The Rural Voice, 1992-09, Page 49product to prove Dad wrong ... to
show him this damn stuff would
never work. I was amazed at what
did happen, what they said would
happen did happen. That's what got
me interested in what we are doing to
our soil by using chemicals."
It's been 23 years since that first
attempt in building soil life back up,
making Oak Manor Farm one of the
first farms in Canada to make the
transition from chemical to organic
methods. Dave commented, "The
more I learn (about the complex
balances of a healthy soil) the more I
find out how little I know how
everything connects."
Today Oak Manor Farm operates
as a closed system — that is no
commercial products relative to soil
are brought in with the exception of
replenishing seed stock. Achieving
this system has helped in stabilizing
the farm's finances and allowed for
farming less acres to achieve
necessary financial gains.
As Dave recalls: "We've
squeezed like everybody else over the
years but we were able to go through
a lot more than the conventional guy
because of our lower inputs."
As the Reiblings began their
transition to organic methods they
had their share of "learning it the
hard way". Unlike today, in the early
1970s there were few organizations,
consultants, and minimal literature or
support of any kind to turn to. "We
were naive in many areas ... "
recounts Dave. "We learned to adapt
our preconceived notions to meet the
needs of soil fertility, weed control,
crop rotation, and marketing. I guess
what I've learned from it all is there's
no recipe on how to farm organically.
Each guy has to evaluate his own
farm and adjust to meet his needs."
In addition Dave cautions against
a "cold turkey" transition. He
explains that a gradual approach is
needed to gain new management
skills, for the soil to rebuild itself,
and to minimize financial risk.
Typically farmers use herbicides in
spot and band applications in the
initial years for weed emergencies.
Over the years Oak Manor's yields
have been comparable to average
yields for the region.
Compared to a management
system dependent on the rising costs
and levels of synthetic fertilizers,
Head
Office
Dufferin Mutual
Insurance Company
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and ask for ... DUFFERIN MUTUAL
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Collingwood Culham Insurance Brokers Ltd. 705-445-6100
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Simpson & Company 705-445-3151
Dundalk Howard Noble Insurance Ltd. 519-923-2313
Durham Chapman, Graham & Lawrence Insurance 519-369-3131
Grand Valley ..... Grand Valley Insurance Brokers 519-928-2851
Hanover Chapman, Graham & Lawrence Insurance 519-364-2790
Markdale Tebbutt Insurance Brokers Ltd. 519-986-2167
Chapman, Graham & Lawrence Insurance 519-986-4351
Meaford Georgian Bay Insurance Brokers Ltd 519-538-2102
Shelburne Crewson Insurance Brokers Ltd. 519-925-3145
Southampton Stan Hills Insurance Broker Ltd. 519-797-3431
Thornbury Howard Noble Insurance Ltd. 519-599-3812
Walkerton Chapman, Graham & Lawrence Insurance 519-881-0611
Shelburne, Ontario
110 Adelaide St., P.O. Box 117, LON 1S0
519-925-2026 1-800-265-9115 Fax 519-925-3357
1895 — 100 years — 1995
WELLESLEY LOADING CHUTES
AND ROUND BALE FEEDERS
LOADING CHUTE
• Heavy Construction
• 3 pt. hitch (both sides)
• Ramp settings 26" - 42"
ROUND BALE FEEDERS
• 7'x8'
• Feeds approx. 18 cattle
• Holds 5' x 5' bales (and smaller)
• 1 1/4" tubing
• Heavy duty construction
Ali "''.r."�"�f�'rr...••;'"'�11
u 1lI1,iA1Pr
1!MOM 11110110 MOP NS MI SINS
TILMAN SHERK
R. R. 3, Wellesley, Ontario
519-656-3338 evenings 519-656-3429
SEPTEMBER 1992 45