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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-06-05, Page 15A Look at Agriculture Where is Your Nitrogen! Ralph deVries, Crop Consultant with Howson & Howson Ltd. Two weeks ago we had some very heavy rains which may have affected the amount of nitrogen that could have been lost due to leaching or denitrification (lost to the atmosphere because of the lack of oxygen). There are some things one might consider to assist in estimating how much nitrogen might be lost. The first thing to consider is the form of nitrogen (N) that was applied_ Was the nitrogen applied as urea (or anhydrous) just before the heavy rains, most of the N is still in the ammonium form which does not leach or denitrify. The ammonium nitrogen is slowly converted into nitrate nitrogen with time and warm temperatures. If the N was applied as 28 per cent Nitrogen then the loss of N will be greater because this form of nitrogen is approximately 50 per cent nitrate nitrogen. The second thing to consider is how long the water ponded on the soil surface. On fine soils such as those with mostly clays, denitrification losses can be very high. Any area which was flooded for more than two to three days would have little nitrate in nitrogen left in the soil. It may be wise to apply some extra nitrogen to these areas if the soil conditions dry out and the crop that is planted there survives. Fields that have no water on the surface within 24 hours after a rain will have very minimal loss of nitrogen due to denitrification. Lastly, how much water actually moved through the soil? This is the toughest to estimate. because it depends on how much water was in the soil before it rained and the texture of the soil. A three to four inch rain will move the nitrate N anywhere from four to 24 inchei deep into the soil. Some of this nitrogen would enter the tiles but most would be available for corn. If the crop has a shallow root system the nitrogen may be out of reach for the crop. As the soil dries out the nitrogen tends to move upward in the soil. So far I may not have provided much of an answer for the field or part of a field that you may be concerned about. The only way that you can be more certain about the amount of nitrogen available to your crop is to take a soil nitrogen test. Take some precautions that the nitrogen test is taken and handled properly. The soil nitrogen test is not like any other soil test. It is best to take the cores to a 24 inch soil depth. The samples should also be kept cool; as the soil sample warms the nitrogen forms will change. Two weeks ago we received three to four inches of rain. In many fields with good drainage this is not serious but in some of the poorer drained areas this can be a problem. Denitrification will be a concern for the poorer drained fields. Leaching will be more of a problem to the shallow rooted crops. Soil nitrogen tests can be a tool used to identify problem areas before your crop turns yellow in areas. Firewood Hard Maple or Ash SLABWOOD Limited Time Offer - Call now - $130./17 cu. yd. Truck Load Delivered within 20 miles Mileage charge Beyond That Large Quantity Discounts When You Haul!!! Craig Hardwoods Ltd. Auburn, Ont. 519-526-7220 by inta•ci `Alts Mark Coulthard ORGANIC LAWN CARE Organic lawn care is a complete lawn construction, maintenance and renovation program that places equal importance on the growth and development of lawn grasses and on soil micro and macro-organ- isms. The goal of all lawn care products should be to enhance and pro- mote natural processes in the lawn. Encouraging a strong, healthy soil of micro-organisms will ensure a healthy lawn. Lawn grasses have a strong influence on soil formation. One grass plant is capable of producing 375 miles of fibrous roots in a healthy lawn. Many living organisms live around soil particles and roots. In one pound of root zone, there are 930 billion organisms of bacte- ria, fungal and actimonycetes. In 1,000 square feet of turf theses same organisms weigh about 70 pounds. These organisms promote soil through decomposition of plant matter and lawn products. Both soil and lawn grasses are interdependent. Carefully consider your lawn maintenance program to ensure a healthy, active lawn. Next Focus: Naturally Chemical See this space each Focus for a valuable Weed Man Turf Tip. itIra•d lsirottc WE CARE FOR YOUR LAWN Goderich Proprietors TOLL-FREE 524-2424 Christine & M Coulthard ark 1.800-387-0342 .„itie, en 0.e.e ea/Amaze" THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1996 PAGE 15. Brussels Livestock report Hayter steers avg. $81.08, hit $92.25 mark The market at Brussels Livestock for the week ending May 31 was: fed cattle, 701; cows, 282; veal calves, 147; lambs, 115; stockers, 1,042 and pigs, light run. Fed steers and heifers sold fully steady at Brussels Livestock but the cows traded $2 to $3 lower. On Thursday veal sold on a strong $5 higher while lambs sold steady. All classes of stockers sold steady. There were 407 steers on offer selling from $78 to $84 to the high of $92.25. Forty steers consigned by Allan Hayter, Varna, averaging 1,336 lbs. sold for an average of $81.08 with sales to $92.25. Five steers consigned by 1-Targlen Ho1st. Inc., Crediton, averaging 1,311 lbs. sold for an average of $80.01 with sales to $92. Seventeen steers consigned by Les Brown, Shelburne, averaging 1,171 lbs. sold for an average of $81.75 with sales to $92. Fifteen steers consigned by Terry McCarthy, Dublin, averaging 1,600 lbs. sold for an average of $78.97 with sales to $88.75. Twelve steers consigned by Murray Shiell, Wingham, averaging 1,460 lbs. sold for an average of $79.96 with sales to $88. Twelve steers consigned by Jerry Goens, Highgate, averaging 1,308 Seilis attend DMC seminar Joe and Debbie. Seili of Huron Feeding Systems in Brussels, Ontario attended DMC's sales and service seminar on grain handling and drying equipment. DMC manufactures products for on the farm drying and storage of grain. For the past 30 years, DMC has produced the Stir-Ator stirring machine for the batch drying of grain. DMC has continuously introduced new products through- out its history, with the Calc-U- Dryer, continuous flow out of bin grain dryer being the latest introduction to the marketplace. At the seminar, the Seilis learned the latest on sales and service of DMC's Calc-U-Dryer, continuous flow out of bin grain dryer, with capacities of 300 B.P.H. to 2,000 B.P.H. Also discussed were sales and service tips on all other DMC products. DMC holds these meetings annually for their dealers to keep up to date on all industry changes. Howatts host 4-H On May 21 the Be!grave, Brussels Beef 4-H Club met at the home of Doug and Sherry Howatt. Members talked about beef nutrition. Doug gave a tour of their slatted-floor beef barn, and showed the feed that he gives his cattle, silage, watermelons, carrots and cookies. When everyone went to the house, they first did the roll call then read for a while. They discussed different kinds of vitamins and minerals. Then, they wrapped it all up with a barbecued beef sausage on a bun. lbs. sold for an average of $78.86 with sales to $87.25. Two steers consigned by George Chettleburgh, Wingham, averaging 1,377 lbs. sold for an average of $83.18 with sales to $86. Eighteen steers consigned by Don Shiell, Wing- ham, averaging 1,337 lbs. sold for an average of $81.48 with sales to $85.50. Five steers cons;gned by Machan Construction, Monkton, averaging 1,425 lbs. sold for an average of $81.34 with sales to $84.25. There were 275 heifers on offer selling $78 to $84 to the high of $92. Two heifers consigned by Bill and Blair Priddle, Badjeros averaging 1,162 lbs. sold for an average of $84.73 with sales to $92. Fourteen heifers consigned by Mux Lea Farms, Woodstock, averaging 1,258 lbs. sold for an average of $83.10 with sales to $90. Thirty-two heifers consigned by Hugh Love, Atwood, averaging 1,159 lbs. sold for an average of $82.85 with sales to $88.25. Seven heifers consigned by Woodham Farms, Woodham, averaging 1,065 lbs. sold for an average of $75.27 with sales to $86.75. Five heifers consigned by Wm. Jeffery Jr., Stratford, averaging 1,136 lbs. sold for an average of $77.86 with sales to $85.25. Nine heifers consigned by Dennis Lamport, Crediton, averaging 1,156 lbs. sold for an average of $83.63 with sales to $84.85. Two heifers consigned by Dan Jeffery, Strat- ford, averaging 1,255 lbs. sold for $84.50. Nine heifers consigned by Paul Aldwinkle, Varna, averaging 1,164 lbs. sold for an average of $80.75 with sales to $83. Six heifers consigned by Jeff and Sheila Corbett, Staffa, averaging 1,233 lbs. sold for an average of $80.88 with sales to $83. One heifer consigned by Geo., Paul and Mark Pennington, Mildmay, weighing 1,245 lbs. sold for $82.50. There were 282 cows on offer selling from $35 to $53 to the high of $62. One cow consigned by Allan and Dorothy Martin, Listowel, weighing 1,580 lbs. sold for $62. Three cows consigned by Merle Baumait, Listowel, averag- ing 1,305 lbs. sold for an average of $53.58 with sales to $60. Two cows consigned by Nick Lefor, Brussels, averaging 1,515 lbs. sold for an average of $54.22 with sales to $58.50. There were 18 bulls on offer selling from $48 to $57.50 to the high of $66. One Limo bull consigned by Robt. Gowing, Chesley, weighing 1,955 lbs. sold for $66. One Limo bull consigned by Earl Messerschmidt, Mitchell, weighing 1,885 lbs. sold for $65. There were 147 veal on offer: Beef, $80 to $109; Holstein, $70 to $85; Plain Holstein, $50 to $65. Fourteen veal consigned by Murray Ovens and Assoc. Inc., King City, averaging 579 lbs. sold for an average of $59.76 with sales to $102. Four veal consigned by Martin Metske, Lucknow, averag- ing 634 lbs. sold for an average of $72.77 with sales to $94. One veal consigned by Eric Nonkes, Auburn, weighing, 585 lbs. sold for $91. Lambs, under 50 lbs., sold $123 to $135; 50 - 79 lbs., $115 to $157; 80 - 94 lbs., $134 to $146. Sheep, sold $26 to $65. Goats, sold $20 to $78. Steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $65 to $92; 500 - 599 lbs., $61 to $85; 600 - 699 lbs., $65.75 to $87.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $68 to $83.75; 800 - 899 lbs., $69 to $86; and 900 lbs. and over, $65 to $74.35. Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $65 to $85; 400 - 499 lbs., $59 to $87; 500 - 599 lbs., $58 to $82; 600 - 699 lbs., $58 to $79.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $66 to $78.25. and 800 lbs. and over, $65 to $74/.85. arm BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 9 a.m. Finished Cattle & Cows THURSDAYS 10:00 a.m. Dropped Calves Veals followed by Goats Sheep & Lambs FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle 1:00 p.m. Pigs BRUSSELS 887-6461