Agriculture internships can unfold in rural farming environments or at top-seed manufacturing companies. The options are quite diverse, ranging from the development of alternative fuel resources to irrigation and gardening. Students who are interested in pursuing agricultural internships can travel or stay local, work in laboratories or out under the open sky amid acres of farmland. Agriculture opportunities exist across both the public and private sectors and can take the form of tasks ranging from sophisticated research and complex international trade relations to straightforward and rewarding farming.
Students need to meet specific eligibility requirements in order to qualify for certain agriculture internships. Often, large containers filled with soil or manure for fertilizing need to be carried or lifted. Individuals who are physically fit are most likely to comply with the demands for these outdoor assignments.
Organic farming is a type of agricultural development that offers internships to students. These agriculture internships instruct students about growing food, including fruits and vegetables, in addition to plants and trees, according to organic standards. For instance, fertilizer for these gardens may be limited to only organic methods used by animal droppings that are taken from farm life on the owner's or other farmer's grounds.
Large companies that develop seeds for crops and make products to control weeds and pests also offer agriculture internships. A student could apply to be part of a research and development team that makes seeds for farmers and become part of the process that sets in motion agricultural standards for decades to come. Interns learn about the latest technology and breeding methods for developing cotton and vegetable seeds, for instance.
The development of biofuels as a substitution or counterpart to traditional fossil fuel for transportation continues to grip the energy industry. Agriculture internships can be found in researching biofuel production and the effects that this alternative fuel has on the environment and local economies. Students might research different resources that can be used to produce ethanol as a biofuel, including corn or sugar, and the economic implications of growing or importing these items. It is possible to obtain paid internships that also provide housing in this field.
Government-sponsored agricultural internships may provide students an opportunity to be exposed to international commerce. There are intern programs sponsored by organizations, such as the Foreign Agricultural Service in the U.S., that extend to other countries and that promote agricultural trade between nations. Students who are interested in international trade as it relates to agriculture would be suited for these opportunities.