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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-07-10, Page 14arm Spontaneous combustion threat for wet hay crop TUESDAYS 9 a.m. THURSDAYS 10:00 a.m. FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Finished Cattle & Cows Dropped Calves Veals followed by Goats Sheep & Lambs Stocker Cattle Pigs BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES BRUSSELS 887-6461 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 PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1996 Brussels Livestock report Strong demand pushes fed cattle, cow prices up The sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending July 5 were: fed cattle, 387; cows, 138; veal calves, 208; lambs, 183; and stockers, 579. The fed cattle at Brussels Livestock sold on a strong demand at prices $2 higher. The cows also sold $2 higher. On Thursday the veal traded under pressure at prices $5 lower. However, the lambs sold $5 to $10 higher. On Friday stockers sold steady to last week. There were 236 fed steers on offer selling from $75 to $86 to the high of $100.50. A Charolais steer consigned by Allan Cunningham of Lucan, weighing 1,370 lbs. sold for By Harold K. House, P. Eng. Beef and Dairy Structures and Equipment Specialist Lives have been lost and hay crops destroyed because of fires caused by spontaneous combustion. When the weather doesn't co- operate many farmers try to store hay before it is properly cured. If the hay crop is put into the mow above 20 - 25 per cent moisture content, spontaneous combustion may occur. A hay crop that is placed too wet into a mow will rapidly heat. If the mow is so large that heat loss is restricted, the internal temperature will rise. As the temperature rises above 130°F (55°C), a chemical reaction occurs and may sustain itself. This ,reaction does not require oxygen, but the flammable gases produced are at a temperature above their ignition point. These gases will ignite when they come in contact with oxygen. Check your hay regularly. If you detect a slight caramel odour or a distinct musty smell, chances are your hay is heating. What do you do? First of all, make yourself a simple probe that can be inserted into the hay mass to check the temperature. A probe can be made from a 10 foot piece of electrical tubing. Rivet a hardwood pointed dowel to one end and drill six 1/2 inch diameter holes in the tube just above the dowel. Drive the probe into the hay mass and lower a candy thermometer on a long string into,the probe. The hermometer should be left for 10 minutes to ensure an accurate eating. Watch for the following cmperatures: 150°F (65°C) **ENTERING THE DANGER ZONE. Check temperature daily. 160°F (71°C) **DANGER! Measure temperature every four hours and inspect mow. $100.50 with his total offering of 25 steers averaging 1,322 lbs. selling for the overall price of $83.68. Thirteen steers consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms, Woodstock, averaging 1,438 lbs. sold for an average of $83.86, to the top of $89.50. Twenty-two steers consigned by Kada Farms, Bluevale, averaging 1,322 lbs. sold for an average price of $81.81 with sales to $88. A Charolais steer consigned by Alton O'Neil, Lucan, weighing 1,440 lbs. sold for $87 to Dominion Meats, with his total offering of 22 steers, averaging 1,366 lbs. selling for an overall average of $82.70. 175°F (80°C) **CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT! Wet hay down and remove from barn. 185°F (85°C) **HOT SPOTS AND POCKETS MAY BE EXPECTED. Flames will likely develop when heating hay comes in contact with oxygen. 212°F (100°C) ** CRITICAL! Temperature rise is rapid above this point. Hay will almost certainly ignite. CAUTION: Before entering the mow, place long planks on top of the hay. Do not attempt to walk on the hay mass itself. Pockets may have already burned out under the hay surface. Always tie a rope around your waist and have a second person on the other end in a safe location pull you out should the surface of the hay collapse into a fire pocket. Extreme caution should be taken when fighting a hay fire if hay has been treated with chemical preservatives. Hay treated with preservatives containing ethoxyquin and BHT (butylated hydroxytolucnc) will produce hydrogen cyanide gas at around 240°F (I15°C). This gas is very deadly. Additives containing primarily propionic acid do not produce hydrogen cyanide during a fire. Many farmers sprinkle salt on hay as it is stored, in an effort to prevent hay fires. However, tests have shown that salt has no effect on controlling spontaneous com- bustion. Dry ice, liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas pumped into the hay will help prevent combustion by eliminating the oxygen from the hay mass. Spontaneous combustion is not an accident. By following good storage practices, not only will spontaneous combustion be avoided, but a higher quality of hay will be obtained. A steer consigned by George Poortinga, Woodham, weighing 1,185 lbs. sold for $85.50. Five steers consigned by Eric Scheur- water, Paisley, averaging 1,122 lbs. sold for an average of $79.01 with sales to $84. A rwf steer consigned by Phil Conlin, Ailsa Craig, weighing 1,400 lbs. sold for $83. A herf. steer consigned by Bill Salter, Gowanstown, weighing 1,455 lbs. sold for $83. There were 143 fed heifers on offer selling from $75 to $86 with sales to $91.50. Fourteen heifers consigned by Mux-Lea Farms, Woodstock, averaging 1,279 lbs. Leadership program in 8th year By Chuck Bokor Program Co-ordinator, OMAFRA Rural, agricultural and commun- ity organizations are undergoing dramatic changes in response to an increasing and sometimes over- whelming demand for their services. Leadership in Action is a skills program which has been developed for volunteers and leaders of organizations and communities across Ontario. Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Leadership in Action is in its eighth year, and because of high deinand, has been run twice per year for the past four years. It is a dynamic, hands-on, seminar for active members of associations and groups in rural Ontario. The fall program is being held from Tuesday, Sept. 17 to Friday, Sept. 20 at the YMCA Geneva Park Conference Centre, on the shores of Lake Couchiching, 10 minutes northeast of Orillia. Leadership in Action has something to offer the many forms which leadership takes in the typical volunteer organization. It is open to active volunteers and board or executive members of rural organizations who are enthusiastic and willing to develop new skills. The program supports the maintenance and development of strong leadership demanded in rural communities across Ontario during these changing times. The price is right at $300, including meals, facilities, professional instruction and lots of resources to take home. If you are interested in being part of Leader- ship in Action, please contact your local Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs office for more information, or call the program co- ordinator at (519) 767-3220. Don't delay ... Register today! Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world. Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada 1-800-268-7582 sold for an average of $84.14 to the high of $91.50. Two heifers consigned by Robert Thomson, Ripley, averaging 1,027 lbs. sold for $90. A Charolais heifer consigned by Les Brown, Shelburne, weighing 985 lbs. sold for $89:50. Twelve heifers consigned by David J. Smith, Meaford, averaging 1,176 lbs. sold for an average price 'of $82.41 with sales to $87. A black heifer consigned by Gerald Rathwell, Brucefield, weighing 1,055 lbs. sold for $87 to Dominion Meats, with his total offering of 12 heifers averaging 1,128 lbs. selling for the overall price of $76.21. A heifer consigned by Woodham Farms, Woodham, weighing 1,125 lbs. sold for $83.25. Twelve heifers consigned by Ken Wall, Holyrood, averaging 1,180 lbs. sold for an average price of $78.50 to the high of $83. There were 138 cows on offer selling from $35 to $58 to the high of $65. A gold cow consigned by Glory Lane Farm, Wingham, weighing 1,585 lbs. sold for $65. A Charolais cow consigned by Darryl Morley, Mildmay, weighing 1,595 lbs. sold for $64. A Holstein cow consigned by Bill Van Nes, Ethel, By Andy Toll On July 2, the Belgrave-Brussels Beef. Club members met at the home of leader, Kim Higgins, to talk about judging animals and farm products. We also discussed the 4-H members test. Then we went to the farm of leader Paul Coultes. weighing 1,550 lbs. sold for $62. The bulls sold from $53 to $65 to the high of $71.50. There were 208 veal on offer selling - Beef, $75 to $100; Holstein, $70 to $90; and Plain Holstein, $50 to $65. A Limousin veal consigned by Allan McKinnon, Shallow Lake, weighing 755 lbs. sold for $99.50. A veal consigned by John Smith, Zurich, weighing 615 lbs. sold for $98.50. Eleven veal consigned by Ducharme Farms Ltd., Zurich, averaging 676 lbs. sold for an average price of $82.25 with sales to $91. Lambs, under 50 lbs., sold $127.50 to $145; 50 - 80 lbs., $146 to $170; 80 - 95 lbs., $137.50 to $145; and 95 - 110 lbs., $135 to $140. Steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $53.50 to $105; 500 - 599 lbs., $64 to $103.50; 600 - 699 lbs., $56 to $95; 700 - 799 lbs., $49 to $85; 800 - 899 lbs., $62 to $93.75; and 900 lbs. and over, $65.50 to $83. Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $56 to $68; 400 - 499 lbs., $56 to $74; 500 - 599 lbs., $56 to $100; 600 - 699 lbs., $72.75 to $85.25; 700 - 799 lbs., $65 to $85.25; 800 lbs. and over, $60 to $76.50. At the barn, Kim showed us the characteristics of a good breeding heifer. Then each member got a chance to judge four different heifers. Finally, the results of our feed tests came back. We discussed them and refreshments were served. Help protect the environment Reduce, reuse and recycle 4-Hers discuss judging