November 2025
11/4/2025 9:15:17 AM
St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today awarded $2.4 million to seven local partners to develop and implement agriculture-focused workforce training programs for the Growing Careers initiative.
"Minnesota farms are facing new challenges because of policies coming out of the federal government," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "DEED's seven Growing Careers partners will not only alleviate some of that pressure by establishing career pipelines for new entrants into agriculture-related fields, but they will also create opportunities for Minnesotans to overcome barriers to full-time employment through specialized training in a growing industry."
Growing Careers grant recipients are eligible for up to $500,000 to develop training programs to help more Minnesotans enter agricultural careers, specifically dislocated workers, including those with low-income or who need assistance with basic skill development. Programs will increase the number of new and emerging farmers and farm businesses, creating a pipeline of well-trained workers to meet the needs of employers and increase the number of new entrants into agricultural sector pathways.
"Agriculture is a key industry in Minnesota's economy and contributes billions of dollars in total economic impact, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs" said Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development Marc Majors. "These training programs will strengthen our agricultural workforce and set pathways for long-term success in high growth fields for years to come."
"In an industry marked by change, the one constant is the need for dedicated agricultural workers," said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. "This program is an important investment in our future and offers opportunities to cultivate the next generation of on- and near-farm professionals, ensuring Minnesota remains as an agricultural powerhouse."
Agriculture-related careers are increasingly in demand in Minnesota, including the new legal cannabis sector. According to DEED's Minnesota Occupations in Demand tool, demand for many farming-related careers is projected to grow at an above-average rate over the next 10 years, including:
In Minnesota and across the country, the number of "Emerging Farmers" – veterans, women, people with disabilities, American Indian and Alaskan Natives and other underrepresented communities – is low.
Nationally, non-white farmers own less than 4% of agricultural land, and in Minnesota, that rate is even lower. According to the Department of Agriculture, farmers of color are more likely to rent land and tend to operate smaller farms that produce less revenue.
The Growing Careers Program will fund on-the-job training, career navigation and worker support services, and paid work experience.
The Growing Careers Program is funded by a grant from the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership. Grant recipients and proposal summaries listed below.
The Anoka County Job Training Center will create a program leading to a Class A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Commercial Driver's License or a Class B Light Truck Commercial Driver's License, with hazardous materials and air brake endorsements, resulting in agriculture industry-recognized credentials. The Anoka County Growing Careers competitive grant will fully integrate support services and partner with the Minnesota Propane Association, Minnesota Truck and Trailer and Metro North Adult Basic Education for training and job placement programs with retention services.
Central Minnesota Jobs and Training will create the Cultivating Careers in Ag program, designed to address the growing demand for skilled workers in agriculture and agriculture-related occupations across its 11-county region. The initiative is designed to connect dislocated workers with high-demand, livable-wage careers while supporting employers in filling critical workforce gaps.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will bolster its Apprenticeship Program, a nine-month program that trains up to 20 new or beginning farmers annually. The Apprenticeship Program is a formal Registered Apprenticeship at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Otter Tail County will expand its Empowered Worker Program, a workforce development program that provides training and supportive services. The program provides services to individuals to overcome barriers to employment and obtain and maintain high-demand, household-sustaining wage jobs, and Otter Tail County is proposing to expand these services for participants to seek training and employment in the agriculture industry.
The program will provide eligible participants with career exploration, occupational skills training, credential attainment and work-based learning experiences designed to lead to full-time employment at or above $20 per hour within Minnesota's agricultural sector, focusing on Crop Production, Animal Production and Support Activities for Agriculture.
The program will develop a comprehensive agricultural-focused career pathways initiative to serve 84 dislocated workers from targeted populations across 23 counties. The program features contextualized adult basic education instruction, credentialed training aligned with high-demand jobs in agriculture, work readiness training and support services. Through a sector strategy approach, employer partners help shape curricula, offer business tours, provide on-the-job training and commit to hiring participants.
Workforce Development Inc. will create the Growing Opportunity program in Southeast Minnesota, a comprehensive career pathway program focusing on agriculture. Participants will be enrolled into programs at local Minnesota State colleges and the 160 Driving Academy. Each client will be able to choose the specific agricultural training programs that best suit their needs in any of the offices in Workforce Development Inc.'s 10-county service area.
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