With the state suffering through its worst ever drought, Jim Aschwanden with the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association, says only well trained Ag workers will be able to meet the industry’s future challenges.
“Ag education is not about cows and sows and plows anymore,” says Aschwanden. “It is about creating the next generation of Ag scientists and researchers and technicians.”
Governor Jerry Brown’s budget calls for absorbing a state grant that provides school districts with matching funds for agricultural education into the new Local Control Funding Formula.
Under a bill now in the legislature, the Agriculture Incentive Grant would remain a separate dedicated statewide program.
A legislative subcommittee will take up agricultural education at a hearing next month.
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