Farm internships in Oregon

July 1, 2010
link to article from Ag Weekly online

Oregon Department of Agriculture - Farming is an art as much as a science or business. It involves unique characteristics of each field with its soils and slopes and climatic conditions and management practices; the varieties, qualities, and adaptability of the plants/crops involved; the health and care of animals; equipment operation and repair; irrigation fundamentals and plant water needs; and a myriad of other special skills and details that one learns best in a real-world application.

One can study some of these things in a text book, but working on a farm is the only way to really learn farming. With growing interest in farming, locally-derived food and food systems, hands-on learning, and the increasing age of growers nearing retirement, questions around the opportunities for on-farm internships are plentiful.

There are state and federal laws and limitations that define what constitutes an intern. Ensuring that both growers and potential interns understand the basics of these "boundaries" will help minimize disputes, complaints, and compliance issues so those who do enter into an internship relationship have a good experience.

The standards required for an "internship" can be difficult to meet - for unpaid, work-based learning program to qualify as an internship, any productive work that the student/intern performs for a for-profit business must be offset by the employer through an adequate training/education program and sufficient supervision. The business may not derive any "immediate advantage" from the intern's work. These are difficult measures to quantify.

Further, the placement of the student at a worksite during the learning experience cannot result in the displacement of any regular employee. Whether a small farm would have employed someone otherwise is also difficult to quantify.

Many farmers want to teach farming to a new generation willing to learn, but they feel that taking on the role of "instructor," AND having the requirement to pay wages to interns/students is equivalent to expecting college professors to pay students to study under them, rather than the student paying tuition. Furthermore, many farmers provide free room & board and curriculum.

But without modifications to existing laws, growers and interns need to understand current requirements and comply with these obligations.

As a final word in this introductory section, keep in mind there is a distinction between apprenticeships and internships. They are not the same thing. Apprenticeships are accredited training programs that have specific standards, hours of learning, and other requirements for an apprenticeship "degree" in a particular trade. There is no official agricultural/farming apprenticeship program in Oregon. (See BOLI page for definition of apprenticeship program: http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI/ATD/A_Aptrng.shtml Hence, the information found here is specific to the term "internship."

A very important approach to any intern situation it to put it in writing! Document what the intern will do, what the intern will learn, what training/supervision will be provided, if there will be room/board, stipend or pay, etc. Make sure the experience meets the criteria for an intern, not an employee!