Agriculture 2191
Germany Travel Abroad
3 Semester Hours
Spring Semester 2010
Instructor:
Leon G. Schumacher
Professor
Agricultural Systems Management
207 Agricultural Engineering
(573) 882-2126 (Office)
(573) 884-5650 (FAX)
schumacherl@missouri.edu
And
Roy Robinson
International Programs Director
2-64 Agriculture Building
(573)-882-0087 (Office)
(573)-882-0388 (Fax)
RobinsonRE@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 regarding the agricultural/natural resources of a host country. The class will meet
each Wednesday during the semester until departure on March 25-April 3 and May 17-29 (two
groups). The lecture activities will focus on how people live and work in Germany. German
agricultural practices will be compared to farming practices here in the USA.
Goal of Course:
In addition to immersing the students in German culture while traveling in Germany, students
will gain an understanding of German engineering, economics, political, and educational aspects
from a classroom setting. The ultimate goal is for students to gain insight about 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 German history.
2. Developed skill in the German language such that students are able to greet, ask directions,
and are knowledgeable about how Germans travel from one place to the next.
3. An understanding of how engineering is taught in Germany as compared to the USA.
4. An understanding of the German educational system.
5. A very basic understanding of German business, economics, and politics.
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
February 17 – What do I hope to gain from traveling in Germany 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 24 – If I had a free weekend, what would I do/visit in Germany and why? (2-3
paragraphs – 1 page, due at the end of the class period)
March 10, 17, & 24 – Oral Reports in Class
Focus – “What can we expect to see and do in the cities we visit that relate to each topic?”
German food/culture/traditions/history
Agriculture
German Engineering
German Economics/Politics/Exports/Imports
Focus on Environmental Policies/Standards
March Trip:
April 19 – Journal (~8 ½ X 11 notebook)
April 19 – 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
2 references
May Trip:
June 12 – Journal (~8 ½ X 11 notebook)
June 12 – 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
2 references
Photos on website for parents.
http://picasaweb.google.com
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Points for Assignments
Feb 17 – Why Germany-1 page
20 pts
Feb 24 – Free Weekend-1 page
30 pts
Mar 10,17,&24 – Reports – Group project
-Presentation =
10 pts
-Participation =
10 pts
-Content
=
30 pts
50 pts
April 19 or June 12 – Journal
50 pts
April 19 or June 12 – Paper – 3-5 pages
50 pts
Participation while in Germany – on time, etc.
50 pts
Total
250 pts
Instructors:
Dr. Leon Schumacher
207 Agricultural Engineering Building
(573) 882-2126
schumacherl@missouri.edu
www.fse.missouri.edu/home/schumacherl
Roy Robinson
2-64 Agriculture Building
(573)-882-0087
RobinsonRE@missouri.edu
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Academic Honesty:
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
plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, collaboration, or any other form of cheating, consult the
course instructor.
Statement for Intellectual Pluralism:
The University community welcomes intellectual diversity and respects student rights. Students
who have questions concerning the quality of instruction in this class may address concerns to
either the Departmental Chair or Divisional leader or Director of the Office of Students Rights
and Responsibilities <http://osrr.missouri.edu/> (http://osrr.missouri.edu/). All students will have
the opportunity to submit an anonymous evaluation of the instructor(s) at the end of the course.
Attendance Policy:
An absence can be excused only if the instructor is notified BEFORE the class session that will
be missed. Call 882-2126 or send an email to SchumacherL@missouri.edu
<mailto:SchumacherL@missouri.edu> to announce and explain any absence. Work due during
an unexcused absence will NOT be accepted for credit.
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.
To request academic accommodations (for example, a note taker), students must also register
with the Office of Disability Services, (http://disabilityservices.missouri.edu), S5 Memorial
Union, 882-4696. This 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.
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Lecture Outline Overview
Agriculture 2191
Spring Semester, 2010
W – 6:30 – 8:30
DRAFT Germany Meetings on Wednesday Nights
February 10th Overview of trip, history of Germany, German wars, immigration to USA, etc
(History Professor, Also movie we might watch.) - Roy
February 17th Conversational German, “Thanks, no thanks, greetings, and counting”
Exchange Student – Roy
February 24th Conversational German, traveling, trains, buses, taxi, etc
Exchange Student – Roy
March 4th
Overview of itinerary as planned. German business/economics/politics, German
engineering and agriculture, German Education System
Ingolf Gruen – Roy
March 10th
Class Presentations
March 17th
Class Presentations & What to pack, what NOT to pack-Roy
March 24th
Class Presentations & Final Trip Reminders
Exchange Student – Roy
April 14th
March Debriefing, Review of March Trip (Post-presentations)
Overview/ Final preparations for the May trip
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Itinerary for Germany 2010
March 25- April 3, 2010
Thursday, March 25 = Go to St. Louis and get on airplane to Frankfort.
7:30 am
Depart Columbia by Bus to St Louis Airport
10:00 am
Arrive St. Louis and check into airport (two hr in advance)
12:31 pm
Departure from St. Louis
3:12 pm
Arrival in Atlanta, GA
5:25 pm
Depart for Frankfurt
Friday, March 26 - Stay overnight in Stuttgart
7:20 am
Arrive Frankfurt, Germany, get luggage, get money, etc.
9:00 am
Depart for Mannheim 79.3km (about1 hour 7 mins)
Snack along the way at Rasthof
10:30 am
Arrival in Mannheim
Locate JD facility
12:00 pm
John Deere Plant Tour
3:30 pm
Depart for Stuttgart – check into hostel
6:00 pm
Go out and get supper in Stuttgart
Saturday, March 27 – Stay overnight in Munich
6:30 am
Breakfast at Youth Hostel in Stuttgart
7:30 am
Depart for Mercedes Museum
8:00 am
Tour Mercedes Museum
10:30 am
Depart for Neuschwanstein
12:30 pm
Lunch en Route to Füssen
2:45 pm
Arrive at Neuschwanstein/ Pick-up tickets/
40 minutes walk to the castle
3:45 pm
Tour Neuschwanstein Castle
5:30 pm
Depart for Munich
7:30pm
Arrive in Munich, Check into youth hostel & go out in Munich
Sunday, March 28 – Stay overnight in Munich
7:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am
Depart for Deutsches Museum
9:00 am
Tour Deutsches Museum, shopping, and lunch in Munich
1:15 pm
Depart for Dachau Concentration Camp – 22.9 km (ca 26 mins)
2:00 pm
Tour Dachau Concentration Camp
4:00 pm
Load bus and return to youth hostel
5:00 pm
Arrive in Munich
6:00 pm
depart for Hofbrauhaus (walking)
6: 30pm
Supper at the Hofbrauhaus (Bavarian Night)
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Monday, March 29 - Stay overnight in Nuernberg
7:30 am
Breakfast
9:00 am
Bus load and departure for Weihenstephan (Weihenstephan is the TUMCampus in Freising)
10:00 am
Guided Tour through "Weihenstephan Brewery" 1)
11:00 am
Welcome at TUM and the Chair of Agricultural Systems Engineering
(Prof. em. Dr. H. Auernhammer)
11:15 am
Research Milestones Ag.Engineering Weihenstephan (Prof. em. Dr. H.
Auernhammer)
0:00 pm
Electric drives in a SPFH (Ass. Prof. M. Heckmann)
0:30 pm
Lunch at refectory (Ass. Prof. M. Heckmann)
1:15 pm
Bus ride to Wittenfeld (Farm of Mr. Muhr) 2)
2:30 pm
Visit of Muhr-Farm
4:00 pm
Departuer for Nuernberg – 165 km (about 2 hours 15 mins)
6:30 pm
Check into Youth Hostel
7:00 pm
Supper
Tuesday, March 30 – stay overnight in Coburg
7:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am
Bus loaded and travel to Castle of Nuernberg
9:00 am
Tour Castle of Nuernberg
11:00 am
depart for Hitler’s Parade Grounds
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:15 pm
Travel to Lichtenfels - 97.4 km (about 1 hour 30 mins)
3:15 pm
Tour Vierzehnheiligen Basilica/ Staffelstein
4:00 pm
Travel to Coburg (30 Min)
4:30 pm
Check into Youth hostel
6:00 pm
Supper with all the international students from Coburg?
Wednesday, March 31 = Stay overnight in Jena
7:00 am
Breakfast
8:30 am
Bus loaded & depart for University of Applied Sciences, Coburg
9:00 am
Tour University of Coburg
Greeted by Vice President Prof. Juergen Krahl?
Presentation by Leon Schumacher?
Tour Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, etc.
11:30 am
Lunch
12:45 pm
Travel to Veste Coburg
1:15 pm
Arrive Veste Coburg and tour Castle
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veste_Coburg
3:00 pm
Tour Farms in/ around Coburg
7:30 pm
Supper in Jena at Youth Hostel
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Thursday, April 1 = Stay overnight in Berlin
6:30 am
Breakfast at youth Hostel in Jena
7:30 am
Take bus to the train station
8:43 am
Train to Berlin;
11:08 am
Train Arrives in Berlin
Check into youth Hostel in Berlin (www.jungedhotel-4j.de)
12:30 pm
2:00 pm
2:45 pm
5:00 pm
6:00 pm
Train to Potsdam
Arrive in PotsdamTour Sanssouci
Train back to Berlin
Purchase tickets for public transportation, shopping until 10:00 pm
At Bahnhof Zoo or Kreuzberg (both are cheaper, inexpensive
Shopping centers)
(Bus #100 or #200)
Friday, April 2 = Stay overnight In Berlin (no shopping, all shops will be closed)
7:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am
Begin tour of Berlin (Alexanderplatz, Kurfürstendamm,
Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Brandenburg Gate, 1936 Olympic
Stadium, Berlin Wall, Parliament) Museum Island (like the Louvre in
Paris/ Manhattan New York City), Pergamon, Nophretete, - 5 museums on
an island. Potential for boat tour @ 8.00 Euro / person
6:00 pm
Supper on your own, farewell activities in Berlin
Saturday, April 3 – Return trip home
6:00 am
Breakfast
7:30 am
Depart for Berlin Airport
8:20 am
Arrive at Berlin Airport (~3 hour check-in before departure)
11:25 am
Depart for Kennedy Airport-New York
2:25 pm
Arrive in New York
7:00 pm
Depart for St. Louis
9:32 pm
Arrive in St. Louis
10:00 pm
Depart on Bus to Columbia
12:30 am
Arrive in Columbia
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Germany Assignments
As we discussed your final paper must be turned into Sandy Zaring, Room 207, Agricultural
Engineering on April 19, 2010 and June 12, 2010 no later than 5:00 pm.
Papers will be assigned a point value by Roy Robinson 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 Germany 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 did Germany convert from the Mark to the Euro? What economic problems did this
cause for German citizens? What benefits have resulted for German citizens?
2. How do German farmers make a living on such small farms?
3. German farmers like their high tech farm equipment- how do German farmers pay for this
equipment when they farm so few hectares?
4. Why do German farmers use a plow? What other equipment do they farm with? Is their
agriculture more intense or less intense than farming in the USA?
5. Pick a crop that is raised in Germany, such as sugar beets, and explain how this crop is
produced. This should include all phases of production: i.e. planting, harvesting, storage,
and marketing.
6. German culture- How is it different? Explain.
7. Does the pace of life in Germany seem faster or slower than in the USA? Explain.
8. What are the educational differences for a student attending high school and college in
the USA compared to students attending college in Germany?
9. John Deere tractor production in Germany – vs. – John Deere tractors produced
domestically; Safety in the factories we toured.
10. How does John Deere produce equipment world-wide? For example, where do they
produce engines that are installed in the tractors built in Germany? How is this “parts
production system” incorporated into their production plants world-wide? How are
decisions made concerning “where” various items are made?
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11. John Deere Germany – vs – John Deere USA: Product differences?
12. Tillage/Farming Practices – Tillage on slopes, No erosion.
13. Compare the standards of living for farmers in Germany to those in your community. If
different, why?
14. Tell how the production input cost such as fuel and labor are different from the US and
how this affects the overall economy of a German farm.
15. Other: topics can be approved which are not listed above. Simply email Roy Robinson
or Dr. Schumacher for review.
 Roy Robinson - RobinsonRE@missouri.edu
 Leon Schumacher - schumacherL@missouri.edu
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