Student Spotlight: Hall Aspires to Lend a Hand for N.C. Agriculture

April 21, 2017 Staff

Portrait of Lane Michael Hall outside. — As a junior at NC State, Lane Michael Hall is preparing for an agricultural career in North Carolina.

Written by Kaki Carl, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

Lane Michael Hall knows what he want to do and is busy getting it done. A junior in NC State University’s soil science program, Lane came to NC State as a transfer student from a community college. He’s a member of the NC State Agronomy Club, Young Farmers and Ranchers Club, and the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He also received the Marion and Jane Dilday Scholarship, which is based on academic merit.

Just a few moments in conversation confirms he is a man of the soil.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted to farm,” he said. “I was born and raised in Clinton, in Sampson County. My family has not been in the farm business, but I’ve worked for a couple of family farms in the area. My girlfriend’s family farms, so I’ve been all around it, helping out.”

Why did you choose NC State?

I wanted to go into agronomy. I figured that’s the closest thing I could get to “farming” as a degree! The agronomy degree is no longer offered, so the soil science program [in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences] seemed to be the one that made the most sense to me. Soil is the basis of agronomy; without a healthy soil you can’t do anything in crop science, so that that was a big key to me.”

What opportunities have you found?

I did an internship last summer with Smithfield Agronomics. Their agronomics program builds on sustainable ag practices for their farmers to grow grain while reducing their carbon footprint. That was a really eye-opening experience to see those ag practices implemented! That got my interest up, and a career goal spun off of that.

How are you working toward that?

This summer I have an internship lined up with Helena Chemicals – a sales internship. It’ll get my feet wet with another aspect of my goals. What I understand is I’ll be on the east coast somewhere. I’m looking forward to finding out where I’ll be placed.

What’s it like to be part of the NC State Wolfpack?

I love the home feel. Everybody’s for the same goal. It’s nice to see that unity within the student body.

Your goals after graduation?

I’d like to become an agronomist, or a sales rep for a company and consult as I sell chemicals, or feed and fertilizer, and be able to make knowledgeable recommendations; not necessarily just for production, but make a conservation effort in retention of fertilizer, and less runoff while maximizing potential for yields.

What specific issues would you like to address?

Erosion. Nutrient availability for crops. Nutrient retention, and nutrient recycling with cover crops. Big fan of that stuff.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

North Carolina. I’d like to keep it in North Carolina agriculture and be a helping hand, making it better here.

This post was originally published in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences News.