Industry Needs Pierce Agriculture Program
There are ample reasons to continue the agriculture program at Pierce College. Agriculture is the leading industry in California.
During the past 10 years, attendance at agricultural schools nationwide dropped markedly, but now there exists a shortage of qualified graduates in various areas of the industry, e.g. agriculture production, marketing, business management and programs dealing with toxic chemicals and water quality.
These promising jobs are of as much interest to city dwellers as they are to rural students. We need the Pierce College farm because it offers the opportunity of hands-on experience during the first two years of a career in agriculture, which is especially important for low-income students.
Before the program is eliminated at Pierce College, the Los Angeles Community College District should communicate with the agriculture schools in our state, the California Agriculture Department, Department of Labor and the agriculture business to find out about job opportunities in the field.
EDITH ROTH
Woodland Hills
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