The USDA’s effort to elevate farming as a career option for veterans once they exit the military is moving into a new phase, says Military Times, as officials “unveiled … plans to better explain and market a host of industry jobs to recently separated service members, calling it a growth area that fits nicely with the skills and training of those veterans.”
“People need to know this is about more than just handling livestock,” said Lanon Baccam, deputy undersecretary for agricultural services at USDA. “This is about engineering, drone technology, data analysis and more. Breaking down the walls is key.”
The effort is considered a win-win by USDA, as it will help veterans transition to civilian life and could also help mitigate the fact that American farmers are aging rapidly, and there is a general outmigration of people from rural communities.
“Earlier this year, department officials partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on promoting agriculture as a potential career path for troops after they leave the military,” says the Times. “Now, the officials are shifting that work to highlight many of the industry’s cutting-edge agriculture jobs, through a new web portal and jobs site.”