The Rural Voice, 1978-09, Page 21Rural news in brief
Corn fields
affected
by drought
The July drought has caused yield
problems in corn fields across Ontario with
the promise of little financial help for
farmers whose crops are wiped out,
according to Dr. William C. Leask, general
manager of the seed corn division of Maple
Leaf Mills. Leask said that some of
Ontario's corn fields will yield only half as
big a crop as normal and that some fields
had been completely wiped out by the July
drought.
The Ontario Grain Corn Council. how-
ever. had estimated that only 20 per cent of
the corn yield would be affected by the
drought.
Leask also complained that there would
be little financial help for farmers whose
crops were wiped out as federal and
provincial governments price -stabilizing
programs are useful only to the extent that
farmers have sold a crop.
Price increases are also unlikely as
Ontario produces only two per cent of
North America's corn. and production
conditions are excellent in most of the U.S.
corn belt.
Weather problems for the corn first
developed in the fall when cool, wet
conditions delayed plowing until spring so
that the land was easily compacted and its
structure destroyed. Then in June and July,
the drought dried out the land before roots
could develop properly and also reduced
fertilizer efficiency and rendered many
herbicides ineffective according to Leask.
The outlook for excellent U.S. corn yields
has been the main reason for a price
decline of almost $9 a ton since the end of
June.
Sales of Ontario corn have declined
sharply this summer according to a corn
council newsletter and the Quebec feed -
milling industry has been switching to
lower-priced Prairie grown barley.
We are Ready to handle your
CASH CROP
BARLEY, MIXED GRAIN,
SOYBEAN & FLAX
in season
For satisfaction try us.
OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
Seaforth
527-1910
Grey -Bruce Livestock
Co-op marks 25th year
The Grey -Bruce Livestock Co-operative
has reached the start of its second quarter
century mark.
The Co-operative was originally formed
by the Grey and Bruce Federations of
Agriculture. It was built by voluntary
labor, $5 memberships and a small
membership loan, along with financial and
moral support from the Ontario and
Canada Departments of Agriculture.
Sales at Thessalon, South River and New
Liskeard have covered stock pens and sale
rings. Lorrainville has a covered barn and
the others have at least a covered sale ring
and stands.
Northern beef producers are continuing
to improve their stock through the use of
A.I. or Performance Tested Sires. Sale
organizers say pasture conditions in
Northern Ontario this year have been in
general very good and the cattle are in
good condition.
McKerlie
Automotive
All types of hydraulic
hoses for hydraulic
equipment
Lincoln greasing equip-
ment
Quaker state oil and
grease
Fuel oil filters
Hydraulic jacks
Tools
Batteries
Car and implement
paint.
Main Street,
EXETER, ONT.
235-1040
237-3519
(Dashwood)
THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1978 PG.21