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Bonnie Johnson
July 08, 2026
Media ArticleThe Ag Onboarding Academy is a critical talent strategy for new hires from nontraditional backgrounds.
The agriculture and food workforce is changing, and new research reinforces what many employers are already experiencing: the demand for talent remains strong, but the path into the industry is becoming more diverse.
According to USDA’s 2025–2030 Employment Opportunities Projections, the U.S. is expected to see more than 100,000 annual job openings in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment. Graduates from agriculture-related degree programs are projected to fill nearly half of those positions, while allied disciplines such as engineering, business, communications, health and biological sciences will fill the remaining positions. That still leaves nearly 30,000 positions each year to be filled by individuals from other majors, non-degree pathways, and nontraditional backgrounds.
For employers, this finding highlights an important reality: attracting talent is only one part of the workforce equation. As more employees enter agriculture and food careers from outside traditional industry pipelines, organizations must also be prepared to help them understand the industry they are joining.
That is where onboarding becomes a critical talent strategy.
New hires may bring strong skills in sales, marketing, technology, finance, human resources, operations or customer service, but they may not yet understand the complexities of agriculture. They may be unfamiliar with production cycles, farmer decision-making, sustainability practices, crop and livestock systems, or the terminology used across the industry. Without that foundation, it can take longer for employees to feel confident, communicate effectively, and connect their role to the broader mission of the business.
AgCareers’ Ag Onboarding Academy was designed to help bridge that gap.
Through self-paced, agriculture-focused learning, Ag Onboarding Academy gives employees a stronger foundation in the industry from the start. Courses introduce key concepts such as Ag 101, sustainability and regenerative agriculture, crop production, livestock production, and the business of agriculture. The program helps employees build context around the customers, producers, products, and systems that drive the ag and food value chain.
This type of onboarding support is especially valuable as employers broaden their candidate pools. A new hire does not need to come from a farm background or agriculture degree program to become a strong contributor, but they do need the right tools, training and context to succeed. Providing early education can help employees feel more connected to the industry and better prepared to contribute in their roles.
The USDA projections make it clear that agriculture and food employers will need to compete for talent across a wide range of disciplines. That means companies must not only recruit differently, but also develop talent differently.
Ag Onboarding Academy helps employers turn new hires into more informed, confident, and connected team members. As workforce needs grow, investing in onboarding is one practical step organizations can take to strengthen retention, accelerate learning, and prepare employees for long-term success in agriculture.
The future workforce will include people from many backgrounds. Ag Onboarding Academy helps ensure they are grounded in agriculture from day one.
Help your new hires get grounded in agriculture from the start. Explore Ag Onboarding Academy today: Learn More
