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Mandy Smith, first year Animal Science and Kayla Graham, fourth year Animal Science have been in Finland on an exchange semester for the summer. They arrived on the Mustiala campus of HAMK University of Applied Sciences in early May, ready to dig in and harvest some academic credit for on-farm practical work!

Mandy and Kayla spent the first half of their semester learning about cropping by, well, cropping. They are comparing Canadian and Finnish farming practices in areas like raking and baling silage. Benefitting from the extended sunlight hours that come from the more northern placement of the country and in the true realities of on-farm life, some days went until midnight working with the silage crop. The second half of the semester has been spent in the new cow-house, meeting some moo-re new friends! Opened in the spring, the facility can house up to 100 head of dairy cattle with a mix of Holstein, Ayrshire and indigenous Finnish cattle.

The students will be able to earn up to three Dalhousie course credits for their on-farm practical and were supported with costs through Dalhousie’s Study/Work International Fund.

For more information on the Finland On-Farm Practical Semester or other international opportunities for Faculty of Agriculture students, contact Kendra Mellish, Student Mobility Officer at the International Office (Kendra.mellish@dal.ca, 902-893-6252).