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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-03-31, Page 19NAME AGE \\>• / / • y / /// Contest Details on Page 3 s .411/4 • ww. ADDRESS PHONE 2ainton's Old In Downtown Blyth 523-4740 Contest Details on Page 3 NAME AGE • ' 1,,Iiiist:7; 1 1 IOW— t - N1V IA 1 Or apt tt *It, .%* • .\\ A L.__ _ }_r• ADDRESS PHONE OLDFIELD Eactre PRO HARDWARE 'haft BRUSSELS & RADIO SHACK 887-6851 Contest Details on Page 3 NAME AGE ADDRESS PHONE Blyth Decoratin Blyth 523-4930 • SERVIC E Paint and De btores9rng ati wC I , hI III you w,rn yr, poor, II I CJ/1 yOti 00.0 J1,11 mont•v L /4 1/...) THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993. PAGE 19. Approach no-till options cautiously, says advisor By Brian Hall A number of growers have been asking about tillage options for unplowed fields. The options of no-till or zone tillage should be approached with caution, and not be viewed as rescue treatments for last fall's By Jane Muegge Rural Organization Specialist Huron County Perth Cdunty "Neighbours Beings Neighbours", a rural education organization, is hosting a community development forum "It's Your Move! Building Healthy Communities". This forum initiated by the volunteer based organization has received funding from the United Way of Stratford- Perth and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and will explore ways to develop community spirit and action. The forum is open to anyone is the community interested in working toward building strong, healthy and interdependent communities. The forum starts off with the keynote speaker, John Lord discussing "Community Change; Cooperation and Empowerment". Next, a panel presentation "Sharing Approaches that work in Communities" will feature a representative from each of the four O.M.A.F. Community planning pilot projects - St. Joseph's Island, Ramsay Township, Milverton- Mornington and West Huron. These projects show the development of community-based solutions to local issues, using local resources to strengthen the community. In the afternoon, the participants will have an Alfalfa disease causes death By Brian Hall Verticillium Wilt is a serious disease of alfalfa that causes death of alfalfa plants, reducing stands and yields. The disease begins to appear in second year stands but is much more severe in third and fourth year stands. Verticillium Wilt plugs the "plumbing" of the alfalfa plant, limiting movement of nutrients and water from the root to the top of the plant. Often the first sign of the disease is a wilting of the plant, with a dropping of tips during the heat of the day. The disease is spread from older infected fields to younger fields by harvesting equipment. In fields where the disease is known to occur, growers plant varieties resistant (R), moderately resistant (MR) and susceptible (S) to the disease. In a recent research trial, alfalfa varieties resistant to the disease were compared for yield to those varieties which were susceptible. Resistant varieties outyielded the susceptible varieties by 1/2 tonne/acre in the second year, and 1.2 tonnes/acre in the third year. This trial gives an indication of what effect the disease can have on yields and how important it is to plant resistant varieties where the disease is present in fields. Some varieties, like Oneida VR, which are resistant to the disease have shown excellent persistence on Verticillium Wilt infested farms. Although not a top yielder, it fits in well where one wants four or more production years. conditions. Tillage is only one part of a successful crop production system. Fertility, weed, insect and disease control, drainage and variety selection are among the other things you need to review before opportunity to "Explore the Possibilities" and share their expertise in discussing groups. The closing speaker, Janet Homer will address "Rallying the Community Spirit". The purpose of this forum is to help build healthy communities and create effective change for the future. It's your move! Building Healthy Communities is Thursday, April 15, 9:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. at the Elma Community Centre, Atwood. The cost for the day is $15. which includes lunch. Pre-register by April 7 by writing or calling "Neighbours Being Neighbours", c/o Mary E. McIntosh, R.R. #7, St. Marys, N4X 1C9 or 519-393-6232. Child Care is available for $5. per family, if advance notice is given. Continued from page 18 average of $99.46 with sales to $102.75. One heifer consigned by Robert Webber, Loretto, weighing 1120 lbs. sold for $101.75. There were 282 cows on offer selling from $49 to $68 with sales to $79.75. One cow consigned by Roy Dolmage, Londesboro, weighing 1610 lbs. sold for $79.75. One cow consigned by Schuter Bros., Chepstow, weighing 1290 lbs. sold for $77.75. Four cows consigned by Dick Fitzsimmons, Cargill, averaging 1227 lbs. sold for an average of $60.18 with sales to $75.25. There were 173 veal on offer selling from $74.50 to $97 to the high of $109.50. Three veal consigned by Dave Elphick, Lucknow, averaging 543 lbs. sold for an average of $99.62 with sales to $109.50. Seven veal consigned changing tillage systems. Fields with poor drainage, low fertility, high weed pressure, compacted fields and fields with ruts should be avoided, as should growing corn after corn no-till, and wheat after corn in all systems. Two words of caution from other farmers in trying a different tillage system, are "start small" and "go slow". Before buying any equipment you should look for alternative ways to try a new system with the idea of expanding acres in future years. Peter Johnson, soil and crop advisor, Middlesex County, has some other suggestions for spring tillage options. Spring plowing should not leave the soil "shiny". Shiny soil is an indication of compaction and destruction of soil structure. To avoid the soil drying but, the soil should be worked right after plowing. Soil should be dry to the depth of plowing. Patience is a key. Spring discing can also cause soil compaction where the soil is not dry when worked. If discing to two inches deep, then the soil should be dry down to three inches. If there is moisture at the bottom of where the disc works, then smearing and compaction may occur. How can you tell if the soil is dry by Charles Codd, Fordwich, averaging 546 lbs. sold for an average of $87.45 with sales to $109. Four veal consigned by Everett Stege, Palmerston, averaging 598 lbs. sold for an average of $93.76 with sales to $104. Lambs, under 50 lbs., sold $143 to $146; 50 - 80 lbs., $125 to $139; and over 80 lbs., $91 to $115. Stockers: steers, 400 - 500 lbs., sold $115 to $133; 500 - 600 lbs., $105 to $120; 600 - 700 lbs., $100 to $115; 700 - 800 lbs., $100 to $110; and 800 lbs. and over, $90 to $110. Heifers, 400 - 500 lbs., sold $110 to $125; 500 - 600 lbs., $105 to $115; 600 - 700 lbs., $100 to $110; and 700 lbs. and over, $90 to $105. The Easter Lamb and Goat sale will be held on Saturday, April 3. enough to disc or plow? Begin by digging down to the depth the soil will be worked. Take a handful of soil and make a "ball". Push your thumb into the ball. If the soil breaks apart, the soil is ready to work. If your thumb leaves an imprint, the soil is not ready to work. If your thumb leaves an imprint, the soil is not ready to work. Spring chisel plowing requires soil to be dry down to five inches of depth, and is not likely an option in many situations. Peter also offers some Blyth area farmers may be grow- ing a crop this summer to be give away to the needy of other parts of the world. A meeting of interested farmers will be held at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church on Tuesday, April 6 to discuss growing a com- munity crop for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a farmer-run organization that takes gifts of food from farmers and ships it to areas suggestions for no-tilling soybeans into cornstalks. Tillage type drills (i.e., Great Plains, Tye) and tillage planters are best operated at a 10° to 45° angle to the corn rows. Other drills such as the John Deere No-Till Drill should be operated in the same direction as the corn rows, but not on top of the corn row. There is also a yield advantage for soybeans grown in narrow rows versus wide rows under no-till. This is due to the shorter soybean plant which occurs under no-till, thus benefitting from narrow rows. of the world where people are in need of help. The proposal to grow a crop first started among farmers from the Christian Reformed Church but farmers in other congregations have also expressed their interest. Fred VanderSterre said there has already been an offer of some land and one seed company has offered seed corn at half price. Anyone interested is invited to attend the meeting. `Neighbours being Neighbours' hosts forum on communities 282 cows on offer sell to high of $79 Blyth-area farmers may grow crops for Canadian Foodgrains Bank