USDA is committed to assisting veterans start or continue farming and ranching operations in order to strengthen the American economy and provide livelihoods to our returning veterans.
(Courtesy: USDA)
Everett Griner talks about educational opportunities for a veteran in today’s Agri View.
Download Education Opportunity for a Veteran
It is a small agricultural college, but one of the oldest in the country. It is encouraging veterans who have no career commitment to become farmers. The effort has the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Now the primary effort is to start small and go from there. Grow specialty crops that big farms do not want to grow. Start with small acreage. Use what you have. By concentrating their efforts on these crops that others don’t want to grow, their primary markets are already there. The effort is to concentrate on the detail. Practice good management and strive for good production. That, along with good weather, will produce a good crop. And it will give veterans a good start on their future.
That’s Agri View for today. I’m Everett Griner.
From: USDA
Information for Veterans
Overview
The Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), created by the 2008 Farm Bill, coordinates programs and outreach across USDA for several underserved groups of farmers and ranchers. The Office is working with several states and organizations to create programs to help veterans transition to farming, ranching, and other agricultural jobs. While no federal programs exist specifically for veteran farmers and ranchers, financial and resource management training programs at USDA can have a significant impact on helping these farmers establish and maintain successful farming or ranching businesses. In recognizing the value of introducing (or reintroducing) veterans to agricultural jobs, USDA encourages their participation in rural community and economic development.
Background
Veterans returning to the United States from active duty face many challenges. The Department of Labor reports that as of May 2010, over 20 percent of young veterans are unemployed. Moreover, recent data show that 45 percent of armed service members are from rural America. The agricultural industry is a logical solution to fill the economic gap veterans face. USDA is committed to assisting veterans start or continue farming and ranching operations in order to strengthen the American economy and provide livelihoods to our returning veterans.
In addition to our efforts to hire returning Veterans and Reservists and qualifying family members, the USDA is strengthening service delivery to members of the military who live in rural America or who are interested in farming or ranching. The USDA for Veterans, Reservists and Military Families Task Force is working to create models of how the diverse array of USDA programs can work together to help communities establish job training programs and other efforts to assist returning military.
Other Resources
The following organizations and programs specifically target and assist veteran farmers and ranchers.
- Farmer-Veteran Coalition– This organization helps returning veterans find employment and training on farms and ranches and in other agriculture-related careers.  As the coalition continues to grow, it will expand availability and access to farm education and acquisition programs for hundreds of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots – This program, designed by deans at the University of Nebraska’s College of Technical Agriculture, helps returning veterans enter the agricultural industry. When fully operational, the program will offer agricultural classes and job training and placement at local farms and ranches.
- Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training– This program serves veterans in Cal Poly Pomona. It provides training and agricultural job skills to help veterans start farms or ranches or obtain other jobs in the agricultural sector.