S. 2727 — A bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to award grants under section 2501(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(d)) to eligible institutions to develop and carry out agriculture workforce training programs in collaboration with targeted industry partners (i.e., agriculture industry members such as companies or associations, registered apprenticeship programs under the National Apprenticeship Act, or nonprofits focused on agriculture employment). Eligible institutions include 1862 Institutions, 1890 Institutions, 1994 Institutions, non-land-grant colleges of agriculture, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, centers of excellence under section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, junior or community colleges offering agriculture programs, and area career and technical education schools offering agriculture programs. Grantees must use at least 5% of funds for recruitment of students into the programs and faculty professional development to prepare students for agriculture employment. The Secretary must implement the grant program by January 31, 2026.