UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Extension Foundation’s AgriProspects Workforce Development Network recently awarded Penn State Extension a competitive mini-grant to support its “Success Skills in Spanish 4 Ag” project, which focuses on workforce development for Spanish-speaking tree-fruit growers and poultry farmers.
The project is aimed at increasing production efficiency through agricultural English language training, improving individual and farm safety with increased compliance, and enhancing worker retention and well-being in the tree-fruit and poultry industries.
Penn State’s project is among 11 selected from land-grant institutions nationwide in the first round of funding to expand adult agricultural workforce development.
The project is led by Maria Gorgo-Simcox, bilingual horticulture extension educator; Hope Kassube, poultry extension educator; and Linda Falcone, leadership and community vitality extension educator. Collaborators at Penn State include Kathleen Sexsmith, assistant professor of rural sociology; Daniel Weber, tree fruit extension educator; Kari Peter, associate research professor of tree fruit pathology; and Gino Lorenzoni, associate professor of poultry science and avian health in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
The training will consist of three modules for two pilot groups of tree-fruit workers and poultry workers. Both groups will receive training in workforce development and basic conversational and job-related English vocabulary. In addition, the tree-fruit group will learn about integrated pest management and food safety, while the poultry group focuses on biosecurity and poultry handling.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Agricultural Workers Survey, approximately 83% of farmworkers identify as Hispanic or Latino, and 62% are most comfortable conversing in Spanish. Furthermore, 29% of farmworkers reported they could not speak English, and 40% could not read English.
These statistics highlight the need for English language education for this community, noted Jeff Hyde, associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences and director of Penn State Extension.
“Spanish-speaking workers deserve basic training to ensure success and advancement while employed in U.S. farming operations,” he said.
To address this need, Penn State Extension is reaching out and providing educational programs to Spanish-speaking farm owners and employees throughout the state.
Project leaders said they hope this training will help Latinos without English fluency enter and achieve success in these industries, support the agricultural industry’s need for trained workers, and contribute to the economic viability of these sectors.
Extension educators will engage key stakeholders in the fruit and poultry sectors in focus groups to foster collaboration and ensure the programming meets their needs.
“It is essential to provide workforce and entrepreneurial development opportunities to the Latino agricultural community of Pennsylvania and the surrounding region,” Hyde said.
AgriProspects, funded by the Extension Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, seeks to address training gaps in areas such as farm business coaching, dairy farm safety and permaculture, while improving access to education and skills training for rural and underserved populations.
