The Rural Voice, 1980-04, Page 27Round bales
Are they taking
over the field?
BY DEBBIE RANNEY
Lately a lot of round bales have been
showing up in fields around the country-
side, but are round bales taking over? Not
for the present time it seems, since regular
bales too have their advantages depending
on what type of farming operation you're
in.
Mike Miller, crop specialist at the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Office in
Clinton said, "1 guess it varies with each
and every system. I don't think either one
is overtaking the other."
The big round bales have tended to be
more common on beef operations and
they're being hand or mechanically fed. He
said square bales are probably
predominant on dairy farms.
"I don't see that changing for awhile,
because the large round bales are
relatively hard to unbale. They normally
suit the feeding system that one sees with
beef cattle."
He said there are a few dairy farms for
things like dry cows and heifers, but when
you're concerned with quality and amount,
the traditional bale seems more popular.
Although round bales are labor saving
out in the field, Mr. Miller said a lot of that
labor is spent wrestling the bale around to
get it fed, so the total saving may not be
that great.
He said, to date, the round bales haven't
been used a lot on the dairy farm.
Alan Scott, Perth County Agricultural
Representative said, "I don't really think
it's a matter of versus. They each have
their place."
"The big round bales are more
conducive to a beef cow operation.
Somewhere you have to have the facilities
to handle them and a new way of feeding
them," he said.
"There's a lot of dairymen who like their
hay inside. I think the beef cowman gets
the most use out of it (the round bale
system.)" he said.
"I don't think they're taking over. I think
we will continue to have a place for both,"
he said adding that the farmer has to have
the type of operation that round bales
would fit into.
"1 think each has its place. For some
people, the big round bale just wouldn't fit
in at all."
Vern Steinacker of RR2, Stratford is a
PG. 28 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1980
Grams
Urea
The use of urea on Canadian farms has more than doubled
since 1972, and will double again in just a few more years.
Over forty years ago, when urea first went into commercial
production, few people recognized it as the nitrogen
fertilizer of the future.
Today, the word is getting around.
Looking at urea, it's easy to see why:
• Contains 46% nitrogen, more concentrated than any
other dry N Source
• 1/3 more nitrogen per ton than ammonium nitrate
• Completely water soluble
• More immune to denitrifying bacteria in waterlogged soil
• More time efficient to spread than A.N.
CIL is now producing urea is new uniform granules
specially developed for more uniform blends and more
uniform spreading. We've made these granules extra hard
and virtually dust -free, for cleaner handling and better
action in your spreader.
Over the next few years, you'll be hearing a lot about
granular urea from your neighbours, Get the word first from
your Agromart or C•I-L fertilizer dealer.
ospo Agromart
Helping things grow"
Brussels
8� 60i6
887-6016
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