Sponsor
Tina Smith
Senator · D-MN
Senator · D-MN
The bill invests federal grant dollars to grow the agricultural workforce through paid internships, expanded college programs, and employer partnerships, but it raises federal spending with unspecified offsets and may exclude some local providers while imposing set-asides and a tight deadline that could shift funds away from direct student supports and limit stakeholder input.
Students (especially those pursuing agriculture) gain paid internships, apprenticeships, and hands-on training that improve job readiness and provide earnings while learning.
Eligible colleges and community colleges receive federal grants to expand agricultural programs and workforce pipelines (new courses, labs, and employer partnerships).
Agricultural employers and apprenticeship programs can partner with institutions to fill skill gaps, improve worker retention, and increase industry competitiveness.
Taxpayers may face increased federal spending because the section authorizes grants without specifying appropriation amounts or offsets.
Smaller or non-eligible institutions and local training providers may be excluded from grant eligibility, limiting access to training in some communities.
A mandated minimum 5% set-aside for recruitment and faculty development could reduce funds available for direct student wages, equipment, or hands-on training.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a NIFA grant program to fund agriculture workforce training (internships, apprenticeships, experiential curricula) in partnership with industry.
Official title: Amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 4, 2025 by Tina Smith · Last progress September 4, 2025
Creates a new Agriculture Workforce Training Program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to award grants to eligible colleges, universities, and career/technical institutions to develop and run agriculture-focused workforce training (internships, apprenticeships, experiential curricula, workshops) in partnership with industry and relevant nonprofits. Grantees must spend at least 5% of grant funds on program delivery activities such as recruitment and faculty professional development, and the Secretary of Agriculture must implement the program by January 31, 2026.