The Rural Voice, 1978-11, Page 23from an average year.
July's dry weather is also the cause of
the lower yields. about 85 per cent of a
normal crop. Since there was less moisture
in the ground, there was less nutrient
uptake, Mr. Lynch said, and the corn
plants didn't get enough water needed for
growth. And indirect effect of the dry
weather was poor weed control because
herbicides didn't get the moisture needed
to activate them. Also, corn root worm was
rrore prevalent this year since the dry
weather made insect controls less ef-
fective.
Mr. Lynch said the main problem with
this year's corn crop however was weeds.
Farmers are expected to lose about 10
bushels per acre because of weeds.
Ontario needs push
i.
o increase markets
Speaking at a dinner meeting in Maryhill
recently, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
president Peter Hannam told about 70
farmers and professionals organized by the
Guelph branch of the Ontario Institute of
agmlogists, that Canada has the potential
to greatly increase production of most
foods, and what is needed now is a major
push to increase markets .not only in
exports. but also domestically.
Hannam who.is a past president of the
.organization warned that Canada would be
foolish to allow imports to capture the
_'markets for some commodities it can
produce here because it will lose not only
income for farmers. but also income and
jobs for people who produce items those
farmers buy and who process, package,
'distribute and sell what is produced by
Canadian farmers.
"When we don't fill markets, we are
wasting resources," Hannam said, adding
that agriculture is a renewable resource,
not one that, like oil, gas and metals, is
depleted.
Hannam asked for co-operation within
the agricultural industry, citing as an
example the liaison committee between the
federation and the Ontario branch of the
Consumers Association of Canada.
"You don't hear any wildly inflam-
matory statements from the consumers'
association leaders) any more," he said.
Hannam then offered suggestions for
co-operation on a higher plane.
The first was in reminding the Canadian
public of the importance of agriculture
"and the bright future it can promise all of
Canada."
The second was in defending basic
agriculture, mainly against the threat of
imports.
The third was to introduce "common
sense" to stem the "banning craze" that
will eventually leave us nothing deemed
safe to eat or drink.
Hannam mentioned antibiotics in live-
stock and poultry production as an
example, and noted there has been concern
expressed about adverse effects on human
health.
"If there is a health hazard than we want
to stop it." he said.
"We want to encourage the wise use of
-production tools," he added. mentioning
pesticides, antibiotics and fertilizers as
examples. "We must seek out and
penalize" those farmers, salesman and
others who abuse the rules.
Sheep could be the meat of the future
Mut'ray Older an official of the Ontario
Sheep Association believes.
Older said that as world energy shortages
increase, sheep will grow in popularity as a
source of high -protein meat in North
America.
"In the last little while, the influx of new
sheep farmers has been tremendous,"
Older said.
He attributed the increase to switches
from other less -profitable farming busines-
ses. increased demand for wool and the
cheaper feed requirements of sheep.
"Poultry and pork are grain eaters and
that's getting more expensive and to meet
the increased human population growth
the tendency• will be away from grain -
eating animals." Older said.
Little drug residue
found in Canadian meat
The continuing controversy over the
possibility of antibiotic drug residues i n
Canadian meat should be laid to rest by
the results of a recent Agriculture Canada
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THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1978 PG. 23