Rep. Denham's "Vet To Farm' Amendment Included In House-passed Defense Bill

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham's (R-Turlock) "Vet to Farm' amendment passed the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019. This policy helps better connect veterans who are interested in farming careers with programs that can help get them on a path towards success in agriculture.

"As a veteran and a farmer myself, I know we have to help our veterans find jobs, and an industry like farming that relies on discipline, dedication and passion to thrive is a natural fit," said Rep. Denham.

Rep. Denham's "Vet to Farm' amendment requires USDA to provide resources and information for veterans on how they can use their GI benefits for farming and agricultural programs. This will allow veterans to better leverage existing and potential opportunities to get their foot in the door and help those that are looking for something different than the traditional four-year college programs to find more specialized education or apprenticeship programs. Comprehensive and informative resources from USDA will give our vets the tools they need to use their hard-earned benefits to learn practical skills and launch careers in agriculture.

The U.S. agriculture industry is facing a growing problem, with the average age of farmers at 60 years old and the existing farming population aging out. As our nation's service members return home, they bring with them their exceptional skill set, discipline, and devotion to our nation. Likewise, many veterans have found farming to be a great transition back into civilian life. The intersection of the aging farming population with the growing interest by veterans in agriculture is an ideal opportunity to support the next generation of American farmers and ranchers.

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