HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Rural Voice, 1993-10, Page 50ration with a target gain of 1.75
pounds per day. They will be fed
over the winter, bred, put on pasture
and returned the next fall. Currently,
interested producers with heifers to
be fed and/or with facilities to feed
them are asked to contact the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
office in Clinton (482-3428 or 1-800-
265-5170).
The program is targeted at heifers
born in April and May of 1993.
Producers with calves born earlier are
encouraged to indicate their interest
also. Heifers will be put on a 112
day test with weights taken every 28
days along with temperament and
soundness scores. At the end of the
test period, each heifer will be
weighed, probed for backfat,
measured for pelvic area and hip
height, and scored on temperament
and structural soundness. At the
appropriate time, the heifers will be
synchronized using the MGA recipe
and bred artificially to the
consignor's selected Al sire.
Following this, heifers will be
exposed to a clean-up bull on pasture.
Prior to leaving the project, the
heifers will be pregnancy checked.
This project will provide an
excellent opportunity for producers
to have heifers properly developed.
Valuable information will be
collected for everyone to learn from.
Once again, interested producers with
heifers and/or facilities for feeding
are to contact the Clinton OMAF
office at 482-3428 or 1-800-265-
5170.0
John Bancroft
Farm Management Specialist
.Huron County
New for '94 - the
Southwest Ag
Conference
Farmers' needs are changing and
the Southwest Soil and Crop
Improvement Association is
changing with the times. Ridgetown
Farmers' Week is taking on a new
look reflecting today's agricultural
46 THE RURAL VOICE
News in Agriculture
issues.
The information programme
"Southwest Ag Conference"
scheduled for January 6-8, 1994 is a
co-operative effort of farmers,
agribusiness and government. This
year's Conference theme is: "People,
Production, Profits — Increasing
Knowledge Increases Profits".
Concurrent sessions will allow each
person to select the topics of most
value to their business. The
programme features a wide variety of
timely and applied topics, from the
impact of the Midwest floods on
Ontario agriculture to fine tuning
conservation tillage.
Demonstrations, speakers, displays,
workshops, hands-on clinics and
informal discussion sessions are all
part of this new Conference format.
Pre -registration packages and
programs will be available in early
November. Look for them at the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food offices and local agricultural
suppliers.0
New outdoor
equipment show
planned
After years of talk about a
permanent site for the International
Plowing Match, a new group has
decided to organize a rival show on a
permanent site near Burford.
Ginty Jocius Enterprises Ltd. of
Guelph announced in September that
the Outdoor Farm Show will be held
annually at the Shur -Gain Research
Farm southwest of Brantford. Ginty
Jocius, owner of a Guelph
advertising firm specializing in
agricultural clients, said the new
show is driven by the exhibitors'
needs and aimed at attracting farmers
who are in the market for products
and services. "It'll be farm family
focused, but it will not be a fall fair
atmosphere," he said in an interview.
"It's much more forward looking in
its product offering."
The show already has the backing
of two important groups. The Ontario
Soil and Crop Improvement
Association (OSCIA) has lent its
sponsorship as has the Ontario Retail
Equipment Dealers Association
(ORFEDA).
Karl Davis, president of ORFEDA
said he is "looking forward to the
show as a good opportunity to show
off products." It will be an
opportunity for farmers to see the
latest in agricultural technology.
The show will feature 300 acres of
land, a 50 -acre tented city and a
possible 300 exhibitors. Regular
demonstrations are planned for
harvesting, planting, conservation
tillage, crop residue management, no -
till equipment, crop protection and
crop varieties.
Davis said the new permanent
location makes it easier for farm
dealers to plan from year to year. The
show's clear focus on the business
side of agriculture will also be an
advantage, he said.
Jocius said the permanent site is
within two hours drive of the home
of farmers representing almost 80 per
cent of gross farm receipts in
Ontario. He pointed out the
convenience of access from
highways 401, 402 and 403.
For the OSCIA, the attraction in
sponsoring the new show was the
ability to give more demonstrations
of conservation techniques to
farmers, said President Ken
McCurdy. He said the 7000 -member
organization would continue to
support the International Plowing
Match with a $5000 annual grant and
that "We hope the IPM will continue
to exist. It represents a lot of tradition
and pulls communities together."
Any competition between the two
shows won't likely surface until
1995. Next year's show is in Renfrew
in far eastern Ontario and runs from
September 20-24. The new show will
be from September 15-17. In 1995
the IPM is scheduled for Waterloo
Region and in 1996 it is in Hamilton -
Wentworth.
Supporters of the IPM don't see
the new show as a threat. Fred
Blackstein, chairman of the 1994
IPM said "It's just another Toronto
Farm Show, just a little farther
west."0