USDA expands farm mentorship to include college work-based learning
H.R. 7914 — Agricultural Conservation Mentorship Act · Filed by April McClain Delaney (D-MD) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Mar 12, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to expand the Experienced Services Program—which trains agricultural professionals—to include new activities: assisting cooperative initiatives that improve higher education teaching programs in agriculture, including paid work-based learning opportunities at colleges and universities. The bill also adds formal definitions for 'institution of higher education,' 'land-grant colleges and universities,' and 'work-based learning' to clarify program scope.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward expansion of an existing USDA mentorship program to include new eligible activities—cooperative initiatives supporting higher education teaching and work-based learning in agriculture. This is routine program amendment, not a hidden carve-out or deregulation.
What the text implies
- Expansion of Experienced Services Program may increase USDA budget demand if new activities require additional staffing or funding, though the bill itself contains no appropriation.
- Work-based learning provision may create new internship or apprenticeship pathways in agriculture, potentially affecting labor market dynamics for entry-level agricultural positions.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
land-grant universities and agricultural colleges; cooperative agricultural organizations