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The Citizen, 1996-03-20, Page 43Invading Species Hotline 1-800-563-7711 (INI AKIO ,111...1111N 1- AMA 1+1 Canadian Coast Guard 0 Ministry of Natural Resources _ Report sightings and get the latest information on invading species Help stop the invasion CgStle butkimg centre CALL US FOR YOUR HOME AND FARM BUILDING PROJECTS All your BUILDING LUMBER needs HARDWARE for farm, commercial, residential uses PLUMBING and ELECTRICAL supplies. POWER TOOLS and HAND TOOLS KITCHEN and BATHROOM cabinets and vanities. CARPETING and HARD SURFACE flooring Mason WINDOWS and DOORS LANGFORD ! Tot tgl BAYFIELD RD., 482-3995 CLINTON Value & Service you can Build on. OPEN: Monday to Friday 8 am. - 5:30 p.m. Saturdays 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. JOIN OUR CREDIT UNION and invest in your future! The credit card that has no fees. Up to $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance at No Cost MostelCotd . Farm Ci;;.;vioroty. 6ised seI,.+-• Your investments in this plan are lent back directly to farmers in the community - 20% Government Guarantee ADVANTAGES... • Investment Rates are higher • Chequing Costs are lower: personal cheques .400 Business cheques .500 - No other charges • Funds you invest are lent out to assist members in the community and not sent to a Head Office • Each member's combined deposits are insured to $60,000 plus each individual RRSP, RRIF and OHOSP are insured to $60,000. • Automatic teller machine can be accessed across Canada, U.S., and Europe 24 hours a day. CLINTON COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION 48 Ontario Street 118 Main Street North CLINTON 482:3467 EXETER 235-0640 OPEN: MON. to THURS. 9:00 am • 5:00 p.m. FRI, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. SERVING THE CO i MUNITY SINCE 1952 Two self propelled wheel trucks you can depend on MID-WESTERN MANURIGATING RR #5, Goderich FAST — EFFICIENT — AFFORDABLE 35,000 Gals. per hour 11 yrs. experience Self Propelled Boom Agitator and two Prop. Agitators Available Tom Franken (519) 524-1056 Don't hesitate Neil Hanna to call Farm safety check list • No Seat! NO RIDER! • Do not allow children to play with idle machinery • Leave hydraulic equipment in the "down position" • Lock brakes and remove keys from the ignition of parked tractors and self-propelled machines • Leave power take off (PTO) lever in neutral position • Keep machinery in good condition, particularly protective shielding, roll-over protective systems (ROPS) and seat belts • Safety training is essential before children are allowed to operate machinery. Supervision will continue to be needed until teens become experienced operators • Fence farm ponds, dugouts and manure storage with child proof fences • Place fixed ladders out of reach, or fit them with'a special barrier • Livestock facilities and operating machinery should be "off limits" to young children • Don't start unloading grain from wagons or bins until you have double checked that no one is inside • Set time aside at regular intervals for family safety instructions including rehearsing safety procedures and emergency phone numbers • Have a fenced in play area for small children • Chemicals, treated seed and veterinarian supplies should be stored in a locked and secure place THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1996. PAGE A-19. Agriculture 1996 Farming and nature Living side by side in harmony? By Bonnie Gropp They bring to nature a gentle beauty and their existence on this earth is no less valuable than our own. Yet, for some children of Mother Nature thriving amongst mankind often means finding a balance. Any overabundance on one side can mean the devestation of the other. While agriculture is about as close to nature as industry gets, it too is not exempt from striking a compromise. With the early thaw this past Jan- uary, Huron County has noted a substan- tial deer population in rural areas. "If it hadn't been for the meltdown, the deer in the area would have had trouble, but that baled them out and while the numbers don't appear to be too high, it has definitely been a record harvest," says Robert Pegg, a conserva- tion officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in Wingham. The practice of no-till has also been suggested as a contributing factor to the deer population due to the fact that it makes it easier for them to find food in the fields during the off-season. Herds in size of 20 or 30 deer have been reported in recent years, though Pegg says he does know of one place in Morris Twp., where a herd of about 80 had been spied. (Exact figures were unavailabe due to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union strike) The deer, Pegg says, will cover a lengthy distance, Erosion control Continued from A-18 accumulate in low lying areas. Tile in poorly drained areas of conservation tillage may help main- tain yields and allow normal field operation in accordance with the rest of the fields, says UTVCA research. As well as management tech- niques, crop rotation plays an important role in protecting the soil. A period of forages on the land allows the soil to recover the physical condition and counteract the onset of insect and disease problems which may result from monocropping. It is best to rotate sod crops with erosion-sensitive crops such as corn and soybeans, says the UTVCA report. Conservation tillage, which leaves residue over the land, helps protect the soil during the critical period of early spring, the time before a new crop emerges to slow erosion. The decreased soil com- paction and crusting also permits the development of an improved filtration system, resulting in faster absorption of water and less over- land run-off. Residue on the soil can also lessen the impact of severe rain and its ability to dislodge soil particles. Effective erosion control is not a one-method solution. It may include any combination of con- touring, terraces, modified tillage practices, tile drainage, tree wind- breaks, streambank buffers, grassed waterways or permanent vegetation in critical areas. Whatever the system, the protec- tion of topsoil for long-term pro- ductive farmland is critical. so tracking is important to maintain a balance. "We know of one deer that travelled to Lakelet from the Bluevale area every year to have her young, then would return. Though an influx of deer can cause damage to corn or winter wheat crops, Pegg says the ministry doesn't usually get a lot of com- plaints from farmers. "There is deer damage, but it is insignficant enought that farmers for the most part seem to accept it. I know of some who even put out the large round bales for them to feed on during the winter." Pegg adds that geese and raccoons are among the other animals which can give farmers the odd headache, but suggests that MNR likes to see agricul- turists as wildlife managers. "You want to have a good balance and I think we do here," says Pegg. "On the other side of things Huronia and the Barrie area are having ay roblem with an overpopulation of coyotes because they are taking the young fawns. Here this is not a concern because we still have groundhogs and mice so the coyotes concentrate on them. They won't often attack the bigger animals if they have enough small ones to live off." Maintaining the balance as far as deer is considered in this area, can be done with one annual hunt, Pegg feels. "The deer population is not increasing of late. It is pretty well stable and I think staying with the one hunt for now will keep it that way."