Agriculture 2191
UK Travel Abroad
3 Semester Hours
Spring Semester 2012
Instructors:
Leon G. Schumacher
Professor
Agricultural Systems Management
207 Agricultural Engineering
(573) 882-2126 (Office)
(573) 884-5650 (FAX)
schumacherl@missouri.edu
and
Matt Pourney
International Programs Director
2-64 Agriculture Building
(573)-882-0087 (Office)
(573)-882-0388 (Fax)
PourneyM@missouri.edu
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Agriculture 2191
Course Description:
Three semester hours of humanities credit. This course is designed to provide students with an
introduction to the culture and history of the UK as well as the agricultural/natural resources of
the country. The class will meet each Tuesday during the semester until March 22, 2012. The
lecture activities will focus on how people live and work in England. English agricultural
practices will be compared to farming practices here in the USA.
Goal of Course:
In addition to immersing the students in English culture while traveling in the UK, students will
gain an understanding of English geography, history, politics, engineering, economics, and
educational aspects from a classroom setting. The ultimate goal is for students to gain insight
into UK culture and the global dimension of US and Missouri agriculture.
Objectives of Course:
At the close of the course the students will have:
1. Developed an understanding of English history and culture.
2. An understanding of how engineering is taught in the UK as compared to the USA.
3. An understanding of the educational system in England.
4. A very basic understanding of business, economics, and politics in the UK.
Textbook:
No Text Required
Supporting References:
The internet & other textbooks, magazines, periodicals as requested during each meeting.
Grading:
93 - 100 = A
90 – 92 = A87 – 89 = B+
83 - 86 = B
80 – 82 = B77 - 79 = C+
73 – 76 = C
70 – 72 = C67 - 69 = D+
63 – 66 = D
60 – 62 = D0 - 59 = F
Materials submitted after the specified due date will
be subject to a minimum of a
seven percent deduction.
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Assignments
January 31 – What do I hope to gain from traveling in the UK and how will this help me as I
enter the workforce? (2-3 paragraphs – 1 page; due at the end of the class period)
February 8 – If I had a free weekend, what would I do/visit in the UK and why? (2-3 paragraphs
– 1 page, due at the end of the class period)
February 29, March 7 & 14 – Oral Reports in Class (PowerPoint Presentations)
Focus – “What can we expect to see and do in the cities we visit that relate to each topic?”
UK food/culture/traditions/history
Agriculture
UK Engineering
UK Economics/Politics/Exports/Imports
Focus on Environmental Policies/Standards
April 17 - Journal (~8 ½ X 11 notebook)
April 24 - Final Paper – see list of potential topics on pages 7 & 8
3-5 page double spaced paper (using topics provided)
Double spaced, 1” margins: top, bottom & side
12 pt. font, Times Roman
Introduction, Body, Summary
3 references, 1 from a book
June 15 – Journal (~8 ½ X 11 notebook)
June 24 – Final Paper – see list of potential topics on pages 7 & 8
3-5 page double spaced paper (using topics provided)
Double spaced, 1” margins: top, bottom & side
12 pt. font, Times Roman
Introduction, Body, Summary
3 references, 1 from a book
Photos on website for parents.
http://picasaweb.google.com
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Points for Assignments
Jan 31 – Why UK-1 page
20 pts
Feb 8 – Free Weekend-1 page
30 pts
Feb 29, Mar 7 & 14 – Reports – Group project
-Presentation =
10 pts
-Participation =
10 pts
-Content
=
30 pts
April 17 - Journal
June 15 – Journal
50 pts
April 24 - Paper – 3-5 pages
June 24 – Paper – 3-5 pages
100 pts
100 pts
Participation while in the UK – on time, etc.
50 pts
Total
300 pts
Instructors:
50 pts
50 pts
Leon Schumacher
207 Agricultural Engineering Building
(573) 882-2126
schumacherl@missouri.edu
www.fse.missouri.edu/home/schumacherl
Matt Pourney
2-64 Agriculture Building
(573)-882-0087
PourneyM@missouri.edu
Attendance Policy:
Attendance in class is important. Two or more unexcused absences will result in a one (1)
letter grade reduction.
Statement for Academic Dishonesty
Academic integrity is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of
the academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsibly and
honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all
students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. The academic community regards
breaches of the academic integrity rules as extremely serious matters. Sanctions for such a
breach may include academic sanctions from the instructor, including failing the course for any
violation, to disciplinary sanctions ranging from probation to expulsion. When in doubt about
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plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, collaboration, or any other form of cheating, consult the
course instructor.
Statement for ADA
If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information
to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated,
please inform me immediately. Please see me privately after class, or at my office. Office
location: 207 Ag. Engineering Office hours: T, R 8:30 – 10:30. To request academic
accommodations (for example, a notetaker), students must also register with the Office of
Disability Services, (http://disabilityservices.missouri.edu), S5 Memorial Union, 882-4696. It is
the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting
academic accommodations, and for accommodations planning in cooperation with students and
instructors, as needed and consistent with course requirements. For other MU resources for
students with disabilities, click on "Disability Resources" on the MU homepage.
Lecture Outline Overview
Agriculture 2191, Sec 2
Spring Semester, 2012
W – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
England/UK Meetings on Wednesday Nights
January 31
Overview of trip, history of England/UK, immigration to USA, etc
(History Professor, Also movie we might watch.) - Matt
February 1st
NO class – ASM Club Meeting
February 8th
Meeting and greeting in England/UK- Common customs in the UK.
Traveling in England/UK via trains, buses, taxi, etc
February 15th Overview of itinerary as planned.
Final travel plan overview – LGS
February 22st Student Presentations - Orientation
February 29th Student Presentations - England/UK business/economics/politics – Matt
March 7th
NO class – ASM Club Meeting
March 14Th
Student Presentations - England/UK engineering and agriculture
March 21th
Student Presentations - England/UK Education System
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Review of final assignments
March Trip
April 10th
Debriefing
April 17 - Turn in Journal of activities
April 24 - Final paper due @ 5:00 pm CDT
May Trip
May 24th
Debriefing
June 15 – Turn in Journal of activities
June 24 – Final paper due @ 5:00 pm CDT
Travel Plan for England / UK 2012
Potential Tours
 Dairy farm with their own ice cream factory
 Local potato farm that has diversified in to dried flowers as well
 Organic farm
 Pork producer
 Beef producer
 Grain merchant that is part of a co-operative with farms
 Butter / cheese factory
 JCB (factory tour)
 Jaguar/Land Rover (factory tour)
 CAT or Agco (factory tour)
 Local agricultural dealers
 Ironbridge Gorge
 Brewery
 Coal or slate mine
 A rural skills day e.g. hedgelaying drystone walling
 National hunt horse race
 Cranfield University (for March trip only)
 Harper Adams University
 Hydroelectric plant
 Historic London
 Stonehenge
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March Trip
Thursday 22th March - Depart from USA for England
Friday 23rd March (dependant on arrival time from US)
March 23 – Harper – Meeting with students from Harper Adams
March 24 – Farms and Implement Dealer near Newport
March 25 – Farms and Cosford Aerospace Museum
March 26 – Farms and tour at JCB
March 27 – Farms and tour CAT
March 28-29 London
Potential places that we will visit in London include:
Buckingham Palace
The Tower of London
The Tate Gallery
Houses of Parliament / Palace of Westminister
Royal Albert & Victoria Museum
Theatre Royal Durry Lane (Musical Oliver on through out May)
March 30 – Tour Cranfield University
March 31 – Tour Warwick Castle
Sunday 1st April - Travel back to USA
May Trip
Monday 14th May - Depart from USA for England
Tuesday 15th May (dependant on arrival time from US)
...
Thursday 24th May
England / UK Assignments
As we discussed prior to departing for England, your final paper must be turned into Sandy
Zaring, Room 207, Agricultural Engineering on either April 24 or June 24, 2012 no later than
5:00 pm.
Papers will be assigned a point value by Matt Pourney and Leon Schumacher. If a paper is
deemed to be of low quality by one of the above faculty members, a panel of students who
traveled to England with you will be selected by ASM faculty to pass judgment on your paper.
An email will be sent notifying you on your performance. If your paper is not satisfactory, you
will be given one chance to re-submit your paper.
Potential Topics
1. How do England farmers make a living on such small farms?
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2. Pick a crop that is raised in England, such as barley, and explain how this crop is
produced. This should include phases of production: i.e. planting, harvesting, storage,
and marketing.
3. English culture- How is it different? Explain.
4. Does the pace of life in England seem faster or slower than in the USA? Explain.
5. What are the educational differences for a student attending high school and college in
the USA compared to students attending college in England?
6. JCB production in England – vs. – John Deere produced in the US: Safety in the
factories we toured.
7. Tillage/Farming Practices – Tillage on slopes, No erosion.
8. Compare the standards of living for farmers in England to those in your community. If
different, why?
9. Tell how the production input cost such as fuel and labor are different from the US and
how this affects the overall economy of an English farm.
10. Other: topics can be approved which are not listed above. Simply email Matt Pourney or
Dr. Schumacher for review.
 Matt Pourney - PourneyM@missouri.edu
 Leon Schumacher - schumacherL@missouri.edu
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