H.R. 5138: Agriculture Skills Preparation for Industry Recruitment Efforts Act

This bill, known as the Agriculture Skills Preparation for Industry Recruitment Efforts Act (ASPIRE Act), aims to amend the existing Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. The primary purpose of the bill is to authorize grants for institutions that provide workforce training programs in agriculture. Below are the key components of the bill:

Grant Authorization

The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to award grants to certain eligible institutions to create and implement agriculture workforce training programs. These grants are intended to:

• Promote the growth of the agriculture industry.
• Enhance competitiveness within the agriculture sector.
• Improve the training and retention of workers in the agriculture field.

Eligible Institutions

Eligible institutions for these grants include:

• 1862 Institutions, which are traditional land-grant universities.
• 1890 Institutions, which primarily serve African American students.
• 1994 Institutions, which target specific underserved populations.
• Non-land-grant colleges of agriculture.
• Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.
• Centers of excellence recognized under existing law.
• Junior or community colleges offering agricultural programs.
• Area career and technical education schools that provide agricultural education.

Definition of Agriculture Workforce Training Program

An agriculture workforce training program is defined as a program developed by an eligible institution in partnership with one or more targeted industry partners. This can include:

• Internships.
• Apprenticeships.
• Experience-based curricula.
• Educational programs and workshops focused on technical skills.

Use of Grant Funds

Institutions awarded grants are required to allocate at least 5% of the funds received for:

• Recruitment activities to encourage student participation in agriculture workforce training.
• Professional development sessions for faculty to equip them with the skills necessary to prepare students for careers in agriculture.

Implementation Timeline

The Secretary of Agriculture must implement the provisions of this bill by January 31, 2026.

Relevant Companies

• Bayer AG (BAYRY) - A major player in the agriculture industry, Bayer may benefit from a more skilled workforce resulting from these training programs.
• Dow Inc. (DOW) - With a large segment in agricultural sciences, Dow could see an increased availability of qualified workers in the sector.
• Catalent Inc. (CMD) - While primarily focused on pharmaceuticals, Catalent's involvement in agricultural technology could be positively impacted by the training initiatives.