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The Huron Expositor, 1985-07-03, Page 18HALF PRICE SALE Now is the time for you to take advantage of the final Ii guidation prices at Swartman's of Exeter. Our location a 386 Main St., Exeter will only bp open until July 70. Shop now while yod can choose from hundreds of suits, shirts and slacks at the best prices you'll find anywhere. ‘+' Long & Short Sleeve H BLAZERS DRESS SHIRTS and SPORT SHIRTS 1/2 PRICE • DRESS & CASUAL PANTS • SUMMER SPORT COATS • BELTS • TIES • TOP COATS ETC. 1/2 price AUcTION SALE. OF FIXTURES, DISPLAYS, ETC. SATURDAY, JULY 27 Open Thurs. Fri. until 9 p.m. . 4, swART mAN s OF 386 Main Street, Exeter Slashed 9995 To Only tltw Tweed SPORT COATS Sole Pr— 5 995 Irregulars 3 SOCK PAIR OF ALIME- S %, 3 PAIR OF UNDER 699 WEAR 3 TESIIIIRTS You Only Pay Irregulars 999 „7, Phone 235-0991 The Sale You've Waited For STARTS NOW a • er ,t-kee It. SUITS 1 4995 Reg. 279.99 to 299.95 68 — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JULY 3, 1985 HAMBURGER HAPPY? — Karen Vanden Hengel was among the horde of St. James studehts whia were present at the KlIbarehan Nursing Home last week for a barbecue. mil nhotal FARM BY ART LAW SON FARM BUSINESS ADVLSOR - LONDON A group of crop consultants and crop supply representatives said that uneven stands of corn is one of the most common problems.' Reasons for the crop's uneven emergence were related to tillage and planter problems. TILLAGE PRO BLEIVI S • Tillage problems fall into a number of categories. In some cases, tillage was just done without a view to conserving moisture. The soil was worked up too long before planting, left loose \ and dried out. Too much ' secondary tillage gave the same result - loose dry soil - not enough moisture to germinate the seed uniforthly. In other cases, the secondary tillage wasn't matched to variable soil types and the primary tillage that was done. Fields have been enlarged, fences were removed, but the soil Variability didn't change. Some fields have.light and eroded spots along' with heavy clay spots. Even fields that look uniform will have, -'variations in tilth, drainage 'and compaction. The result is varying, degrees of conven- tional conservation and zero tillage all in the same field. PLANTING PROBLEMS The planting problems could also be divided into several categories. In some cases, the depth was just too shallow. the seed was, not deep enough to find moist soil. 11h other cases, the planters were pulled too fast. As one seed company representative said, "The planter manual may say tOat the maximum speed for a given plant population is 5Ie or 6 miles per hour. The fanner then feels that's the speed he should go. He forgets that the field may be rough, there may be crop residue or manure, the soil types change and the planter is just bouncing along, it just can't hold a uniform depth." The group also felt that many farmers expected too much from their corn planter. If you intend to .reduce tillage and plant into more crop residue, you will likely have to drive slower and make sure pin' planter is equipped to cope with more trash. Even on conventional tillage, many planters are pulled too fast. An objective of planting 30 acres per day With a 4 x 30" row plan, may be too optimistic. COST OF UNEVEN STANDS If you have a field of corn that has plants emerging with two or three weeks difference between the first and last plants out of the ground, you could be losing 10 to 15 per cent in yield. Plant spacing and population often get more attention than uniformity of plant development.' More often than pot, it is the uniformity that will really cost °the farmer economic losses. The late plants take up space, contribute little to yield and often reduce crop quality. , As one farmer said, "A lot 9f people tried conservation tillage and thought it was no good. There wasn't as much wrong with the tillage as there was with the planting. If the crop isn't put in the soil right, you are beat." It is hard to separate the planting job from other treatments the field has had. ' INVESTMENT PRIORITIES MoSt. farmers have gode through the exercise of trying to reduce or control equipment investment. If you have done that and. reduced your equipment investment as much as you could, now you needte consider "where" to re-invest in machinery and "how much". A reasonable goal would be to look at re-investing 10 to 15 per cent of machinery investment each year. It would be maintain- ing overall investment, allowing for normal depreciation. It would also be turning all of the equipment over in about 10 years or less. If a farmer has a small acreage and is good at maintaining equipment, he may invest less and trade less often. If he covers a lot ofq, acreage, he may need to invest more.. A goal might- be to keep equipment investment unde' $250 to $275 per tillable acre, for entional crops. PRIORITIES Farmers want to get "the biggest bang for the buck." Put the first dollars into key items. It seems if farmers are looking at a shift to more conservation tillage they should start with the plan r. At the very least, equip the planter, tp tyPe with the changing working conditions!" Secondary tillage equipment comes next. Primary conservation tillage equipment comes last. In the meantime, farmers can adjust conventional tillage equipment to give some conservation effects. EQ UIPM ENT SIZING A number of machinery companies have promoted "high speed farming". The idea is to have tractors with lots of power pulling relatively light equipment at high ground speeds/. In tillage, high speed is okay, maybe even desirable. In planting, slower is probably better. In general, there is a lot more harvesting capacity than planting capacity around the country side. Keep in mind on average there are about four times as many days to harvest the crop- as to plant it. If fanners are trying to control investment, maybe they should be shifting some emph- asis from harvesting to planting. it is easier to document the value of timely planting and uniform crop stands than the benefits of a short harvesting period. Equipment an investment Jr. Agriculturalists experience farm An orientation was held for all members of the Junior Agriculturalist program being placed in Hunan and Perth Counties. The orientation took place in Mitchell and was attended by approximately 80 people, Those in attendance included the Jr. Ags, their families, and the host farmers with their families. It was the first meeting between the Jr. Ags and their respective host families, Each Jr. Ag. will be spending nine weeks on the host farm from June 24' untrAligust 20. The Jr. Ags are 16 to 18 year olds with an urban background. They will have the unique opportunity to experience farm life first hand while living away from home for the summer. During the day-long orientation, the Jr. Ags were informed on what to expect and what to bring. As well, aspects of farm safety were stressed to each of the Jr. Ags and host farmers. The day concluded- with a tour of some local farms. In essence, the day was a preview to the enjoyable summer that lies ahead of the participants of this year's Junior Agriculturalist program. Pollution reduced by ABCA effort The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Auth- ority (A .B.C.A. ) in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of the Eevironment and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, is continuing its program to reduce water pollution from livestock operations. Traeey Ryan has recently joined the staff of A. B.C. A. to work with . farmers toward reducing the pollution potential of their farms, As Water Quality Technician, she is replacing Dave Balint who has left the Conservation Authority to work on fish cultures in South America. Tracey is a graduate of the co"op Geography program at the University of Waterloo. She brings with her a farm background and familiarity with the manure management program since she worked on the program wherrit was started in 1982. The A. B. C. A. 's involvement is in response to concern about water quality expressed by a number of member municipalities. In 1982 and '1983, farms having a potential for manure pollution were identified. Education- al packages describing proper manure ) management, storage structuret and re- medial measures to control runoff or prevent pollution were distributed to each farm identified as having pollution potential, In 1984, the Conservation Authority conducted a study to identify municipal and tile drains exhibiting poor water quality in the area draining into the Parkhill Reservoir. It was found that 10 per cent of the tile drains surveyed were severely contaminated and a further 40 per cent/contained large algae growths, indicating moderate pollution. SubsurfaCe drainage is believed to be a significant cause of poor water quality. ' Denis Veal, chief of water resources assessment at the Environment Ministry's regioftal office in London, said that a study of the Lake Huron shore has shown that livestock manure was a significant contribu- te; to the 1983 beach closures at Grand Bend . High levels of fecal coliform bacteria were found to be leaking from farms in the Ausable Watershed into the watercourses. As a result, the Ministry in cooperation with the Conservation Authority is launching a renewed efforte to help farmers reduce manure pollution. The primary purpose of the program is to provide information and technical assistance to farmers. The Conservation Authority is encouraging farmers to use the Ontario Soil Conservation and EnVironment Protection Assistance Program grants available through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Grants for one-third the cost of manure storage facilities up to a maximum of $5.000.00 per farm operation are available for qualifying Pro)eds. By providing farmers with technical aid and information, the Conservation Authority hopes to, help them work towards effective and economic ways to control livestock pollution. The A.B. C, A. encourages farmers to contact the Conservation Authority for More infoimation, but in addition the A. B. C. A. may take the 'initiative and contact farmers themselves. Anyone with questions about agriculture pollution, manure handling and storage problems or simply interested in more information should contact Tracey Ryan at the A usable Bayfield Conseevation Authdr; ity office in Exeter at 235-2610.