The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 50YOUR
SOLID CHOICE
IN A
42 H.P. Tractor
FORD 3910
• Durable
• Efficient
• High Value
LEASE FOR AS LITTLE AS
$269.00
OR LESS WITH TRADE
per
month
OR
Low, CASH
LOW PRICE
• r -ALSO AVAILABLE
7.75Wo
FINANCING
AVAILABLE
"RED POWER SALE"
Tractors
Equipment
lI�
1 -IHC 986/cab & air, sharp $16,800
1 -IHC 1066/cab, good $ 9,900
1 -IHC 674, good $ 7,200
1 -MF 1084/cab, good $8,900)
LOGAN FORD
TRACTOR SALES LTD
Hwy No. 8 East of Mitchell PH. 348-8467
and
Lorne Avenue, Stratford, PH. 271-2961
P(;. 8 SPECIAL EQUIPMENT SPECIAL, APRIL, 1986
Computer
estimates
field work
Farmers in many parts of
Canada can now take advantage of
computer estimates that tell them
when they can expect to complete
their spring field work.
Developed at Agriculture
Canada, these estimates take some
of the risk out of planting by tell-
ing growers in different regions
how many "workdays" they can
expect each spring.
Workdays are days on which
fields can support heavy farm
equipment, says regional develop-
ment officer Jim Dyer, who led the
original study.
"The whole idea is better plan-
ning," he says. "Certain fields in
certain climates have their own
workday possibilities. If you're
aware of this, your farm operation
is going to be that much better."
The model used in Mr. Dyer's
study simulates actual soil and
weather conditions for all major
growing areas across the country.
It includes three main soil types
— clay, loam and sand — and uses
weather records going back 50
years.
"Over a period of time, changes
in soil moisture will be related to
weather. And if you put your
records into a computer model,
you can simulate the field condi-
tions," he says.
Soil moisture is critical. There is
a network of tiny spaces
throughout the soil which allows
both air and water to circulate.
If farmers start field operations
on soil that's too wet, the crushing
and grinding of the tractor tires
could break down soil structure.
The result is compaction, with
the soil losing those spaces.
"When you break down the
structure, then soils can't store
water the way they normally
would. The roots also have a lot
more difficulty penetrating."
A related problem is tractor tire
slippage, which is much higher on
a wet surface, with a greater risk of
the tractor getting stuck in the
mud.
Both of these problems are
directly related to soil texture. For
example, it takes longer for clay
soils to reach a workable condition
than sandy or loamy soils.
Sandy soils are the fastest drying