agriprospects – Extension Foundation

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AgriProspects Announces $1 million in Extension Workforce Development Projects Around AI and Credentialing

The AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, a national program of the Extension Foundation, is pleased to announce the awarding of $1 million for the second round of AgriProspects grants made possible by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)-National Extension Clearinghouse for Industry and the Workforce, project award no. 2023-67037-40533, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The second round of grants sought proposals that 1) addressed needs with respect to digital credential infrastructure development for workforce success within Extension, 2) addressed AI education and awareness needs within Extension and our served communities, or 3) pulled elements of both tracks together in unique and innovative ways, addressing pressing workforce, community, and Extension needs.

The five proposals selected for funding are:

FIELD‑AI: Farm & Industry Extension Learning via Digital AI‑Credentials – Dr. Christian Christensen, University of Florida
Establishing a Micro-Credentialing Infrastructure for Extension – Maria Gorgo-Simcox, Penn State
Logging Smarter: AI-Enhanced Hardwood Bucking Training for Adult Workforce Development – Dr. Pipiet Larasatie, Virginia Tech
Developing Skilled Workforce Training in Fruit & Vegetable Drying and Freezing – Dr. Qingyang Wang, Oregon State University
Training Ag Extension and Farmer Users for AI and IoT – Dr. Suping Zhou, Tennessee State University

The awardees for Round 2 address a variety of needs and opportunities within workforce development. From expanding proven, successful programs to proposals integrating new and emerging tools and technologies; from primary production all the way to value added products, the proposals integrate new and emerging technologies and tools to develop skills, aptitudes, and competencies within the workforce with the support and input of industry and community partners.

“We’re excited to partner with these PIs in support of the agricultural sector and Extension” says Dr. Jason L. Weigle, AgriProspects Program Manager and co-PD on the NIFA-AFRI NECIW grant supporting these efforts. “The selected projects showcase the breadth and depth of the workforce development work within Extension and the opportunities in front of us. The awardees demonstrate the importance of engaging with and involving industry partners in developing and delivering their programs, especially in the rapidly evolving workplace environment.”

The round received 74 applications competing for $1 million in funding. The five awardees join the awardees from the first round of AgriProspects Grants, which just wrapped up the first year of their two-year projects. More on first round efforts can be found here: https://youtu.be/FN9P3LQQcV8

“The proposals from Round 2 demonstrate that Extension Educators across the country have innovative ideas for how to address pressing agricultural workforce needs and are willing and able to step up when the opportunity arises and the barriers are removed. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of all applications across both grant rounds truly demonstrate that Extension IS Workforce Development!”

AgriProspects is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)-National Extension Clearinghouse for Industry and the Workforce, project award no. 2023-67037-40533, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Awarded Project Summaries

Dr. Christian Christensen
University of Florida
FIELD‑AI: Farm & Industry Extension Learning via Digital AI‑Credentials

As new AI tools become more available in agriculture, Florida’s producers and farmworkers need training that is practical and easy to access. Farm & Industry Extension Learning via Digital AI Credentials (FIELD-AI) will be a micro-credentialing program derived from a statewide needs assessments to ensure Florida’s agricultural workforce has access to practical, trusted, research-based AI training. Over the next two years, the project will move step-by-step from assessing what farmers need, building courses, testing them, improving them, and eventually offering them statewide. With simple, hands-on micro credentials, FIELD-AI will facilitate learning how to use AI in ways that make sense on the farm.

Maria Gorgo-Simcox
Penn State
Establishing a Micro-Credentialing Infrastructure for Extension

This grant expands the Success Skills in Spanish for Agriculture (SSS4A) AgriProspects Round 1 grant through creating micro‑credentialed, industry‑informed training for agricultural workers. Building on Round 1 findings, the project will develop modules for five key agricultural sectors – tree fruit, poultry, dairy, mushroom, and the landscaping industry – while adding supervisory and advanced language success courses. The grant will support digital credentials which recognize participants’ skills and align with employer and industry expectations. Guided by worker and industry feedback, the program aims to improve communication, safety, job confidence, and career advancement while helping employers enhance retention, compliance, and workforce efficiency.

Dr. Pipiet Larasatie
Virginia Tech
Logging Smarter: AI-Enhanced Hardwood Bucking Training for Adult Workforce Development

The country’s forests drive rural economic growth in many places, yet log bucking – the critical process of cutting stems into logs – often lacks skills-based training. Current instruction tends to be static and doesn’t let loggers practice real-time decision-making or see the value impacts of their decisions. Logging Smarter addresses this gap by using AI, computer vision, and image generation to create interactive training that mirrors real field conditions. Integrated into the SHARP Logger Program, the goal of the project is to strengthen workforce skills, boost value recovery, and enhance supply chain efficiency. Focused on Virginia’s hardwood regions but applicable to the industry, the project will deliver scalable, open-source tools to modernize forestry training nationwide.

Dr. Qingyang Wang
Oregon State University
Developing Skilled Workforce Training in Fruit & Vegetable Drying and Freezing

The fruit and vegetable processing industry underpins U.S. agriculture but faces gaps in specialized training related to drying and freezing technologies for the workforce. These gaps limit innovation and adoption, safety compliance, and product quality. The proposed project creates a hybrid three‑day, credentialed short course – offered in Oregon and New York – covering drying/freezing science, food safety, quality management, hands-on lab work, and AI applications. Targeting farmers, processors, educators, and regulators, the program will build technical and safety competencies, supports data-driven decision-making, and issues stackable digital credentials, strengthening workforce readiness for evolving technologies and enhances value-added food production nationwide.

Dr. Suping Zhou
Tennessee State University
Training Ag Extension and Farmer Users for AI and IoT

Many small and mid-sized farms lack the means to leverage data-driven technologies needed for food safety, traceability, and market participation. This project seeks to address this need through integrating affordable Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) tools into Extension and new farmer training. This project seeks to build digital skills in AI, analytics, and the IoT through train‑the‑trainer programs and partnerships with local farms and producers. By enabling real-time monitoring and verifiable supply chains, the project seeks to establish replicable tools to help farmers meet market demands, strengthening supply-chain resilience and expanding development and workforce opportunities across the state and nationally.

About the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the nationwide Cooperative Extension System — the network of 112 Land-grant Universities that bring research and education directly into communities across the United States. Created by Extension leaders, the Foundation serves as the national infrastructure that helps this system scale its impact. Through technology platforms, artificial intelligence tools, national programs, communications, and professional development, the Extension Foundation strengthens the ability of Cooperative Extension to respond to emerging challenges in agriculture, health, environment, and community development. Every dollar is reinvested to ensure that Extension professionals and institutions have the tools, resources, and support they need to serve people where they live and work.

This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)-National Extension Clearinghouse for Industry and the Workforce, project award no. 2023-67037-40533, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website and consultative support are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

January 28, 2026/by Aaron Weibe

AgriProspects Launches 2nd Round of Grants to Boost CES Workforce Capacity in Digital Credentials & AI

News, Newsroom

AgriProspects, a national program of the Extension Foundation, is excited to announce their second round of grants aimed at advancing Extension-led adult agricultural workforce development (AAWD) across the nation.

Supported by USDA-NIFA through the AFRI-National Extension Clearinghouse for Industry and the Workforce (NECIW) (2023-67037-40533), AgriProspects will award up to five two-year grants of $200,000 each to support regional or national-scale projects that build Cooperative Extension’s capacity and readiness in two focus areas:

Digital credentialing initiatives for adult agricultural workforce development in rural and urban areas; or
Artificial Intelligence tools and resources to support the agricultural sector and supply chain and the adult agricultural workforce in rural and urban areas.

Proposals should expand workforce skills through competency-based approaches, clearly define target audiences and learning outcomes, involve end users in project design, leverage Extension and partner strengths, and focus on digital credentials or AI in Extension.

This opportunity is open to all Land-grant Colleges & Universities, regardless of Extension Foundation membership.

For more details on eligibility, proposal requirements, office hours, resource sessions, and deadlines, visit https://agriprospects.extension.org/mini-grant-round-2/.

Day 2 of the AgriProspects Summit will have sessions reviewing digital credentials and the broader digital credential ecosystem. A kick off session for this grant cycle will also be held as part of the Summit at 3pm Eastern. To learn more, visit https://agriprospects.extension.org/agriprospects-summit-2025/.

Questions? Contact us at agriprospects@extension.org.

About the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves as a strategic partner to the Cooperative Extension System, enhancing its capacity to address pressing community challenges through innovative programming and resources. Focused on fostering collaboration, the Extension Foundation supports the development and dissemination of research-based educational materials, leveraging technology and partnerships to reach diverse audiences. By promoting initiatives that drive engagement, workforce development, and social impact, the Foundation plays a critical role in modernizing extension services. Its work enables local extension professionals to better serve their communities, ensuring that relevant and timely information is accessible to those who need it most, ultimately contributing to the vitality and resilience of communities across the nation.

June 11, 2025/by Aaron Weibe

Extension Foundation to Launch Digital Marketplace for Extension Programs New Platform to Expand Access to Cooperative Extension Offerings and Workforce Development Opportunities

Impact, News, Newsroom

The Extension Foundation, in partnership with key stakeholders, has selected Merit to help launch a digital marketplace designed to enhance access to Cooperative Extension programs offered by the nation’s 112 Land-grant Universities and Colleges. This marketplace, part of the Foundation’s national program known as the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, aims to bridge workforce development gaps by connecting earners, learners, and employers to educational resources and skill-building opportunities that support local and regional workforce ecosystems. This work is supported by a grant between the Extension Foundation and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

The marketplace will serve as a centralized hub where learners, earners, and employers can discover Cooperative Extension offerings based on location and area of interest. Designed with scalability and adaptability in mind, the platform represents a critical step in supporting rural and underserved communities through accessible upskilling and reskilling opportunities.

“Extension programming is uniquely positioned to address workforce development challenges by providing learners with the tools they need to succeed in today’s economy,” said Dr. Jason Weigle, Program Manager for the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network at the Extension Foundation. “This marketplace represents a bold step forward in connecting individuals with the resources and credentials they need to thrive.”

In its first phase, the marketplace will focus on aggregating and organizing existing Cooperative Extension adult agricultural workforce programming and skills taught, enabling users to easily search by ZIP code and area of interest. Future phases will incorporate digital credentials, known as Learning and Employment Records (LERs), and digital wallets to empower learners with portable, secure documentation of their skills and qualifications.

While currently focused on adult agricultural workforce development, the marketplace is designed to be scalable for future expansion beyond the agriculture sector, utilizing emerging LERs and digital wallets, and ensuring interoperability with existing and emerging credentialing systems, skilling trees, and learning management systems

This initiative aligns with the Extension Foundation’s commitment to workforce development as a cornerstone of Cooperative Extension’s mission. By increasing awareness of and access to Extension resources, the marketplace seeks to strengthen local economies, support workforce readiness, and promote lifelong learning.

To hear Extension Foundation’s Jason Weigle discuss How LERs help transition to a skills-based economy, visit the interview here. To learn more about the Extension Foundation and its AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, visit extension.org. To learn more about Merit, visit https://www.merits.com.

AgriProspects is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Workforce Development Competitive Grant 2023-67037-40533. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website and consultative support are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

December 19, 2024/by Aaron Weibe

Extension Foundation Selects Thirteen Coordinators from Land-grant Universities for AgriProspects Workforce Development Network

News

The Extension Foundation (EXF) in collaboration with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Economic & Workforce Development Program Action Team are collaborating with USDA-NIFA staff to form a robust network of public and private entities across every U.S. region to build the nation’s capacity to respond to the changing needs in the food and agriculture sector.

The effort, called AgriProspects, aims to foster regional cooperation, identify workforce ecosystem gaps, and offer collaborative, adaptive solutions to local and regional employment challenges. The project focuses on increasing awareness of and expanding access to Extension resources which enhance skill levels, facilitate credential attainment, and prepare participants for successful entry or re-entry into the workforce.

Individuals from across Cooperative Extension were selected through a competitive application to serve as Regional Network Coordinators and Regional Content Coordinators. These individuals represent all six regions of Cooperative Extension including representation from 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant universities and specific subject matter needs.Their work supports the key objectives of AgriProspects, which include:

Creating a dynamic clearinghouse to organize and share Extension’s adult workforce development (AWD) offerings for the agricultural sector;
Developing a sustainable network of Extension educators and industry partners to strengthen the alignment of Extension’s agricultural AWD offerings with real-time industry needs;
Connecting employers, workforce intermediaries, and the agricultural workforce to Extension’s skill development programs that cultivate upskilling, credentialing, and participant readiness to successfully join or rejoin the ag workforce; and
Supporting the creation, evolution, expansion, and integration of Extension AWD programs locally, regionally, and nationally through mini-grant funding.

The selected coordinators include:

Latonna Old Elk, Little Big Horn College (1994 Region)
Felix Nez, Blackfeet Community College (1994 Region)
Dr. Lana Petrie, Tennessee State University (1890 Region)
Von Barnes, Kentucky State University (1890 Region)
Dan Nieland, Iowa State University (National – Entrepreneurship & Self-Employment)
Tanya Hall, Purdue University (North Central Region)
Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (North Central Region)
Kate Venturini Hardesty, University of Rhode Island (Northeast Region)
Andrea Franchini, University of Maryland (Northeast Region)
Dr. Mark Mains, University of Kentucky (Southern Region)
Clint Cummings, University of Tennessee (Southern Region)
Dr. Trevor Lane, Washington State University (Western Region)
Maritza Broce, University of Arizona (Western Region)

For more information about the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, please visit extension.org/national-programs-services/workforce/.

This work is supported through a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture AFRI Education and Workforce Development Competitive Grant 2023-67037-40533.

April 8, 2024/by Aaron Weibe