Contact: Kristie Garcia
Public
Information Officer, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
575-646-2804
Oct. 31,
2019
Agricultural Workforce Development funding
available
Pilot program aims to provide hands-on educational
opportunities
LAS CRUCES –
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is
launching the Agricultural Workforce Development Pilot Program to offer
incentives to agricultural businesses to hire interns. The program is the
result of the Agricultural Workforce Development Program Act passed and signed
into law in April 2019.
The
pilot program is intended to provide hands-on educational opportunities for
students aspiring to start careers in agriculture, as well as young or
beginning farmers and ranchers.
Agriculture
Secretary Jeff Witte said the desire to close a gap was at the heart of the Agricultural Workforce Development effort during
the legislative session.
“New Mexico
has a large population of aging farmers and ranchers, but we also have a large
population of people who aspire to work in the ag industry,” said Witte. “Yet,
at times it’s challenging to connect these two groups. This pilot program was
created to bridge the gap between these groups that are both vital to our ag
industry.”
The pilot
program does not match businesses and interns, but it defrays the cost of
agricultural businesses hiring interns that have already been identified. The
program aims to incentivize the transfer of knowledge and skills from one
generation to the next.
Agricultural
business operators and potential interns should visit
www.nmda.nmsu.edu/awd-applications/ for more information or
to submit an application. The program launches Oct. 31, and applications will
be accepted until funds are expended.
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