The Rural Voice, 2005-04, Page 32INCREASE
CHEMICALS
P.P.I.,
pre or post spraying
- 3 spray units available
ELEVATORS
• Custom Drying • corn, while
beans, barley, soybeans.
Mixed grains • soft red and
white winter wheat
• Custom grain roasting
HOWSON & HOWSON LTD.
Feed. Seed. Chemicals, Fertilizer,
Grain Elevators, Custom Application
Blyth 523-9624 1-800-663-3653
We will customize a fertilizer and chemical program specific to your requirements.
* GPS Field Mapping * Nutrient Management Plans Available * Soil Testing
Fertilizers
• Terrogator• with a Max 1000+ Sprayer
• Terra-Gator4 with air spreader
and impregnator
• Micro nutrients
• Bulk delivery
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Seeds
New for 2005
NK Tru -Bulk Seed System
Custom Treating
and Inoculation
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CALL THE EXPERTS!
Shop 887-6428
Ron McCallum 887-6428 Paul McCallum 527-1633
"We install
drainage tubing."
28 THE RURAL VOICE
concentrate are stored in the new
barn.
The cows are on rubber mats
giving them the closest thing to
pasture.
When they built the barn they
fully intended to put the cows out on
pasture in the summer, but it has
never happened. With the side walls
rolled down to provide lots of
ventilation and the roof providing the
shade the cattle would have been
seeking under a tree in hot weather,
the cows seemed so content they
didn't bother sending them outside.
While on a recent tour they had
spoken to a farmer who allowed their
cows to go in and out at will and
aside from some trips out in the early
spring, the cattle mostly chose the
comfort of the barn, Susan said.
"Your whole mindset has to
change," Bert says. "You think cows
want out."
The barn also protects the cows
from thosefirst days of getting
sunburned in spring, Susan says.
They're convinced the cattle are
better off in a freestall barn
with their freedom of
movement compared to their old set-
up. Bert loves that fact that he can go
away for the day without worrying
about malfunctioning waterbowls
and other mechanical breakdowns.
They had been warned that they'd
find it cool to work in the barn in
winter but they find that as long as
they're working, they haven't had to
change clothes from what they would
have worn in the old barn.
They installed in -floor heating in
the milk house but there's enough
heat from various motors and
equipment that they've seldom used
it. Susan has even decorated the
sparkling milkhouse with potted
plants.
If they have a regret it's that they
can't keep an eye on what's going on
at the new barn because the old barn
stands between it and the house. The
site was the only one that worked in
the planning, Bert says.
He says he doesn't want to
disparage all those farmers with tie -
stall operations and on a recent
Holstein Club tour he saw several
fine examples but he has no regrets
making the change himself. "It's not
perfect, but workwise, it's nice," he
says.°