As workforce needs grow more complex, land‑grant universities play a vital role in preparing students for leadership and specialized careers. A new study from Purdue University and USDA/NIFA found that of the ~105,000k projected job openings in the food, agriculture, and natural resources sciences fields each year, 41% are in business and management and 27% are in science and engineering. By strengthening …
From Skills to Careers: Building Workforce Pipelines Through Hands-On Training
A new study from Purdue University and USDA/NIFA found that each year, the U.S. has a projected 44,232 more jobs in food, agriculture, and natural resources sciences than there are college graduates in these fields to fill the roles. With employer demand for skilled talent continuing to outpace supply, programs that provide hands‑on training and real‑world experience are more important than ever. Through …
Local Learning, National Impact: Cooperative Extension & Youth Workforce Readiness
America’s land‑grant universities play a critical role in preparing the nation’s future workforce—starting years before college. As employer demand for skilled talent in agriculture, food, natural resources, and related fields continues to outpace supply, early exposure to careers and foundational workforce skills is more important than ever. Through Cooperative Extension, land‑grant institutions engage youth in hands‑on learning that helps them …
Fueling Economic Development for Thriving Communities: Risk Management, Transitions, and Future-focused Innovation
Across the nation, communities are navigating rapid change. From managing risk and planning farm transitions to expanding market awareness and accelerating innovation, land‑grant universities play a vital role in equipping producers, landowners, and policymakers with the knowledge they need to thrive amid uncertainty. Read on to learn how investing in land‑grant research and Extension means investing in America’s future. Featured photo courtesy …
Fueling Economic Development for Thriving Communities: Growing Businesses, Creating Jobs, and Expanding Markets
Across the country, land-grant universities fuel economic development by aligning research, education, and Extension with the real-world needs of farmers, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Their work supports sectors ranging from food production and forestry to agritourism, value-added manufacturing, and emerging agricultural enterprises. From helping food businesses grow and create jobs, to advancing profitable production systems for small farmers, developing new crop …
Building Resilient Food Systems: People, Communities, and Economic Vitality
Land-grant universities form a powerful network that turns innovation into impact. Grounded in their integrated mission of research, education, and Cooperative Extension, these institutions connect scientific discovery with real-world solutions that help bolster rural economies, build workforce skills, and enhance the well-being of communities across the country. Featured photo courtesy of James Parker/North Carolina A&T University. Veterans grow food, community …
Celebrating the Power of Rural
Did you know that nearly 61 million Americans call rural communities home? Since 2011, National Rural Health Day has recognized the “Power of Rural,” highlighting the resilience of rural communities and the partners working to strengthen them. Among the most important of those partners are public and land-grant universities. Through community-based programs, these institutions play a critical role in improving …
UMES Publishes Workers’ Compensation Guide for Maryland Agricultural Employers
This article is not a substitute for legal advice. New Resource: Workers’ Compensation Guide for Maryland Agricultural Employers By Nicole Cook, Environmental and Agricultural Faculty Legal Specialist ALEI’s Samantha Capaldo and Nicole Cook, both of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Extension, recently published a guide to workers’ compensation for Maryland agricultural employers. Workers’ compensation is a type of …
Helping farmers mitigate stress
Featured photo: ChaNaè Bradley, senior communications specialist for Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension Program, facilitates a post-disaster recovery group discussion during the Farm Stress Summit in Statesboro, Georgia. By ChaNaè Bradley FVSU Extension conducts outreach and research on farm stress Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension personnel participated in the 2025 Farm Stress Summit held in Statesboro, Georgia. The event took place at …
Penn State Extension educator on the front lines in the battle versus avian influenza
There isn’t much Gregory Martin hasn’t seen or experienced while working with poultry producers in Pennsylvania. The Penn State Extension poultry educator is based in Lancaster County, which ranks among the top four counties nationally in sales of poultry and eggs. The county is the epicenter of the state’s $7.1 billion poultry industry, which encompasses large, vertically integrated companies and …