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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-12, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12,1992. Summer seeding option Livestock report Cows on steady demand BY HARVEY WRIGHT OMAF, GUELPH Summer seeding of forage stands has been promoted as a seeding option for about five years in Ontario. Some farmers have routinely seeded this way with success, while others have had complete failures. What have we learned? Results have been most consistent on sandy loams and loams. When these soils are packed after seeding to ensure good soil to seed contact, less rainfall is required to get good germination. These soils are also less subject to heaving the following spring. There have been a lot of failures on clay loams and heavier silt loams. Even with packing it is more difficult to get good seed-soil contact and the top inch of soil can dry out quickly. Thus seed may sit for days before germination. Seed does not germinate before germination. Seed that does not germinate before August 20 will produce small plants with short roots that are subject to heaving in March-April. The combination of slow germination and heaving has By Keith Roulston Speaking of Farming Stable Funding question a classic dilemma The current debate raging over whether or not stable funding provi­ sions to help General Farm Organizations (GFO's) by forcing all farm­ ers to pay a registration fee to the government, follows the lines of many long-time arguments: the rights of the individual or the rights of the group and the responsibility of the individual to contribute to the group. The "individual rights" proponents argue that they shouldn't be forced to support a GFO against their wishes...that if they choose to ignore all the organizations like the National Farmers Union, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, it's their business, and they shouldn't be forced to register and pay a registration fee in order to get government programs such as the Farm Tax Rebate. On the other side, people who have put in long hard hours fighting for the rights of fanners are getting tired of people who are freeloading on their efforts. While the idea that they might not get the farm tax rebate irritates the opponets of stable funding, it took a lot of slugging by OFA close to 20 years ago to win that rebate. Non-OFA members have been getting that rebate for years without contributing to make it happen. The opponents of the plan say if these groups want members, they should be prepared to sell themselves to farmers one at a time on a member by member plan. Volunteers who keep these groups going argue that they've been using so much energy recruiting members that they have little left to fight for farmers. Actually, as Karl Braeker, an OFA director from South Bruce point­ ed out, stable funding is not really new. After World War II a bill was passed to allow townships to impose a levy on farm lands to support the Federation of Agriculture. Over the years, however, that levy didn't gen­ erate enough income to support Federation activities, especially after the OFA decided to go to individual memberships that offered more ser­ vice, following the loss of the GFO vote in the late 1960s. Some of the opponents to stable funding have been hard-working volunteers for the farm movement themselves and have a legitimate argument. Too few, however, have taken on the responsibility of being active in the farm cause. They’ve been willing to sit back and let others do the work for them, and let others pay the bill for those efforts. Per­ haps if all farmers had done their duty there wouldn't be a call for stable funding legislation in the first place.*** Ontario Weeds (Publication 505) has recently been revised, OMAF reports. Copies can be purchased at $15 each plus GST from the Gov­ ernment Bookstore, Main Floor, 880 Bay St., Toronto, M7A 1N8. Orders will be accepted by VISA or Mastercard. Cheques are to be made payable to the "Treasurer of Ontario" and will be accepted as pre­ payment. been fatal to a lot of summer seedings. I no longer recommend summer seeding on clay loams without detailed discussion with the grower. Sometimes plans to summer seed should be abandoned because of moisture conditions. If the seedbed is quite dry and no rain is predicted, one should consider waiting until the following spring. The heavier the soil texture, the more questionable the drainage, and the fewer the heat units, the riskier the gamble. I have often listed August 10 as a desirable seeding date, and August 20 as the absolute cutoff for summer seeding of alfalfa based mixtures in the Guelph area. The earlier the better - even as early as August 1. The odds of getting rain, and thus germination by August 20, become better with earlier seeding. Be cautious recommending herbicides in September. A week's delay in growth due to herbicide effect can be critical to over winter survival of alfalfa. Winter annuals will be gone after the first cut. In summary, summer seeding has Continued on page 18 The sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending Aug. 7 were: fed cattle, 841; cows, 150; veal calves, 220; lambs and goats, 65; stockers, 425; and pigs, 233. The market at Brussels Livestock was $2 lower with cows on a steady demand. There were 487 steers on offer selling from $78 to $89.50 to the high of $97.25. Fifteen steers consigned by John Barbour, Orangeville averaging 1286 lbs. sold for an average of $92.16 with sales to $97.25 purchased by Star Brand Packers. Forty-two steers consigned by W. B. Pletch Co., Ltd., Rockwood averaging 1317 lbs. sold for an average of $87.97 with sales to $94.75. Thirteen steers consigned by Jim Howatt, Londesborough averaging 1310 lbs. sold for an average of $87.57 with sales to $93.75. Twenty-eight steers consigned by Gerald Geisel, Elmira averaging 1488 lbs. sold for an average of $84.94 with sales to $91. Seven steers consigned by $87.85 with sales to $89.75. Fourteen heifers consigned by Shantel Farms, Petersburg averaging 1241 lbs. sold for an average of $86.39 with sales to $89.10. Three heifers consigned by Gary Mikel, Mitchell averaging 1163 lbs. sold for an average of $85.09 with sales to $88.50. One heifer consigned by Yvonne Pushelburg, Stratford weighing 1090 lbs. sold for $88.25. Fifteen heifers consigned by MuxLea, Woodstock averaging 1221 lbs. sold for an average of $86.22 with sales to $88.10. Seven heifers consigned by Gordon Dougherty, Goderich averaging 1138 lbs. sold for an average of $85 with sales to $88. Twelve heifers consigned by Lome Hackett. Lucknow averaging 1096 Leonard Black, Proton Station, averaging 1183 lbs. sold for an average of $83.76 with sales to $90.25. Fifteen steers consigned by Paul Millsap, Creemore averaging 1345 lbs. sold for an average of $85.32 with sales to $90.25. Fourteen steers consigned by David Millsap, Creemore averaging 1319 lbs. sold for an average of $86.92 with sales to $89.75. Twenty-two steers consigned by Cunningham Farms, Lucan, averaging 1362 lbs. sold for an average of $84.70 with sales to $87.75. WHYTE BROS. FARMS Limited is ready to receive your 1992 WH EAT WHYTE BROS. FARMS LTD. • WE ARE AGENTS FOR THE ONTARIO WHEAT BOARD R.R. 2 - SEAFORTH 527-1143 There were 342 heifers on offer selling from $79.75 to $89.75 with sales to $93.75. Fourteen heifers consigned by Wm. Bennett & Sons Farms Ltd., Gorrie averaging 1099 lbs. sold for an average of $89.99 with sales to $93 purchased by MGI Packers. Twenty-five heifers consigned by Keith Elder, Chesley averaging 1215 lbs. sold for an average of $84.53 with sales to $91.25. Two heifers consigned by Paul Aidwinkle, Varna averaging 1187 lbs. sold for an average of lbs. sold for an average of $85.22 with sales to $87.75. Eleven heifers consigned by Circle D Ranch, Dundalk, averaging 1017 lbs. sold for an average of $83.46 with sales to $86.75. There were 150 cows on offer selling from $51.75 to $62.50 to the high of $70. One cow consigned by Dennis Dolmage, Londesborough weighing 1530 lbs. sold for $70. One cow consigned by Lan-Car Farms Mildmay, weighing 1370 lbs. sold for $68.25. Two cows consigned by Abe Vanderveen, Brussels averaging 1445 lbs. sold for an average of $62.84 with sales to $66.75. There were 220 veal on offer selling from $66 to $86 with sales to $98. Three veal consigned by Robt. Haelzle, Teeswater averaging 653 lbs. sold for an average of $94.80 with sales to $98. Four veal consigned by John Winger, Palmerston averaging 608 lbs. sold for an average of $83.44 with sales to $97. Two veal consigned by Harding Acres Ltd., Gorrie BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 9 a.m. THURSDAYS FRIDAYS Finished Cattle& Cows 11:00 a.m. Dropped Calves Veals followed by Goats Sheep & Lambs 11:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle 1:00 p.m. Pigs CROP averaging 690 lbs. sold for an average of $82.92 with sales to $94.50. Lambs under 50 lbs. sold 79 - 1.13; 50-79 lbs., 91 - 1.15; 80-94 lbs., 78 - 89; and over 95 lbs., 72 - 75. There were 223 pigs on offer. Forty to 50 lbs. sold to a high of 57.5 cents per lb.; 50 to 60 lb. to a high of 55 cents per lb.; and 70 to 80 lb., to a high of 54 cents per lb. /p* RURAL VOICE Rf IMGAZVf 0FDC AGRKUTURM MXJSTRY Don't Delay - Subscribe Today The Rural Voice Produced by people with farming In their blood. Serving more than 15,000 readers In the region. One year for $16.05; two years for $26.75 (GST Included in prices above) The Rural Voice Box 429, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0 V 519-523-4311 > TOWNSHIP OF WEST WAWANOSH NOTICE The West Wawanosh Township Municipal Office will be closed week of August 17-August 21,1992. Joan Armstrong Clerk Township of West Wawanosh