The Thread

American agriculture faces aging producers and labor shortages as precision technologies reshape daily operations. Apprenticeships provide paid, hands-on pathways that pair traditional farm experience with emerging AgTech skills like drones, IoT sensors, and GPS-guided machinery. Partnerships across 4-H, colleges, and USDA programs enable high-quality training, while Craft’s free platform simplifies compliant data and competency management for rural sponsors.

The policy landscape for short-term workforce training changed again this week. According to a fresh recap from the American Council on Education (ACE), negotiations this week on Capitol Hill between lawmakers and the U.S. Department of Education could fundamentally reshape how short-term Workforce Pell works, and which programs would qualify.

This post demystifies RTI in Registered Apprenticeships, clarifying federal expectations and the commonly cited 144-hour guidance. It shows where sponsors can find education partners, how to vet curriculum and delivery, and how to manage RTI with MOUs and shared tracking. It closes with how Craft centralizes RTI and OJL data to simplify reporting and keep programs aligned with real job skills.

Craft Connect is a free apprenticeship data platform that replaces fragmented spreadsheets and portals with shared, role-based access for all stakeholders. It integrates with tools like Canvas, streamlines evaluations, and supports registered apprenticeship and WIOA compliance—modernizing workflows without ripping out existing systems.

This post outlines common apprenticeship challenges—time management, mentorship gaps, unclear progression, theory-practice disconnect, administrative burden, and mental health pressures—and practical fixes for each. It highlights structured communication, clear milestones, and supportive networks, while showing how Craft Connect’s tracking, dashboards, and reporting reduce friction and keep apprentices on track.

Discover how states are advancing work-based learning and apprenticeships. Expert panel explores policy change, scaling pilots, rural-urban solutions, and funding strategies for workforce development.