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PAGE 66
16 THE RURAL VOICE
management tools today. "At first
we were afraid of the bank. But we
gained confidence as we kept
records."
The Players also found help
from OMAF for their cropping
program. Former Perth OMAF
Soil and Crop Specialist Pat Lynch
introduced them to soil sampling
as a management tool. "Nothing
pays back better than soil sam-
pling," John says. The three hours
they invest in soil sampling a
50 -acre field easily pays for itself
many times over. Although their
inputs are higher, using Lynch's
advice, their yields, and subse-
quently their profits are also
higher.
Richard Smelski, formerly Perth
OMAF's swine specialist also
helped the new farmers with their
herd health. "When we first
started, we were poor managers.
Everything was an improvement."
Through honing their manage-
ment, the brothers are receiving
the same production from 185
sows as they had previously from
200 sows. They culled extensively
and found this improved produc-
tion.
The Players have discovered
some better ways to do things on
their own. They installed dimmer
switches on the low speed of their
two -speed ventilation fans for bet-
ter control at low speed and to save
energy. They put steel chimneys on
their covered creeps to prevent the
piglets from smashing heat bulbs.
They also designed a "boar cat-
cher." This system, using a dog
collar, is easier on the boar (and
the farmer) when catching the
boars to cut their teeth. They also
use the collar for catching sows for
blood tests.
"The one thing we (John and
Gord) are most thankful for is the
support from our wives. They
deserve a lot of the credit. They've
never doubted what we've tried,"
John says with pride.
The Players have set their goals
for the future. Within five years
they would like to have a 300 -sow
operation. Their 10 year goal in-
cludes a finishing operation, but
the cost of such buildings is enor-
mous and that is a long-term goal
that may change. John notes that
some people don't see a future in
the production of pork, but he
does. "If I couldn't see a light at
the end of the tunnel, I wouldn't
be here." Ll