This summer I have a dual internship with Seedway and CHR Hansen, based out of Hall, NY. My internship looks at both ends of the agricultural spectrum; the plant and the animal. The two companies work together; Seedway sells CHR Hansen product and CHR Hansen helps farmers manage their plants. I wasn’t expecting to be a part of both companies this summer, but to my surprise it is very interesting and helpful to see agriculture from both points of view.

When I work with Seedway, I maintain forage and grain plots, I deliver seed, and scout fields for pests, diseases, and any other problems the farmers may be encountering. On the other hand, with CHR Hansen, I take corn silage and haylage samples along with manure samples and analyze them in order to help the farmer get the most nutrients and increase the milk they are getting from their cows.

Stepping foot into NH

During June, I spent a whole week working with CHR Hansen and we traveled up to Vermont and New Hampshire to do some testing. We met with one of the CHR Hansen dealers in Vermont along with a CHR Hansen employee who works in Brazil. Throughout the week, we went to numerous farms and took countless samples. We also presented our results to a few farms, showing them improvements they could make in packing or chopping or how our product would help eliminate their spoilage. Many of the days were long days, not reaching our hotel until close to midnight and then leaving before the sun rose the next morning.

All in all, the week was one that was unforgettable. I put my feet in two states I had never been and with this internship that seems like it won’t be the end of my travels.

Alfalfa, Forage, and Cover crop plot

Penn State Shaker box results