State Secretary of Agriculture pays a visit to Binkley & Hurst in Lititz [photos]

Summary

State Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding visited Binkley & Hurst in Lititz, Pennsylvania, to kick off agriculture apprenticeship week and address the critical shortage of workers in the agriculture industry. The Wolf administration is investing $30 million in various workforce training initiatives, including seven state-certified agriculture apprenticeship programs aimed at addressing this workforce gap.

The growing agricultural sector in Pennsylvania, which generates $132.5 billion and supports over 593,000 jobs, is facing a significant workforce challenge, with an estimated need for an additional 75,000 workers in the coming decade. This highlights the importance of apprenticeship programs in training the next generation of agricultural workers.

Why this matters for apprenticeships

This story underscores the urgent need for apprenticeships in the agriculture sector to combat workforce shortages. By investing in apprenticeship programs, stakeholders are taking proactive measures to ensure that the agricultural industry remains robust and capable of meeting future demands.