Agriculture 2191
Brazil Travel Abroad
3 Semester Hours
Spring Semester 2011
Instructor:
Leon G. Schumacher
Professor
Agricultural Systems Management
207 Agricultural Engineering
(573) 882-2126 (Office)
(573) 884-5650 (FAX)
And
Roy Robinson
International Programs Director
2-64 AgricultureBuilding
(573)-882-0087 (Office)
(573)-882-0388 (Fax)
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 eachTuesdayduring the semester until departure onJanuary 2, 2011 and March 24, 2011 (two groups). The lecture activities will focus on how people live and work in Brazil. Brazilian agricultural practices will be compared to farming practices here in the USA.
Goal of Course:
In addition to immersing the students in Brazilian culture while traveling in Brazil, students will gain an understanding of Brazilian 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 Missouriagriculture.
Objectives of Course:
At the close of the course the students will have:
1. Developed an understanding of Brazilian history.
2. Developed skill in theBrazilian language such that students are able to greet, ask directions, and are knowledgeable about how Brazilians travel from one place to the next.
3. An understanding of how engineering is taught in Brazil as compared to the USA.
4. An understanding of the Brazilian educational system.
5. A very basic understanding of Brazilian 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 = A-
87 – 89 = B+
83 - 86 = B
80 – 82 = B-
77 - 79 = C+
73 – 76 = C
70 – 72 = C-
67 - 69 = D+
63 – 66 = D
60 – 62 = D-
0 - 59 = F
Materialssubmitted after the specified due date will be subject to a
minimum of a seven percent deduction.
Assignments
October 26 – What do I hope to gain from traveling in Brazil and how will this help me as I enter the workforce? (2-3 paragraphs – 1 page; due at the end of the class period)
November 2 – If I had a free weekend, what would I do/visit in Brazil and why? (2-3 paragraphs – 1 page, due at the end of the class period)
December 7th, & 14th – Class Presentations
Focus – “What can we expect to see and do in the cities we visit that relate to each topic?”
Brazilian food/culture/traditions/history
Agriculture
Brazilian Engineering
Brazilian Economics/Politics/Exports/Imports
Focus on Environmental Policies/Standards
January Trip:
February 1st– Journal (~8 ½ X 11 notebook)
February 1st – 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
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
Photos on website for parents.
Points for Assignments
Oct 26 – Why Brazil-1 page20 pts
Nov 2 – Free Weekend-1 page30 pts
December 7th, & 14th– Reports – Group project50 pts
-Presentation=10 pts
-Participation=10 pts
-Content=30 pts
Feb 1 or April 19 – Journal50 pts
Feb 1 or April 19– Paper – 3-5 pages50 pts
Participation while in Brazil – on time, etc.50 pts
Total250 pts
Instructors:Dr. Leon Schumacher
207 Agricultural Engineering Building
(573) 882-2126
Roy Robinson
2-64 AgricultureBuilding
(573)-882-0087
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 < ( 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 ailto:> 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, ( 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.
Lecture Outline Overview
Agriculture 2191
Spring Semester, 2011
Thursday? – 6:30 – 8:30
DRAFT Brazil Meetings on Wednesday Nights
November 2th Overview of trip, history of Brazil, Brazilian wars, immigration to USA, etc
(History Professor, Also movie we might watch.) - Roy
November9thConversational Brazilian, “Thanks, no thanks, greetings, and counting”
Exchange Student – Roy
Nov 16th Conversational Brazilian, traveling, trains, buses, taxi, etc
Exchange Student – Roy
Nov30thOverview of itinerary as planned.Brazilianbusiness/economics/politics,Brazilianengineering and agriculture,Brazilian Education System
Dec 7th Class Presentations
______Class Presentations & What to pack, what NOT to pack-Roy
______Class Presentations & Final Trip Reminders
Exchange Student – Roy
______March Debriefing, Review of March Trip (Post-presentations)
Overview/ Final preparations for the Maytrip
Itinerary for Brazil 2010
December 31- January 12, 2010
University of São Paulo
Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture
Agricultural Systems Management (ASM) Faculty and Students Visit to Brazil
University of Missouri Faculty
Dr. Leon Schumacher
207 Agricultural Engineering Building
(573) 882-2126
Roy Robinson
2-64 AgricultureBuilding
(573)-882-0087
Program of Visit to ESALQ and Region
ESALQ Faculty
Dr. Ricardo SHIROTA
Department of Economics, Business and Sociology/ESALQ/University of São Paulo
Av. Pádua Dias, 11
Piracicaba, SP 13418-900
Brazil
Phone: +55 (19) 3429-4464
E-mail:
PROGRAM OF VISIT -
Week 1December 31, Friday
11:00 a.m.Depart from Trowbridge Parking Lot on bus headed to airport
4:05 p.m. Depart from St. Louis on Airplane AA 1697
6:00 p.m.Arrive at Dallas Fort Worth Airport
7:30 p.m.Depart Dallas to São Paulo/Guarulhos AirportAA 963
January1, Saturday
9:40 a.m.Expected arrival at GRU - São Paulo’s International Airport in Guarulhos - clear immigration and customs.
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.Check intoHotel / Get settled in rooms
(afternoon) p.m.City Tour
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January2, Sunday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.“Hippie Market” (Souvenir Shop) (Sao Paulo)
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch (Barbecue)
(afternoon) p.m.Museums
(evening) p.m.Shopping Center
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January3, Monday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Port of Santo’s Port Authority; ADM grain terminal (Santos)
Must have long pants and leather shoes
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m. Port tour by boat; beach if time is available (Santos)
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January4, Tuesday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Visit a Tropical Rain Forest Natural Preserve;
BEACH for the rest of the day!
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.BEACH!
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January 5, Wednesday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Orange Farm, and packing house
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.Travel to Ribeirao Preto
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January6, Thursday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.CAROL (large grain farmers’ coop)
(morning) a.m.Soy and corn farms
(morning) a.m.Soy processing plant (Orlandia)
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.AGROMEN (farm machinery museum; horse farm) (Orlandia)
Week 2January7, Friday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Cambuhy Farm (large coffee, rubber, and orange farm (Matao)
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.Marchesan/Tatu: Farm Machinery Manufacturer (Matao)
January8, Saturday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.COPLACANA (large sugar-cane farmers’ coop)
(morning) a.m.Dairy Processing Plant
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.Biodiesel plant
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January 9, Sunday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.
(evening) p.m.Shopping Center; Dinner
January10, Monday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Chicken Farm (Rio Claro)
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.EMBRAPA (National Ag. Research Corporation Beef Cattle Research Center (Sao Carlos)
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January 11, Tuesday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Caterpillar
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.CNH (coffee and sugar-cane harvesters)
(evening) p.m.Dinner
January 12, Wednesday
(early) a.m.Breakfast
(morning) a.m.Depart Hotel to ESALQ: Welcome Ceremony w/ the Dean; presentations about the institution and BR’s agriculture
(noon-ish) p.m.Lunch
(afternoon) p.m.City tour; last minute shopping; Packing
(evening) p.m.Dinner
(evening) p.m.Finish packing; check-out of hotel to depart to the airport
Flights home
11:55 p.m. Depart São Paulo Airport to Dallas Fort Worth AA 962
6:20 a.m.Arrive in Dallas Fort Worth
8:00 a.m. Depart Dallas Fort Worth to St. LouisAA 1056
9:35 a.m.Arrive in St. Louis
OR
1:10 a.m. Depart São Paulo Airport to Miami AA 998
6:20 a.m. Arrive in Miami
8:00 a.m. Depart Miami to St. LouisAA 457
10:50 a.m.Arrive in St. Louis
Leave St. Louis approximately 12 p.m. and arrive Columbia approximately 2:30 p.m.
On January 13
Brazil Assignments
As we discussed your final paper must be turned into Sandy Zaring, Room 207, Agricultural Engineering on February 1st (January) , 2011 and April 19th (March), 2011no 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 Brazil 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
- How did Brazildecide to use Portuguese as their national language? Why? Explain all the circumstances that led to this as almost all of the rest of South America speaks Spanish.
- How do Brazilian farmers make a living?
- What tillage equipment do Brazilian farmers use? What other equipment do they farm with? Is their agriculture more intense or less intense than farming in the USA?
- Pick a crop that is raised in Brazil, such as sugar cane, and explain how this crop is produced. This should include all phases of production: i.e. planting, harvesting, storage, and marketing.
- Brazilian culture- How is it different? Explain.
- Does the pace of life in Brazil seem faster or slower than in the USA? Explain.
- What are the educational differences for a student attending high school and college in the USA compared to students attending college in Brazil?
- John Deere tractor production in Brazil – vs. – John Deere tractors produced domestically; Safety in the factories we toured.
- How does John Deere produce equipment world-wide? For example, where do they produce engines that are installed in the tractors built in Brazil? How is this “parts production system” incorporated into their production plants world-wide? How are decisions made concerning “where” various items are made?
- John DeereBrazil – vs. – John Deere USA: Product differences?
- Tillage/Farming Practices – Tillage on slopes, No erosion.
- Compare the standards of living for farmers in Brazil to those in your community. If different, why?
- 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 Brazilian farm.
- Other: topics can be approved which are not listed above. Simply email Roy Robinson or Dr. Schumacher for review.
Roy Robinson -
Leon Schumacher -
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