Under the influence of German settlers

As an employee for the Federal Department of Agriculture in Germany for three decades, Juergen Heitmann spent many years studying American agriculture and its German influence.

So, it was only natural for Heitmann of Bonn, Germany, who was visiting friends Alice and Leland Schlake of Cortland on Wednesday, to include a tour of the Homestead National Monument of America Heritage Center to learn more about the Homestead Act that brought many Germans to the United States.

“If you deal with German history, you can't deny the Homestead Act,” Heitmann said.

Heitmann said the Homestead Act, passed in 1862, attracted many German immigrants to the United States, especially when many German farmsteads were inherited by the first-born son. The second and or even the third sons were left to find land on their own to begin their own farm.

During the Homestead Act, German immigrants took the opportunity for free land in the United States, Heitmann said.

“This was a real good invention,” he said.

But when they came to the U.S., Germans didn't leave their farming traditions and abilities behind. Instead, they brought them to their new country and, in turn, influenced today's U.S. agriculture, Heitmann said.

Their contributions to agriculture includes influences on forestry, botany and agribusiness.

“There are so many examples (of German influence),” he said.

For example, German immigrants developed a special winter alfalfa that brought a lot of achievement for farmers in the early days, Heitmann said.

In addition, in the 19th century as many as 80 percent of beer breweries begun in the United States, such as Coors and Anheuser-Busch, were started by German immigrants and descendants, Heitmann said.

The Germans brought their knowledge of brewing beer and the special type of yeast needed to brew beer to the United States.

Today, familiar food products, such as H. J. Heinz Co. and Oscar Meyer, carry a history of German influence, Heitmann said. Germans were also connected with the beginnings of Weyerhaeuser, a large forestry industry in the Pacific Northwest.

“How big the influence of German immigrants,” Heitmann said with pride for his homeland.

His interest in the German influence came during his service to the Federal Department of Agriculture in Germany as an agricultural economist.

From 1991-1996, Heitmann worked at the Federal Republic of Germany Embassy in Washington, D.C., where his first priority was to observe U.S. agriculture and the agriculture trade market and report his findings to the German government.

The second priority was to serve as an ambassador between the United States and Germany and provide explanations of German and European Union agricultural policy.

Heitmann also arranged farm tours for German delegates visiting the United States.

During his time working in the United States he became quite familiar with American agriculture, particularly in the nation's Heartland, he said.

In addition, during his years of service at the German embassy he met the Schlakes while attending a National Farmers Union conference in Milwaukee, Wis.

His interest in farming also derives from his experience working his own farm land, which now belongs to his son. Today, he still helps out with his son's grain, canola, sugar beet, white asparagus and potato crops.

While in Nebraska, Heitmann will also be speaking on German influence in agriculture at the American Schleswig Holstein Heritage Society's 12th annual Plattdeutsch Konfernz at the German American Society in Omaha this weekend. His presentation will be in both Low German and English.