The Rural Voice, 1987-09, Page 34Patz
New Belt
Conveying Features
Model 1600C
(central -drive)
• Reversing drive can convey
feed in either direction
• Drive unit can be located at
various points underneath
conveyor
• Lengths: 10 to 200 feet
Model 1600E (end -drive)
• Motor mounts top or bottom
on the end
• Lengths: 4 to 60 feet
Both Models
• Elevate with smooth belt up to
15 (frozen feed, up to 5') and
with textured belt up to 30
• Optional adjustable elbow
allows elevating feed and
then conveying level
• High-volume capacity of 62
cubic feet (50 bushels) per
minute, depending on type of
feed and elevation
• Plow -offs allow dropping feed
at more than one point
• Central hopper allows
adding feed at any point
PROGRESSIVE
FARMING
R.R. 2, Wellesley
519-656-2709
Rannoch
519-229-6700
Courtney Farm Supplies
Plow Parts
We stock everything for your
plowing needs. Dealer for
Kongskilde and Kverneland
plows and cultivators
Shares Shins
Mouldboards
Ripley 519-395-2915
32 THE RURAL VOICE
NEWS
MEETING BOOSTS
It may seem that forage crops
haven't gotten enough attention relative
to the vital role they play in agriculture,
but this may not be true for much longer.
At a recent meeting held at the Uni-
versity of Guelph, two objectives were
addressed: to further the formation of a
new organization, the Ontario Forage
Council (OFC), and its larger, national
counterpart, the Canadian Forage Coun-
cil (CFC). Professor Ann Clark of the
university's crop science department
chaired the meeting of government and
industry representatives.
First to speak was Bill Robertson of
the Canadian Seed Growers Associa-
tion. As chairman of the steering com-
mittee for the CFC, he outlined the his-
tory of the CFC, noting that at a National
Forage Symposium in Ottawa back in
November of 1981 it was recommended
that a forage council be established.
Support for the idea has been grow-
ing steadily, Robertson said. In the fall
of 1986, the CFC put out an information
brochure with a tear -off return form.
Well over 900 responses have been sent
in from across the country, the greatest
number coming from Alberta, Sas-
katchewan, Ontario, and Manitoba.
"There is a critical need to focus at-
tention on some of the problems" in
agriculture, Robertson pointed out, cit-
ing soil erosion and declining research
as examples. The formation of the CFC,
he said, would be an important step in
solving some of these problems.
The formation of the CFC has al-
ready been endorsed by the four West-
ern provinces. Quebec, the Maritimes,
and Ontario are in the process of form-
ing their own forage councils. After the
regional meetings are over, there will be
a general meeting for all of Canada,
perhaps late this year or early in 1988.
Ontario is considered a crucial area
because of its large dairy industry.
Dr. Jack Winch of the CFC, who also
spoke in Guelph, said that the CFC, a
national body composed of regional
groups, will develop national policy. He
added that there has been no group that
speaks solely for forages in Canada.
The CFC, he said, will provide a unified
voice for Canadian forage producers
and the related forage industry and will
collect and disseminate information in
co-operation with other organizations.
FORAGE COUNCIL
The issue of funding for the CFC has
to be resolved, but the long-term plan is
for nationally oriented agencies and
companies to provide the money. A
number of companies have expressed an
interest in donating.
Dr. Herman Davidson of the special
crops section of Agriculture Canada
noted that while forage crops come
under his department, they stand out
because the producing sector is so large,
so important, and lacks an organization
to represent it. Provincial governments
support the formation of the CFC, he
said, and both the CFC and OFC will be
industry based and industry led.
He added that the CFC will be the
initial point of contact for import/export
groups or industry. Quality standards,
much like those in the U.S., will be
established. The CFC will also address
the need for the transfer of technology
within the forage industry.
In response to a concern that the
OFC will duplicate the services of other
organizations and in the end be compet-
ing with groups such as the Ontario
Forage Crop Committee (OFCC) for
members and funding, Dr. Winch said
that the OFCC is research driven,
whereas the OFC will be industry driv-
en. He added that the OFC will be an
organization of organizations, collect-
ing and distributing all forage -related
information put out by other groups.
Among the groups represented at the
meeting there was general, if sometimes
qualified, support for the formation of
the OFC. The Ontario Beef Producers
for Change Inc. want the OFC to be a
strong organization. The Hay Producers
Association gave a qualified yes to the
OFC, but wants more information. The
Fertilizer Institute, the Ontario Seed
Growers, the Ontario Ministry of Agri-
culture, and the Milk Marketing Board
are all supportive. The Ontario Soil and
Crop Improvement Association wants
to know more about funding, member-
ship, and organization before fully
committing itself to the idea.
The meeting underlined the impor-
tance ar forages in Ontario — the dairy
producers estimate that the approximate
worth of forages to the total $10 billion
annual dairy industry in Ontario is $3
billion.0
Robert Thrasher