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The Rural Voice, 2003-12, Page 24Heading South 1m_ For The iii„ ' Winter? a;s Make sure all your ducks are in a row before you leave. Make sure you have OUT -OF -PROVINCE HEALTH COVERAGE AND YOUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER. We're wishing for a safe and happy Holiday Season for you and your family. Nancy Ackert Life Insurance Advisor For assistance in planning your travel business and family security plans call: Nancy Ackert 1-866-396-8108 519-528-2222 For all your insurance, business & agricultural planning needs T.S. Fabrication Custom fabricators of post pounders, dump trailers and all types of manure spreading equipment LH (/41 TS Fabrications Manure tankers from 650 to 6800 Gal. Solid manure spreaders from 3 to 30 Ton www.bomford-turner.com The flagship range of heavy duty reach mowers specifically designed to suit local authorities, contractors and other professional users. Many municipal & farm models available. T.S. Fabrication WALTON, ON • Dealer Enquiries Welcome 1-800-265-9682 (FAX 519-887-9011) 20 THE RURAL VOICE the year of application. It's the organic form of phosphorus that is mobile and susceptible to leaching. Phosphorus isn't likely to leach into the ground water unless the soil is saturated with high levels of P. Phosphorus is not dangerous in drinking water and so it's not an environmental problem until the ground water reaches the surface. There, the phosphorus promotes algae growth that can deplete oxygen in the water and affect fish and other aquatic species. The greatest danger to surface water is from phosphorus carried in run-off or erosion into streams or drains. Most of the problem for waterways comes from a relatively small part of the field near the stream or drain and buffer areas can prevent much of the problem. potassium is not very mobile in soil, Coelho said. However the potassium in liquid hog manure may not be enough to meet the needs of a corn crop and soil testing and potash fertilizer application on areas where potassium is low may be required. There was good news from Dr. Ed Topp, a microbiologist with Agriculture and Agri -food Canada's London research station on the subject of the repercussions of use of pharmaceuticals and hormones in agriculture. The good thing about farm waste, Topp said, is that you can intervene in the process at any point to reduce the problem, from cutting back on pharmaceutical use to treatment of waste such as through biogas digestion. A greater problem is with biosolids from human sewage treatment because you're unsure what's in that cocktail mix, he said. Still there is a public concern over the use of veterinary antibiotics, Topp said and there is support for the concern. A University of Guelph study showed there was a higher level of anti -biotic resistant bacteria in the guts of pigs treated fed antibiotic -enhanced feed and a higher proportion of antibiotic- resistant bacteria in litter from poultry fed antibiotics. The good news is that when manure from these animals is applied to the land there does not seem to be a consistent pattern of an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the soil, he said.