State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said $500,000 in grants is available through the Ag and Youth Grant Program in the Pennsylvania Farm Bill for various projects aimed at building an agriculture workforce.

The grants can be used to fund projects, including agriculture education and workforce development programs, seminars and field trips, agricultural safety training, capital projects or equipment purchases that will help build a strong future workforce for the state’s leading industry.

“We predict a shortfall in the agriculture workforce in the coming years as older farmers retire and new, more technological jobs are created,” Redding said. “The remedy is education and awareness. By sparking early interest in agriculture through hands-on programs, we cultivate future industry leaders. Agriculture offers a variety of satisfying, family-sustaining jobs. These grants will expose youth to all that agriculture has to offer and will lead to a strong ag workforce for tomorrow.”

Two types of grants are available through the program. One is direct, nonmatching reimbursement grants of up to $7,500 to defray costs of an eligible project other than a capital project. The second type is matching reimbursement grants of up to $25,000 to defray the costs of an eligible capital project or equipment purchase, where the grant covers no more than 50% of the project cost.

A link to applications and more information about the program is available at agriculture.pa.gov/pafarmbill. The application link will become available Jan. 25 and will be accepted through March 5 at 5 p.m.