field work, and it just wasn’t working,” Dodd said.

He recommended that Scott Evans, who was a service manager at Tudor, be promoted to store manager because of his excellent people skills. After more than a year of mentoring, Evans took over and Dodd returned to the field.

“It turned out to be wonderful,” Dodd said, adding he and Evans share much of the same philosophy.

“One of the biggest things that Gary always created back in the day and something I learned is create a culture that people want to be part of,” Evans said. “It’s growers, employees, vendors, all across the board. You have to want people to want to be here.”

THE GROWTH OF SERVICE

In the early days, Dodd said ag chemicals such as Basagran and Ordram in rice were fairly straightforward and produced consistent results if used properly. Price was a driving factor, and there wasn’t much need for service.

As new products came to market that were more complicated to use, they required more decisions, carried more regulations, required more adjuvants, and carried more import restrictions or maximum residue levels. At the same time, many growers became larger and added more acreage.

This evolution also meant many growers relied more heavily on PCAs for information, and that’s where Dodd’s extensive knowledge and customer service came in.

“I don’t call myself a salesman,” he said. “I consider myself a consultant. I’m a problem solver.”

As sustainability efforts grew, driven in part by buyers, many growers also turned to PCAs for help.

“When you go to make a decision to use something, you’re taking into account 50 different inputs into that decision,” he said. They include soils, climate and water, not to mention the actual product.

As Dodd’s retirement nears, Grow West’s companywide succession plan has prompted the hiring of three PCAs he has begun mentoring. Dodd has slowly turned over responsibilities for many of the field and orchard crops he serves, but he’s still keeping some of his larger rice clients. Dodd also is available to help the new PCAs solve any issues they may have.

“It’s just the knowledge of 40 years and the relationships – these are things you just know you can’t put a price on,” Evans said.