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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-12-07, Page 171988-89 Huron County Dairy Princess Lisa Boonstoppei [left] Auburn and her parents, Audrey and Hans Boonstoppei, were head table guests at the Huron-Perth Jersey Association Banquet and Annual Meeting held at Kinburn on Saturday. The family farm, Hanaud Jerseys of RR 1, Auburn, was the winner of both the New life Feed Mills Achievement Award and the Tom Rathwell Special Award, while Mr. Boonstoppei was elected as an Ontario Director by the Association. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1988. PAGE 17. Greed promotes use of risky crops Continued from page 16 session was Bernhard Hack who spoke on soil conditioning to control weeks. Weeds, he said are a man-made problem that man can solve in a soft way. “Observe, observe and draw the right conclu­ sions,” he told the audience. Weeds are nothing but a natural healing processformisusedsoil, he said. Thinking has to change from simply how to get rid of weeds as with chemical farming to why the weeds are growing. Weeds are triggered to come up because of an imbalance in the soil, he said and the weeds are trying to cure the imbalance. Thistles and milkweed, for in­ stance, can battle compaction in the soil. After wet harvest conditions such as this fall, farmers might think that plowing will loosen the soil but the plow goes down only 10 inches and compaction can go down 10 feet. The subsoil can only be loosened by the roots of plants. Compaction pushes the air out of the soil meaning that the breakdown of vegetable material insteadof being aerobic becomes anaerobic. Anaerobic breakdown brings acid soil condi­ tions that thistles and milkweed thrive on. Those conditions can cause the seeds of those plants, that have laid dormant for years, to germinate. The roots of the weeds heal the soil by feeding on the acid and by loosening tne soil and undoing the compaction. Alfalfa, left growing for three years in the field will break up the soil and the field will be rid of milkweed and thistles, he said. Pig manure has such a high water content that when it decays in a pile it locks out the air from all but the outer surface and the decay is anaerobic. Therich nitrogen contentcreates ammonia which creates acid condi­ tions in soil. These conditions are ideal for pigweed and lambs quarter while the ammonia is harmful to most small-seed grains. The weeds, however, will use up the acid and sweeten the soil by putting more air into the soil. Ragweed grows in areas of low fertility such as along roadways and lanes. It’s also becoming a growing problem in Kent and Essex areas after 20 years of cashcropping has depleted the fertility of the land, he said. Mr. Hack deplored the misuse of soil that harvesting in wet conditions brings. “Our own greed is the reason we grow risky crops like corn and soybeans that were at home farther south where they can be harvested in September in dry conditions,” he said. Over a 10 year period the risky crops don't pay, he said, because if you have two failures, the financial gains from the riskycropsarelost. Farmers who have low cash demands don’t need to take chances growing risky crops that can do great damage to the soil, he said. Also speaking at the meeting during the afternoon session was Dr. Peter Langer on ‘‘Parabiologics - An Approach to Mastitis Control”. A panel of farmers who have switched from conventional farming to organ­ ic farming in recent years conducted a discussion on “Making the Switch to Organics”. Taking part were Ted Zettelof Chepstow, Jim Ferrisof Tiverton, John MacKinnon of Tiver­ ton and Fred Lindner, Gadshill. The panel was moderated by Mike Pembry of Terra Cotta. ARE FUN-DAMENTAL! Top Jersey breeders rewarded BY USA BOONSTOPPEL Top Jersey breeders in Huron County were rewarded for their Dairy Excellence at the annual Perth-Huron Jersey Club Banquet held in Kinburn last Saturday. Jack Armstrong and Son of Huronia Jerseys, RR2, Auburn, received the Premier Breeder Tro­ phy and a production award. John Armstrong won the Robin Acres Farm Trophy for the first prize calf in the junior special. As well, Elva Armstrong won the ladies special in the aged cow class. Another Auburn-area farmer, Hans Boonstoppei of Hanaud Jer­ seys, was presented with the New Life Mills Achievement Award and the Tom Rathwell Special Award. Walton-area Jersey breeders, Gerry and Thea Rijkhoff of Gerthea Jerseys were awarded two produc­ tion awards. Elections were held for this year’s executive. Gary West of Shake­ speare is president; Jim Sparling of Varna is vice-president; Carolyn Van Dorp of Kinburn is secretary; Gladys Van Egmond of Clinton is treasurer; and Hans Boonstoppei of Auburn is Ontario Director. Pig prices up Continued from page 16 Thirty-eight heifers consigned by Fred Marshall of RR 3, Fergus, averaging 1177 lbs., sold for an overall price of $87.58, with sales to $88.50. Six heifers consigned by Lome Weber of RR 1, Neustadt, averaging 998 lbs., sold for $86.85. A heifer consigned by Ross Fitch of RR 1, Wroxeter, weighing 1370 lbs., sold for $90 with his lot of 22 heifers, averaging 1215 lbs., selling for an overall price of $85.29. A heifer consigned by Schultz Bros, of RR 3, Blyth, weighing 990 lbs., sold for 91.75 with their 11 heifers averaging 1035 lbs., selling for$85.80. Choice cows sold at $50 to $56, heifery types to $67; good cows brought $44 to $50; and canners and cutters fetched $39 to $44. Twenty to 30 lb. pigs traded to a high of 66 cents; 30 to 40 lb. pigs traded to a high of 65 cents; 40 to 50 lb. pigs tradec to a high of 69 cents; 50 to60 lb. pigs traded to a high of 57 cents; and 60 to 70 lb. pigs traded to a high of 53 cents per lb. from the start AUBURN CO-OPERATIVE County Rd. #25, Auburn 526-7262 BELGRAVE CO-OPERATIVE Hwy. #4, Belgrave 357-2711 523-4454 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8to 5 Store Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30-5:30 Sat.9-12noon Sat.9-12noon Gift ideas Sale Ends Saturday Dec. 10/88. SNO FOX TRIPLE SKI RACER Fully steerable and easily operated racer for plenty of fun. 502-301. SNO TURBO FUN SLED 1 or 2 seater sled made of premium quality polyethylene to last and last. 502-300. BIRD FEEDERS Junior Seed Silo 505 213 6.88 ‘A’ Frame 505-244 A 1.44 Deluxe Station _ _ 505243 23.88 EVERYONE WELCOME TO SHOP CO-OP!