Pennsylvania could need more agricultural education

Jul 16, 2015

Could be up to 60,000 jobs available in the next decade

One of the best ways to ensure that farmers of the future have the necessary tools to succeed is to implement farming and agriculture early on in their education.

Agriculture education

“Over the next 10 years, there will be more than 60,000 job openings in the agriculture and food-related sectors,” said Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “This means we’re going to have more agricultural jobs than people to fill them. We have to begin to address this now and that means helping students see the potential of the agriculture industry.”

Secretary Redding addressed about 70 teachers during the PULSE (Partnership to Understand and Lead STEM Education) kick-off in Lancaster.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has proposed about $15 million in the 2015-2016 budget be set aside for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovation grants - monies that Secretary Redding says can teach students about more than just agriculture.

“We have to help students see the possibilities in the agriculture industry,” he said. “You see that in teaching about agriculture, we’re teaching about life.”

Agricultural education has been part of public education since 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act. The legislation promoted agricultural education for people “who have entered upon or who are preparing to enter upon the work of the farm.”

Currently, more than 800,000 students across the United States between age 7 to adulthood take part in agricultural education in some capacity.

Join the conversation and tell us your thoughts about agricultural education. What kinds of things should students be learning to prepare them for a career in agriculture?

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.