Filling Gaps in the Specialty Crops Ag Workforce: A Focus on Minority and Underserved Populations

Filling Gaps in the Specialty Crops Ag Workforce: A Focus on Minority and Underserved Populations In KY specialty crop farms, most farm workers are non-white or Latinx, unskilled, non-English speaking, and/or non-literate. Specialty crop production requires diverse skillsets, including pest identification, pruning/canopy management, food safety, and other “best practices.” Ideally, farm owners, workers, and Extension agents all acquire these skills. Over 88% of the farmers surveyed indicated that they have H2A or immigrant workers who require resources and presentations in Spanish. While there are numerous Extension resources for decision-makers, there are limited resources for entry-level and non-English speakers. There is a need for training materials for the farm workforce. We are also experiencing shortfalls in the professional workforce. Ag professionals are now using social media to communicate, drones for crop scouting, digital sensors to monitor field conditions, and smart sprayers for precision applications. This new workforce should reflect shifts in stakeholder needs. Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) is a local resource that can help fulfill workforce development needs. The college offers technical and associates degrees such as computer and information science, digital/multimedia design, and film/video production that can be directly applicable to agriculture. The diversity of programs combined with the diverse student body makes BCTC an ideal resource for new agriculture professionals. The project''s goal is to close workforce gaps in specialty crops agriculture by focusing on minority and underrepresented workforce. Our approach is to provide resources and training for on-farm workers while recruiting and training our next generation of agriculture professionals. Objective 1: Train Farm Workers for Specialty Crop Production. Create educational resources focused on pest management and horticultural production. Resources will be distributed at regional grower meetings and field days and marketed through farm owners/managers via newsletters, email listservs, and personal communications. Objective 2: Train the Future Professional Workforce. Develop an internship program with BCTC students to introduce them to careers in agriculture. Collaborate with BCTC to host an Ag Career series to include seminars, workshops, and campus tours.