Georgia Agriculture Officials Partner with HBCUs to Address Workforce Shortage
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is actively collaborating with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to attract more young workers to the state's agriculture industry. This initiative, led by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, aims to introduce students to a wide range of career opportunities within agriculture. Harper emphasized the importance of providing opportunities and showcasing the potential careers to young men and women who might be interested in agriculture. The initiative comes in response to a demographic challenge, as nearly 65% of Georgia farmers are over the age of 55, while only 7% are under 35. The department is concerned about a potential workforce crisis if more young people do not enter the field. The available jobs span various sectors, including crops, livestock, medicine, and finance. 
