HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '91, 1991-03-20, Page 16Alb. FARMING ’91, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1991.
Farming ’91
Changing farming practices help promote conservation
planter. This is part of the tillage equipment for landowners to tryHere a farmer uses a no-till
conservation tillage trials.
BY BONNIE GROPP
Farmers have become more
aware over the last several years
that certain agricultural practices
may be having an adverse effect on
soil and water. Thanks to assis
tance from conservation authori
ties, the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food (OMAF) and the Ministry
of Natural Resources (MNR) farm
ers are being encouraged to adopt
land management practices that
allow for the sustained use of soil
and water resources.
The Land Management Program
of the Maitland Valley Conserva
tion Authority (MVCA) addresses
specifically the issues related to the
management of agricultural lands.
Methods to conserve soil have
become of primary concern. Paul
Weitendorf, Community Relations
Co-ordinator of MVCA notes that
soil is a resource that is often
overlooked, yet one of the most
important ones in our area. "Like
anything else," he says, "it will
only last so long if it’s continually
abused.”
Poor cropping practices have
been a factor in the deterioration of
the soil. Mr. Weitendorf explains
that in the previous two decades
there was a trend to plant the same
thing in the same field year after
year. This is hard on the soil mainly
because it opens it to wind and
water erosion. "1 have been to
areas where you can actually see
the soil washing down the rows,”
he said.
MVCA has been trying to get
farmers to use tillage techniques
R.R. 4 WINGHAM
This is a solid manure storage facility. Solid storage
containment area is in the foreground and a tank for liquids is
io the background.
that conserve more of the crop
residue on top, which slows down
water flow and wind. In 1990
MVCA staff assisted in the plant
ing of 14 tillage trials in the
Maitland watershed. These trials
help to fine-tune conservation till
age techniques to local conditions.
Farmers can borrow no-till planters
to try them out and there is a
technical staff ready to advise
them.
The MVCA works in conjunction
with OMAF and the Ausable-Bay-
field Conservation Authority to
offer services to farmers who are
making these changes. They work
through the Huron Soil and Water
Conservation District, a local group
of farmers that act as an advisory
board to projects and services.
A major survey of agriculture
land management practices is be
ing done by MVCA staff to provide
a data base of current farming
practices in order to measure the
effectiveness of soil conservation
assistance activities. The survey
will also look at landowners’ atti
tudes towards conservation prac
tices. This will give the MVCA
information to help them develop
new methods for promoting con
servation. The methodology for the
survey was completed last year and
in 1991 over 300 farmers will be
interviewed.
Tests done on streams and rivers
have shown that poor drainage
practices and rural waste manage
ment are leaving rivers contami
nated with bacteria, nutrients, and
sediment. MVCA educates farmers
on how to solve the problem and
provides assistance for making the
necessary changes.
MVCA staff also work to design
soil conservation structures to con
trol water and to hold water and
erosion back.
Twenty-five to 30 years ago the
government supported the removal
of trees around fields to increase
the amount of land that could be
planted according to Mr. Weiten
dorf. Since that time, however, it
has been realized that trees around
the fields, slow the wind, cutting
down erosion and making the
ground warmer in the spring.
MVCA offers roadside and wind
break trees to municipalities and
Continued on page A17
Maitland Valley Conservation Authority staff are planting
windbreak trees to help prevent water and wind erosion.
SOYS FROM
FIRST LINE
Maple Glen
OAC Scorpio
OAC Libra
Maple Donovan
PLANTING NORTHRUP KING
CORN FROM
INDEX NORTHRUP KING CHU
104 PX 9060 2550
104 N 2001 2650
104 PX9161 2700
109 PX 9214 2800
N 3624 2900
EDGE ALFALFA
MARCH
LEGEND ALFALFA
SPECIALS
New Symko 2 row barley $9.50/25 kg. with special purchase
of 5 x 25 kg. soybeans receive HISTICK for $14.50/pouch.
JOHN W. KING
357-2645