veterans

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said as conversations get underway for the new farm bill, he hopes to see the new legislation tackle the issue of an aging farmer population.   Vilsack noted that one way to find the next generation of farmers could be to offer a G.I. B...

The USDA has announced a new jobs program that will use the national apprenticeship system to hire new employees as agricultural commodity graders.  The graders are a key role in USDA's mission to protect American consumers.  The program, piloted by USDA's AMS, combines on-the-job training with theoretical and practical instruction in the classroom and online.   ...

The USDA is bringing on veterans to learn all about the Agricultural Marketing Service through a new apprenticeship program.   Program head Elanor Starmer said there are six people currently going through the process of learning how to become ag commodity graders.  ...

Agriculture in the U.S. continues to look for new and innovative ideas and leaders, according to a panel at the Ag Outlook Forum.   Pamela Hess of the Arcadia Center said that much of the future could be shaped by veterans.   “We’re growing foods using sustainable methods and we’re training military veterans on our property to become farmers.”   There are also gr...

The USDA is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to reach out to veterans, or active military members who are close to retirement about jobs in agriculture.   USDA Military Veterans Agriculture Liason Lanon Baccam said, “We are going to model an ag workshop off of the SBA Boots to Business workshop and make sure that the veterans that are preparing to transition out of the military know th