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The Citizen, "Valleys & People" supplement, 1986-01-15, Page 5Page 5 . DOES IT MAKE $EN$E? from page (> conservation tillage has the edge on conventional systems when it comes to timeliness. When the weather is right, you're ready to plant - not make your first pass with the disk! Conservation tillage then is seen by farmers and experts alike Io be finan­ cially beneficial because’ it initiates levo profitable chain reactions: 1) Less tillage means less machinery which results in a smaller investment in machinery and therefore less debt for machinery or less cash Io be set aside for machinery replacement, 2) Less tillage decreases the chance of weather delays ensuring more timely completion of planting and spraying operations giving higher short-term and long-term average yields, thus larger profits are realized. Farmers and researchers alike are showing with "numbers" through studies that these chain reactions ac­ tually do exist. The information in Table 1 was collected from field preparation costs for different tillage systems in the American Midwest. While the results are in American dollars, Ontario results would be pro­ portional because farming methods are quite similar for both areas and we all know Canadian prices are heavily in­ fluenced by the American market. Table I: Per Acre Field Preparation Costs for Different Tillage Prac tices (Source: USDA, 19114) Tillage Practice Labour Fuel and Repair Machinery Ownership No-lill 6.74 9.16 211.03 Mulch-till 11.65 14.56 32.03 Conventional-till 14.04 17.97 36.40 FLOOD PRONE LAND Flood prone land is defined as land which has in the past or may in the future be inundated by waler resulting from spring melt and/or excessive rain­ fall during storm events. Such areas are identified to recognize the inherent risk to life and property adjacent to waterbodies. INFORMATION AVAILABLE Today's farmers experimenting with reduced tillage systems are the 1 ones benefiting from the millions of dollars spent by (he farm machinery industry Io develop reliable planters Io plant through a ground cover of even heavy crop residue. More 1 and more con­ servation tillage implements appear on the market each year. The 1 heavier planters and drills that have evolved have practically solved the problem of poor stands due to poor seed place­ ment. Similarly, conservation tillage farmers are benefiting from increased research by agricultural chemic al com­ panies to find new herbicides that can control broadleaf weeds and annual grasses after the crops emerge. As growers continue to take a fresh look at conservation tillage systems, the types of herbicides chemical com­ panies will hay’e available for con­ servation Ullage, applications can only improve in response Io consumer de­ mand.1 With conservation tillage, the farmer and society in general are able to reap another benefit - reduced soil erosion. Soil erosion decreases crop yields. This becomes quite’ apparent during dry years. The lack of moisture-bolding capacity and the lack of plant nutrients in eroded soil can significantly drop ERODING AND UNSTABLE BANKS Eroding and unstable banks associated with watercourses arc 1 also being identified and mapped under this program. These areas, including gullies and steep slopes prone to ero­ sion, are important to identify bec ause they represent a potential hazard to life and property if developed. yields. Perhaps you have seen evidence of this on an eroded knoll on your farm. The applied fertilizers and herbic ides that have blown or-washed across the field along with the soil, further con­ tribute to the farmer's loss and in addi­ tion is of c one ern to the general public. These containments affect the water c|unlity in our streams, rivers and lakes. As landowners and citizens of the c om­ munity, farmers loo want to live in a healthy environment. Landowners are. the first to see the damage caused by chemical and nutrient-laden sediment in drainage ditches that must be then cleaned out with tax dollars and revenues from special assessments on all affected landowers. Conservation tillage however, by maintaining a residue cover, helps to keep the top­ soil, fertilizer and chemicals where they belong - in the field. Together they contribute to the production of high yielding c rops. The benefits of conservation tillage 1 are numerous. In short, farmers who have experimented with no-till or reduced tillage systems are discovering that conservation tillage is a way Io in- crease profits while .simultaneously reducing erosion oh their farms. Growers find they- must, invest some time and effort learning how Io make it work on their farms in order Io realize conservation farming's ftdl potential. WATER RESOURCE AREAS Water resource areas are defined as waler and land features which serve hydrologic functions such as waler retention, recharge and/or discharge. The two most important types of water resource’ areas areWetlands and head­ water areas or spring sites. Wetlands are areas which are seasonally or permanently covered by shallow water and are characterized by the presence of organic or saturated soils and/or hydrophylic or water tolerant vegetation. These areas help Io control flooding, improve 1 waler quali­ ty and often provide habitat for rare or significant species of birds, plants or mammals. Wetland types include 1 swamps, marshes, fens, and bogs. Headwater or spring sites are impor­ tant because these areas are fed by groundwater which provides a source of cold, dean water Io watercourses on a year round basis. Good management is essential for con­ servation tillage success and farmer satisfaction. A suggestion: invest some time in determining how you can best make reduced tillage systems work on your farm. The eventual lime you save may easily compensate for this initial lime investment. Begin on a small scale, perhaps twenty (20) percent of your farm acreage. Give the conservation tillage system you c hoose a fair chanc e. Do not try it on a field that has ex­ perienced so much soil degradation over the years that even conventional tillage doesn't produce satisfactory results. Conservation tillage systems cannot substitute maintaining the soil's general "health" through crop rota­ tions and organic matter build-up. Talk to your .neighbours. Perhaps they arc’ experimenting with conservation tillage and can give you some helpful advice. Also, try Io attend the various information meetings held throughout the year that cover many aspects of conservation farming. Gradually, your confidence in conservation tillage will inc rease. You may find yourself joining the’ ever-increasing group of farmers who have already restructured their whole farming system around con­ servation tillage 1 - thus increasing pro­ fits and saving soil. Now that makes $en$e! The preliminary identification of all of these areas of concern is based on air photo interpretation. A review of existing data such .Is soil reports, topographic maps ancl heal sensitive photography is used Io aid in iden­ tification. Field inspections arc 1 then c arried out to confirm the accurac y of the areas previously identified. The mapping is then adjusted to correlate with the field information obtained and the waler ancl related land resources are subsequently plotted on­ to 1:5,0(10 and 1:20,000 scale photo based maps. Once the mapping is completed, a report is prepared detailing the water and related land resources of a par­ ticular township. A formal presenta­ tion of study results ancl policy recom­ mendations is then made Io council and township residents. At present, waler and related land resource mapping has been completed for the Townships of Elma ancl Wallace in Perth County and the Townships of Colborne, Howick, Hullett, Morris, McKillop and Grey in Huron County. Mapping and report preparation is nearing completion for the townships of Ashfield ancl East Wawanosh in Huron County. Il is anticipated that the water ancl related land resource mapping will be completed for West Wawanosh, Goderich and Turnberry Townships in Huron County ancl Maryborough Township, Wellington County in 1906. The final selection of resource areas Io be mapped in any given year is determined by the Authority in consultation with local municipalities and county planning departments. , The water and related land resource mapping program has been initiated by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority in an attempt to provide municipalities with background infor­ mation on the lands associated with the river system within their respective boundaries. The Authority and the municipalities of the Lucknow and Maitland Valley watersheds will con­ tinue Io work together Io promote the protection and wise management of our water ancl related land resources. WATER RESOURCE CORRIDOR 1 Wetland 2 Flood Prone Land 3 Eroding Unstable Bank 4 Watercourse "W ’ .-4 B)5>. V'k \ \ 3 '.izv The water and related land resources associated with the river system. 4 .....