HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-03-17, Page 44Page 28 -Farm Progress '93
Practice safer weed control
In 1987 OMAF instigated a
program, Food Systems 2002,
aimed at reducing pesticide use
in Ontario by 50 per cent by the
year 2002. This generated
studies of the critical period -
the minimum period of time
during which weeds must be
suppressed or controlled to pre-
vent yield loss.
There are other considerations
too. Better (for the environment)
weed control techniques require
basic knowledge about the varied
growth cycle (not synchronized)
of different weeds. Levels of soil
fertility, humidity and tempera-
ture can vary crop and weed
performance (altering rates of
growth). Different crop cultivars
have distinct characteristics
(germination, maturity, height,
leaf area, etc.) Plant density can
also influence crop and weed
performance.
Univ. of Guelph researchers,
RC Van Acker, CJ Swanton and
SF Weise, in 1990 and 1991
showed that soybeans, kept
weed -free for about 30 days
after emergence, had yield
reductions of 2.5 per cent or less
when compared to soybeans kept
weed -free for the entire season.
Other trials controlling pigweed
in corn in Ontario (1990-92)
show similar results.
Chemical control measures
(time of application and short
life non-persistent pesticides)
may help prevent pollution of
the environment (cleaner soil and
water) and reduce the amount of
chemical used (better econ-
omics).
•turn to page 29
Working. to ensure women are recognized
by Michele Greene
Many rural women don't recog-
nize the value of their work in
agriculture. •
Julie Emond, of RR 1 Monkton,
said they aren't being fair to them-
selves. As a member of the Ontario
Farm Women's Network, she works
to ensure women are recognized for
what they do in agriculture.
"When I'm at home on the farm,
I'm just as much a farmer as my
husband," she said.
Emond and her husband Tony
operate a dairy farm just north of
Monkton. They share the duties in
the barn beginning at 6:30 a.m.
everyday. While she milks the
farm's 40 cows, he feeds ,the ani-
mals. Together, they make all man-
agement decisions about the 200 -
acre operation.
"It's a complete 50/50 arrange-
ment," she said. "1 would like to
see our husbands call the farm 'our
Julie Emend
HOWSON
MILLS
"NEIGHBOUR
HELPING
NEIGHBOUR"
1879-1993
WEST WAWANOSH
MUTUAL _ °
INSURANCE COMPANY
•
We have a full line of:
•SEED •FEED •FERTILIZER
•CHEMICALS:.
•UREA •DAP
•POTASH •TRIPLE
Custom Application of Fertilizer & Chemical
Howson & Howson
Limited
_FLOLIELBLEEEDLERSCOMRLETE EARM.SUPPL.IFS--
BLYTH WINGHAM
523-4241 357-2700
CARGILL
366-2224
YOUR LOCAL AGENTS
Frank Foran, Lucknow 528-3824
Lyons &.Mulhern, Goderich 524=2664
Donald R. Simpson, Ripley 395-5362'
Delmar Sproul, Auburn 529-7273
Clinton 482-3434
Chapman -Graham & .Assoc.
Insurance Brokers Inc. Walkerton 881-0611
Slade Insurance Brokers Inc.
Kincardine 396-9513
Laune Campbell, Brussels
887-9051
ear et -IT- laCLean, Paisley 368- tb3
[—K
McMaster Siernon Insurance .
Brokers Inc. Mitchell 348-9150
John Nixon, Brussels 887-9417
two-man' operation, instead of our
'one-man' operation."
Being her own boss and operating
a business was always a dream of
Emond's. As a young Dutch immi-
grant working as a secretary in
Toronto, Emond never thought her
business would be fanning. She had
never been on a farmuntil she met
her husband.
"I used to come to , see what it
was like. I loved it from day one,"
she said.
The couple has lived at the
Monkton farm for 16 years. They
now . have two daughters Amy, 14,
and Sandra, 12, who also have their
duties on the farm helping in the
barn and in the house. Emond said
she wants to set an example for her
daughters as a hard worker whose
work on the farm is important..
Besides belonging to the OFWN,
Emond is also a member of the
Monkton GIRLS (Great Ideas
Require Ladies' Support) Club. The
women's service club raised a lot of
money to build the new Elma-
Logan Arena as well as supporting
many community projects in the
village. To do a good job, you. have
to limit yourself, said Emond, so
she belongs to just these two
groups.
"The farm and the family are
number one," she said.
Bruce Beckons,
is theme of
1993 IPM
•from page 27
onstrations, parking and the newly
added crops demonstrations.
Though Cumming played a
minor role helping with the 1976
IPM, this is his first as chair. The
Elderslie Township beef farmer is
a former reeve and warden of the
county.
"What is so rewarding is the
enthusiasm we're getting from the
Bruce County people. It's clearly
a county project."
Cumming said Bruce is known
as a county that pulls together to
get the job done.
Ironically, there's no remuner-
ation for all the volunteer effort
the approximate 400 Bruce County
people are expending to.organize
this year's 'plowing match.
"They work hard and have a lot
of fun," Cumming said, adding
that it's the satisfaction you get
from being able to say you had a
hand in helping put on a success-
ful plowing match in Bruce
County that counts most.
Bruce Beckons is the theme of
the 19_93_plowing match