Most of CAEP’s cropping hosts are in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana with one host in Florida for winter placements. Farms are very progressive operations that are using new technology, and generally range between 3000 and 15000 acres in size. Host farms give participants good insight into most aspects of their operation, as well as marketing of their crops directly and sometimes globally. Trainees arrive in early April and stay with the operation until the end of harvest, usually November. This way a trainee can see the planting and harvesting as well as the care of the crops.
CAEP agriculture hosts are the very best in their industry, and provide a good hands-on learning experience for participants.
Skills to be learned:
- Crop rotation management
- Weed identification
- Seed
- Fertilizer and crop protection decisions
- Farm book-keeping
- Marketing of crops including options and forward contracting
- Operation of farm machinery and on-road vehicles
- Maintenance and repair of farm machinery
- Harvesting and drying of crops
- Time management
*Actual skills learned will vary by host and previous experience