Summer with Keystone

I spent my summer with Keystone Coop. Keystone is a cooperation that has gone through a few merges over the years. For those who grew up in this part of Indiana, you might remember them as Co-Alliance. The company’s function is to serve the farmers and growers of the area. Keystone helps distribute seed, herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. They distribute fuel and gasoline, take tissue and soil samples. Keystone also tests out new forms of technology such as drone applications and drone aerial footage. Keystone has a lot of different regions, each with its own personalized demands. Regions up north in Michigan work with fruits like cherries, apples and blueberries, whereas eastern regions dabble with wheat along with corn and soy. Each region caters to the needs of its farmers. 

I was a crop field scout in a west-central region and mainly worked with corn and soy. I was certified to fly small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and would take aerial footage of the fields to find any signs of disease, deficiency, or pest pressure. I would walk through the fields to assess the overall health and growth of the crop. I learned to differentiate diseases, and identify various nutrient deficiencies. I learned how to growth stage corn and soybeans, and ID animal or insect pests. 

A lot of the work was done solo, which helped me become more independent with my work. There were times when I had a buddy or two in the field, most were curious farm dogs who would follow me around. Other times I spent a day with some of my coworkers taking chlorophyll readings or soil samples in a couple of fields.   

I came away from my internship with a lot more knowledge about corn and soy under my belt. I had developed new skills like split stalk growth readings and drone piloting. Although my ultimate end-goal in my career involves me working in a more laboratorial setting, I gained a lot of experience and have a better idea of what growers want from their crop.