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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-01-31, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1990. PAGE 13. Market steady at Brussels Livestock Top scorer Ralph Watson presents CarlaJohnston withajacketdonated by Topnotch Feeds as the winner of the Highest Judge competition at the Brussels Agricultural Society’s annual banquet on January 24. Carla also won the Highest Aggregate Score and received a trophy donated by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from David Moody and the Champion 4H Showmanship trophy donated by Gordon Brindley of Brussels Stockyards Inc. Developing farm plan helps reduce risks BY ROBERT TRAUT CONSERVATION AGRONOMIST AUSABLE BAYFIELD CONSERVATION AUTHORITY At this time of year many people and organizations evaluate their progress over the past year and plan a course of action for the new year. This can also be worthwhile for farmers as effective planning will help to assure the viability of the farming operation into the uncertain years ahead. Risk reduction and cost control are important challenges when developing any business plan. In­ cluding conservation practices in a business plan can help to meet these challenges by reducing costs and risk in some important areas. VARIATIONS IN WEATHER If the last few years are any indication, the weather will play an increasing role in the reliability of crop yields from season to season. Extremes in the weather are some­ thing that will have to be planned for and tolerated by farmers. a Planning for weather extremes may be difficult to do, but th use of conservation practices will help to minimize the harmful impacts. Dry summer weather can seriously affect the yield of corn but may not affect the yields of earlier harvest­ ed crops like winter wheat or barley. Crop rotation will reduce the risk of a large loss by spreading the harmful effects over a wider number of crops, some of which may be affected to a lesser degree than others. Wet weather can reduce the harvested yield as well as its quality and increase the costs of harvest. Again, if the entire acre­ age isn’t planted into the crop Welding training course available in Clinton Interested in touching up on your welding skills? The Huron OMAF office and the HITAC are offering a five week welding course for farm­ ers. The course will begin Monday, Feb. 12, 7:00 p.m.; and thereafter will be on every Monday and Tuesday for five weeks. The course will be held at the Central Huron Secondary School, in Clinton. Participants will be given the training and practice which is most adversely affected, risk will be reduced. ERRATIC RAINFALL AND CROP USAGE Rainfall amount and timing has been erratic during recent growing seasons. Keeping the rain where it lands has been an increasing challenge due to high intensity and short duration rainfalls, but con­ servation tillage can be used to improve this situation. Crop residue on the soil surface slows the movement of water downslope and allows it to be absorbed where crop plants can extract it. Getting the water into the soil reduces soil erosion be­ cause surface water runoff is reduced. Cropping across slopes will also reduce runoff during heavy rains. Strip-cropping and contour-cropp­ ing will further improve water retention on slopes. Crop rotation is an integral part of this water management practice. Strips of hay or narrow seeded crops like spring grains and winter cereals will form a crop canopy quickly. This crop canopy intercepts falling raindrops and also slows runoff, allowing the water to soak in. THE PURPOSE AND COST OF TILLAGE Conservation tillage provides other benefits that help to moder­ ate extremes. Minimum tillage, (tilling the soil to seeding depth with a minimum of passes) helps to maintain moisture at planting and during the early growing season. Crop residue will usually be found at or close to the soil surface and may act as a mulch to conserve moisture during a dry growing season or enable water to soak into required for most welding jobs on the farm. Topics include: safety, gas welding, arc welding, oxygen and arc cutting, brazing and solder­ ing, equipment, etc. Each partici­ pant will also receive a manual. Pre-registration is required as enrolment is limited. Contact the OMAF office Clinton for further information at 482-3428 or 1-800- 265-5170. The market at Brussels Livestock Inc. Friday, sold steady on all classes of cattle. There were 441 slaughter cattle on offer and 193 hogs. Good to choice steers sold from $89 to $92 to the high of $98 per hundredweight. Fourteen steers consigned by Ken Dalton, RR 1, Walton, averag­ ing 1286 lbs. sold for $92.06 to the high of $98. One steer consign­ ed by Hammond Bros., RR 1, Monkton weighing 1310 lbs. sold for $92. Eight steers consigned by Tom Detzler, Jr., RR 2, Mildmay averaging 1150 lbs. sold for $91.10. Nine steers consigned by Clarence Allan, RR 3, Holyrood, averaging 1299 lbs. sold for $89.88. Fifteen steers consigned by Tom Helm, RR 7, Lucknow averaging 1283 lbs. sold for $88.77. Three steers consigned by Steve Adams, RR 5, Brussels averaging 1303 lbs. sold for $89.17. Twenty-one steers consigned by George Adams, RR 2, Wroxeter, averaging 1261 lbs. sold for $88.62. Eleven steers consigned by Jim Hayden, RR 3, Goderich, averaging 1416 lbs. sold for $87.71. Thirty-six steers consigned by Un­ derwood Farms, RR 1, Wingham, averaging 1374 lbs. sold for $86.87. One steer consigned by Chuck Regele, RR 1, Dublin averaging 1300 lbs. sold for $86.75. Good to choice heifers sold from $87 to $88. Fourteen heifers con­ the soil in a wet season. Minimum tillage should be used when soil moisture is suitable, moist but not wet, or when incor­ poration of some residue is desir­ able. Tillage will also control weeds when it is not possible or desirable by other methods. Timeliness of fieldwork opera­ tions has become of increased importance as farms get larger and acreages must be planted in less time. Timeliness has also become important from an economic stand­ point because of the cost of tillage operations. Minimum tillage allows the timing of these operations to occur when it will be of most benefit at the least cost. To evaluate the necessity of tillage, farmers must first ask themselves, “Is this trip over the field really necessary’’? or “Will the cost of this tillage be paid back by the increased crop yield’’? Too often the answer to these questions is “I don’t know, so I’d better do it just in case’’. Evaluate the costs and benefits of every trip over the field to strive for minimum costs and economical crop yields. REDUCING RISK WITH VARIETY SELECTION As one aspect of an operation changes, other changes must be February 6-9, 1990 Toronto International Centre 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday thru Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday Canada’s agri-business showcase Sponsored by M For further information contact CIFES: (416) 479-2720 See your local farm equipment dealer and supply outlet for special discount registration form. signed by Dave Eadie, RR 5, Lucknow averaging 1120 lbs. sold for $87.40 to the high of $98.50. One heifer consigned by Geo. Duncan, RR 3, Mitchell weighing 1040 lbs. sold for $90.50. One heifer consigned by Warren Wep- pler, RR 3, Clifford, weighing 1130 lbs. sold for $88. Six heifers consigned by Maple Ridge Farms, RR 5, Brussels averaging 1085 lbs. sold for $86.07. One heifer con­ signed by Bill Ruttan, RR 1, Bluevale weighing 1310 lbs. sold for $85.25. There were 178 cows on offer selling $2.00 to $3.00 higher. DI and D2 cows sold from $58 to $62; D3 and D4 cows, $54 to $58; canners and cutters, $50 to $54. Two cows consigned by Dave Hawkins, RR 1, Wingham averag­ ing 1425 lbs. sold for $64.63; one cow consigned by Lyn Huxley, RR 2, Monkton weighing 1460 lbs. sold for $63.50; two cows consigned by Ron Jamieson, RR 2, Lucknow avergaing 1365 lbs. sold for $63.48. Five cows consigned by Groen- berg Farms, RR 2, Lucknow aver­ aging 1534 lbs. sold for $62.12. Two cows consigned by Jim Mof­ fat, RR 1, Wingham, averaging 1445 lbs. sold for $62.07. Three cows consigned by Dave Eadie, RR 5, Lucknow averaging 1393 lbs. sold for $61.60. One cow consigned by Fred Smith, RR 3, Brussels, weighing 1560 lbs. sold for $62.75. made to make the total system work. Differences have been ob­ served between varieties and hyd- brids depending on many vari­ ables. Varieties/hybrids should be chosen which have been proven successful with the cropping and tillage system on the farm. Individual hybrids and varieties can only be adequately evaluated under each system by the use of on-farm trials. To reduce risk, trials should be used by each farmer to assess varieties before they are planted in large acreages. Some varieties handle stress better than others. Splitting a field with two or three farm-proven hybrids or varieties will help to Continued on page 20 GREY SEED CLEANING BAGGED.OR BULK •Dekalb seed corn and alfalfa •Parsons seed grain •Grass seed •Treating & Debearding now available. BOB TYERMAN 887-6924 R.R. 3 BRUSSELS, ONT. Two cows consigned by Blake Lotton, RR 4, Ripley averaging 1355 lbs. sold for $61.21. One cow consigned by Leland Harkness, RR 1, Clifford weighing 1400 lbs. sold for $62.00. One bull consigned by Tom Detzler, Sr. Mildmay weigh­ ing 2100 lbs. sold for $82.50. Pigs under 50 lbs. averaged $88.31; 50 to 60 lbs., $90.32; over 60 lbs., $86.14. WIN A TRIP TO ORLANDO SAT. FEB. 10, 1990 BRUSSELS OPTIMISTS VALENTINEDANCE &DRAW $9. per ticket AVAILABLEFROM ANY OPTIMIST MEMBER Arrangements by Hanover Travel MONOWAY FARMS YORKSHIRE ... r LANORACE Wayne Fear ouroc and Sons Hampshire Qualify Swine Approved Boars Priced $300and up • ROP Performance Tested giltsand boars from a herd with very good mothering ability •QSF1 YorkxLandracegilts, open or bred, available on a regular basis. YORK,LANDRACE, HAMPSHIRE, DUROC& DUROCXHAMPBOARS Herd Classified Good * * by theAnimal Industry Branch; Quality Swine Approved Contact Wayne Fear at MONOWAY FARMS 6MILES WEST OF BRUSSELSON HURON RD. #16 Call Wayneanytimeat 519-887-6477 CallGordatnoonoraftersixp.m. at 519-887-6668 Q.S. Rep. Don Ruttan 887-9884 Between 7.15and8:15a.m.