Placement Areas

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MAST International offers training and internship programs in various areas of agriculture and horticulture throughout the USA. These placements are typically 3 to 12 months and can be complemented by a semester of study at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. This training gives participants hands-on experience and new skills in their chosen field by training with an approved and qualified host trainer.

Trainee in a crop field

Crops

From planting to harvest: experience America's wide open spaces

Row crops and small grain farms range from small (1000-2000 acres), to medium (2000-5000 acres), to large (5000+ acres). Row crop farms include corn, soybeans, sugar beets, potatoes, edible beans, etc. Small grain farms produce wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa hay, etc. Farm machinery may vary in size and age.

Training Activities: preparing soil, applying fertilizer and pesticides, seeding, irrigation, harvesting, machinery upkeep and repair, storing crops, and hauling seed.

Placement Timing: 9-10 month placement, from March/April until November/December. Limited number of shorter harvest-focused placements available. 

Trainee in a greenhouse holding a hanging flower basket

Horticulture

From plant care to pest management: your future sprouts here


Greenhouse/Nursery/Garden Center

Products include ornamental flowers, shrubs, and trees. On small operations, trainees take part in all activities; large operations may have separation of duties. Each operation may have a different focus (retail, wholesale, growing, or a mix).

Training Activities: preparing soil, planting, propagation, watering, insect and disease control, weed control, pruning, retail sales and customer service, and shipping.

Placement Timing: 5-8 month placement, from January/February until August. Limited number of longer placements.
 

Fruit and Vegetable Production

Crops include tree fruits (apples, stone fruits, etc.), berries (strawberries, blueberries, etc.), or vegetables (tomatoes, onions, lettuce, etc.).

Training Activities: planting, fertilizing, irrigating, weed and insect control, pruning, propagation, harvesting, processing, packaging, and distribution. Prepare, package, and sell fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products.

Placement Timing: 8-9 month training, from March/April until November. Limited number of shorter harvest-focused placements available. 

Female trainee posing with a dairy cow

Livestock

From animal care to breeding: raising livestock and raising opportunities


Dairy

Farms may specialize in milking, genetics, herd health, or a combination. If you are on a dairy/crop farm, you will likely not work in the field. Farm size can range from small (75-150 cows), to medium (150-400 cows), to large (400-2000+ cows).

Training Activities: general care and feeding of cattle, calving, treating disease and injury, castrating, branding, artificial insemination, fencing, building and equipment repair, and activities related to crop production.

Placement Timing: 4-12 month placements beginning at various times throughout the year. 
 

Beef

Most beef farms are cow-calf operations with crops. Small beef/crop farms (50-200 head) are located in the Midwest; large beef/crop farms and ranch/beef operations (200-1000+ head) are located in western state. 

Training Activities: general care and feeding of cattle, calving, treating disease and injury, castrating, branding, artificial insemination, fencing, building and equipment repair, and activities related to crop production. 

Placement Timing: 11-12 month training, beginning January-March and ending November/December.
 

Swine

MAST offers confinement operations in breeding, farrowing, and finishing. On many farms students participate in all activities; on some larger farms there is separation of duties.

Training Activities: general care and feeding, cleaning, treating disease and injury, artificial insemination, castrating, building and equipment repair, and selling animals.

Placement Timing: 12 months beginning at various times throughout the year.
 

Equine Husbandry

MAST offers placements mostly in western riding. Equine placements are entirely self-selective (trainees are recruited by host trainers).

Training Activities: foaling, general care, feeding, ration formulation, treating disease and injury, cleaning, exercising and training, preparing animals for sale, and building and equipment repair.

Placement Timing: 12 months beginning at various times throughout the year. 

A female trainee stands next to a grape elevator

Winery

From vines to wines: add a vintage from the USA

Most winery placements are cellar experiences. There are limited placements in laboratories and viticulture. MAST offers small operations to large production wineries located in various regions throughout the U.S.

Training Activities: cleaning and sanitizing equipment; preparing and crushing fruit; pressing; performing punch downs and pump-overs; filling and topping barrels; making additions; monitoring fermentations; racking and bottling.

Placement Timing: 3-4 month training, from August/September until October/November. Limited number of viticulture placements from March/April until November/December.

Trainee inspecting bee boxes

Specialized Placements

If you have interest in a specialized placement, please contact MAST for guidance before you apply. Current opportunities include beekeeping, organic farming, crop consulting, and research. Very limited number of placements for highly qualified trainees. Excellent English is required. When applying, be very specific describing your specialized request.

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