title: Reading hdf files into R and converting them to geoTIFF rasters
body: <p>I'm trying to read MODIS 17 data files into R, manipulate them (cropping etc.) and then save them as geoTIFF's.  The data files come in <code>.hdf</code> format and there doesn't seem to be an easy way to read them into R.</p>
  
  <p>Compared to other topics there isn't a lot of advice out there and most of it is several years old.  Some of it also advises using additional programmes but I want to stick with just using R.</p>
  
  <p>What package/s do people use for dealing with <code>.hdf</code> files in R?</p>