Internships in agriculture can take place in rural farming settings or at top-tier seed manufacturing companies. The possibilities are numerous, ranging from alternative fuel development to irrigation and gardening. Agricultural internships are available to students who want to travel or stay close to home, work in laboratories or out in the open air among acres of farmland. Agriculture opportunities can be found in both the public and private sectors, and can range from sophisticated research to complex international trade relations to simple and rewarding farming.
Specific eligibility requirements must be met in order for students to be considered for certain agriculture internships. Large containers containing soil or manure for fertilizing must frequently be carried or lifted. Physically fit individuals are more likely to meet the demands of these outdoor assignments.
Organic farming is a type of agricultural development that allows students to participate in internships. These agricultural internships teach students how to grow organically grown food, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as plants and trees. For example, fertilizer for these gardens could be limited to organic methods such as animal droppings collected from the owner’s or another farmer’s farm.
Agriculture internships are available at large companies that develop crop seeds and produce weed and pest control products. A student could apply to join a research and development team that develops seeds for farmers, and thus become a part of the process that will set agricultural standards for decades to come. For example, interns learn about the most up-to-date technology and breeding methods for developing cotton and vegetable seeds.
The energy industry is still engrossed in the development of biofuels as a replacement or complement to traditional fossil fuels for transportation. Biofuel production and the effects of this alternative fuel on the environment and local economies are two areas where agriculture internships can be found. Students could look into different resources, such as corn or sugar, that can be used to make ethanol as a biofuel, as well as the economic implications of growing or importing these items. In this field, it is possible to find paid internships that also include housing.
Students may be exposed to international commerce through government-sponsored agricultural internships. Organizations such as the Foreign Agricultural Service in the United States sponsor intern programs that extend to other countries and promote agricultural trade between nations. These opportunities would be ideal for students who are interested in international trade as it relates to agriculture.