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The Rural Voice, 1989-06, Page 26ROUND BALE SUPER TARPS "Revolutionary" Super Strong Fabric • Woven and laminated poly -fabric is waterproof, rot proof and very strong • Grey on outside to reflect sun • All seams are heat sealed to prevent seam leakage • Rope hem around perimeter • 5 to 6 years of service if secured properly • "COVERED HAY PAYS" According to an OMAF Factsheet (Factsheet #88-052) "By providing protection for big bales, we would reduce losses by 15-20% over 'field stored' hay. If hay is worth $60 per ton, this amounts to typical losses of $9 to $12 per ton. One important factor lies in avoiding the use of construction grade polyethylene. Outer layer losses can be substantial for even an apparently small depth of material, as shown in this Figure. 4' DIAMETER OUTER 1' --- 8I Of BALE _ �T OUTER 3' --- 251 OUTER 6' --- 45% - � 1�'✓ '��� ONLY 1/4 OF BALE IN a CENTRE 2' �• ,1� Y See your local SUPER/TARP Dealer Boyd's Feed Mill Can Con Dave Holliday Ltd. Drayton Co-op John DeBoer Farm Equip. Jerome Feed & Seed McGavin Farm Equipment Listowel Farm Supply Ron Henderson Molesworth Farm Supply Teeswater Co-op Saugeen Farm Supply Howson & Howson Mills J&B Benedictus Harvey Forbes O.T. Coleman Highland Supply Markdale Ford Tractor Don Fluney Welding Carson Feed & Farm Supply Elmira Farm Service Ltd. Glen Elg Farm Service Huron Tractor Kurtzville R.R. 1 Newton Mount Forest Drayton Elora Lucknow Walton Listowel R.R. 3, St. Marys Molesworth Teeswater Walkerton Wingham Cargill Owen Sound R.R. 1, Dundalk Lion's Head New Dundee Dundalk Markdale R.R. 6 Shelburne Listowel Elmira R.R.1 Durham Blyth Exeter Walkerton 291-2220 595-8737 323-1340 638-3026 846-5388 528-2447 887-6365 291-2501 284-3395 291-3740 392-6862 881-0746 357-2700 366-2224 376-5830 923-2728 793-3335 696-2213 923-2240 986-3230 925-5792 291-1094 669-5408 369-5316 523-4244 235-1115 881-2231 — Dealer inquiries invited — FARM SERVICES R.R. 2, CHESLEY, ONTARIO 519-363-3308 24 THE RURAL VOICE �ry "The OPPMB knew that they were wrong," Findlay says. "The marketing board system is poorly run and not accurate enough as far as identifying a pig going through. It amounts to a quite a few dollars." Keeping accurate records is time- consuming but essential, Findlay says. "How many farmers really know what their days to market are? Do they really know what their herd is doing? Paperwork will tell them that." Findlay would like to see more farmers taking the disease-free route with better stock. "The Ontario Pork Industry Improvement Program is going a long way to help, but farmers have to depopulate to do it and the support program is no incentive." Findlay plans to introduce new bloodlines through artificial insemi- nation, which would allow him to eliminate one boar. He also wants to build an addition to the barn so all pigs can be finished, to set up better manure storage facilities to reduce the daily scraping, and possibly to buy a new feed mill. He would like to diversify into sheep production to supplement his income and make use of the hay crop. But low prices are keeping such plans on hold. On another front, the Findlays are grateful for the success of the bakery Margaret runs out of the farmhouse kitchen. The farm's location on busy Highway 10 provides a ready market for delicious breads, buns, and pork pies. The Findlays also sell frozen pork cuts and take orders for sides of pork. "It's a little more work but it pays better than shipping pigs to market," Findlay says, and the family likes the contact with the public. To determine the price, the cost of transport, slaughter, cutting, and wrap- ping is added to the weekly pool price. The price is slightly higher than at a butcher shop, but customers are will- ing to pay the extra for drug-free meat. Today's economic climate for hogs has not deterred Findlay, even though he is losing money. He has no regrets about having chosen to raise pigs. "We'll survive this because of the quality of our production and because we're into farming with a relatively low debt," he says. "If we can survive this period, we can survive anything. It is a real economic lesson."0