Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn agricultural technology
Ursery Farms™ is developing an agricultural technician apprenticeship pathway that pairs anticipated paid, employer-supervised work with related technical instruction.
Where It Stands
What is and is not settled
The structure, competency list, and instructional content described on this page are in development. They are published so prospective participants and employers can plan and give input.
No apprenticeship registration, wage schedule, employer roster, start date, or credential recognition is final. Nothing on this page is an offer of employment or enrollment.
Structure
How the pathway is designed to work
01
Paid On-the-Job Learning
Anticipated supervised work on the farm and in production systems, with documented hours and competency sign-off by a designated mentor.
02
Related Technical Instruction
Classroom and laboratory instruction that runs alongside work hours, covering plant science, irrigation, food safety, sensing, and data systems.
03
Mentorship
Each participant is paired with an experienced supervisor responsible for progression, feedback, and safety.
04
Competency Progression
Advancement is based on demonstrated skill against a written competency list rather than time served alone.
05
Credential on Completion
A completion credential is anticipated. Recognition and registration are not final.
Competencies
Skills a participant is expected to demonstrate
- Safe operation of farm equipment and tools
- Controlled-environment production
- Irrigation setup, monitoring, and troubleshooting
- Soil sampling and nutrient management
- Integrated pest and disease scouting
- Harvest, grading, and post-harvest handling
- Food-safety practice and recordkeeping
- Agricultural sensors, IoT, and telemetry
- Production data entry, dashboards, and traceability
- Preventive maintenance of water and power systems
- Inventory and asset management
- Workplace communication and team coordination
Who It Is For
Participants this pathway is designed to serve
- Adults changing careers into agriculture
- Older youth completing secondary education
- Veterans entering agricultural work
- Beginning farmers building technical depth
- Employees of participating agricultural employers
Employers
What a participating employer provides
- Provide supervised, paid work hours
- Assign a qualified mentor
- Verify competency progression
- Support safety training and compliance
- Participate in scheduling around technical instruction
- Review the competency list annually
Express Interest