The Rural Voice, 1980-08, Page 15It's a
form of
conservation
Deciding to drain a swamn or clearing and draining a bush is a
difficult decision. Dave Drummond, farmer, Hullett Township,
says. "If a swampy area is drained, it can be tricky to farm. It is
often lower and freezes out. The soil type is usually different.
And if it's a bush, it's costly to clear in the first place."
Weigel does not think a farmer should drain a swamp, because
that water is used throughout the summer. He says, "By
draining a swamp, you are lowering the water level."
Bellman suggests a farmer ask himself some questions when
considering draining a swamp. Is it a hindrance? What is best for
the area totally? Even if the soil is virgin, is it good quality?
Bellman believes a swamp or pond the size of a house has little
effect on the water table level.
If you have tiled land, you must be careful not to over fertilize.
If you add too much nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil, the
excess can percolate through the soil. It can drain away with the
tile water. This is costly to the farmer, especially at today's
fertilizer prices. Also, if farmers overfertilize, it causes streams
to grow such abundant plant life that it smothers out fish.
When a farmer is considering tiling, he should weigh several
questions. Dave Inglis, owner of Bruce Tile, R.R. 3, Walkerton,
suggests a farmer ask himself: Can I get along without it? What
is the effect of losing a crop? Inglis sees tile as a kind of
insurance --it gives the farmer a better chance of getting his crop
in and off in a wet spring or fall.
Tiling does cost money. Draining costs approximately 5300 to
5400 per acre; 22 to 24c a foot for the clay or plastic tile, and 15 to
20c a foot to install it. Farmers can look at tiling as an
investment. Ross Irwin . School of Engineering, University of
Guelph, says because of the phenomenal rise in land costs, it is
cheaper to drain what you have rather than buy more land.
Borderline cases of whether to install tile present a more difficult
decision. Inglis says the tile will pay for itself but the pay-off
period is extended.
Farmers in southwestern Ontario are fortunate to have easy
soil to drain. Willis Stauffer, owner of Cocalico Equipment, from
Denver, Pennsylvania, attended a recent tile demonstration near
Chatham, Ontario. He says the cost of installing tile there is 75c
a foot compared to our 15 to 20c a foot. He can lay 1400 feet per
day of plastic tile where the average here is 12,000 to 15,000 ft.
a day. The reason for this high price is that their land is so hard,
compact, hilly and the jobs are small. Land near Stauffer is
57,000 an acre compared to our 51500 to 52000 an acre. Stauffer
says Denver, Pennsylvania is starting to catch up with Ontario's
enthusiasm in tile draining.
Through land conservation, Ontario is preserving one of its
richest natural resources. And draining the land is part of it.
We have 2 separate
intake pits
for
receiving Ontario
• WHEAT
• BARLEY
• CORN
LEMING
FEED MILL LTD.
Clinton, Ont.
482-3438
THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1980 PG. 13