The Department of Agriculture announced a new jobs program that will use the national apprenticeship system to hire new employees as agricultural commodity graders. The graders are a key role in USDA’s mission to protect American consumers. The program, piloted by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, combines on-the-job training with theoretical and practical instruction in the classroom and online. Apprentices who complete the paid training program will meet the qualifications for a position as a USDA Agricultural Commodities Grader. USDA employs more than 11,000 veterans and since 2009 has provided more than $505 million in direct farm loans to help more than 7,400 veterans start, maintain or grow their farming operations. Find more information online at AMS dot USDA dot gov (www.ams.usda.gov).