Agricultural Workforce Development (AWD) Program - New Mexico

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) Agricultural Workforce Development (AWD) Program offers incentives to the state's agricultural businesses to hire interns. The program, the result of the Agricultural Workforce Development Program Act, is intended to provide hands-on educational opportunities for students aspiring to careers in agriculture, as well as young or beginning farmers and ranchers. NMDA will reimburse qualified agricultural businesses up to 50 percent of the actual cost of hiring a qualified intern, not to exceed $15,000 per internship. An agricultural business may request funding to hire as many as three interns per calendar year. Each intern must be provided with at least 130 hours of work experience, not exceeding one year in duration per intern. Primary areas of focus include agribusiness, agronomy, crop production, farm and ranch management, food safety, fruit and vegetable production, maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment, marketing and sales, and natural resources and conservation.

Applicants must be an 'agricultural business,' meaning a business of a food or agricultural nature, including agricultural production or processing. The business must identify an intern prior to applying (NMDA will not match businesses with interns). Interns must be 18 years or older by the start of the internship; it is preferred but not required that interns be New Mexico residents. Immediate family members of the agricultural business are not eligible to participate. Participating agricultural businesses must pay minimum wage or higher to each intern and carry workers' compensation insurance for each intern.

Reimburses up to 50 percent of the actual cost of hiring an intern, capped at $15,000 per internship. NMDA: "NMDA will reimburse qualified agricultural businesses up to 50 percent of the actual cost of hiring a qualified intern, not to exceed $15,000 per internship. An agricultural business may request funding to hire as many as three interns per calendar year. Each intern must be provided with at least one hundred thirty (130) hours of work experience, not exceeding one (1) year in duration per intern." A business hiring the maximum three interns can therefore access up to $45,000 in a calendar year.

Conditions attached to the money: "Participating agricultural businesses must pay minimum wage (or higher) to each intern, as well as carry workers' compensation insurance for each intern." You must identify the intern before applying — "NMDA will not match agricultural businesses with potential interns" — interns must be 18 or older by the start of the internship, and immediate family members of the business are not eligible. No match beyond the 50 percent employer share is required. Awards are made on "a) their compliance with program requirements; and b) funding availability," and the window stays open until funds are fully allocated.

The grant application period opens June 15, 2026 and continues until funds are fully allocated or by March 31, 2027, whichever comes first. Internships can begin after July 1, 2026 and must be completed by May 31, 2027. Applicants should read the AWD FAQs, find an intern interested in the opportunity, and complete and submit the application form. NMDA awards funding based on compliance with program requirements and funding availability.