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The Citizen, 1996-10-09, Page 18A Look at Agriculture Harvest season reminiscent of spring Ralph deVries, Crop Consultant with Howson & Howson Ltd. Harvest season is here, like the spring planting season came. It started wet but eventually the fields dried off to get some of the harvesting done in a few days. There are combines at white beans, soybeans and even corn. Winter wheat is being planted, corn silage is being harvested, hay is being done, manure is being spread and Roundup is being applied. With all this activity, remember to keep a small notebook with you to mark down some of those things that have affected your crop performance this year and what may affect you next year. There are always improvements that can be made. One item that you will want to remember is your weed situation. If you have a small amount of a weed this year it may be more serious next year if nothing is changed. I have come across several weeds this year that seem to be appearing more frequently in fields. Weeds need to be identified correctly because it may be your weak link to a poor or satisfactory control program. If the weeds are perennial, such as quack grass, it will be beneficial to control them this fall. Roundup can be sprayed late into the fall provided there is active weed growth. Many weeds do not shut down until after receiving a -5 degree Celsius frost. Another item to note is the areas in your field where you consistently receive little or no yield. Crop input costs are too high to afford this. Those input costs may be better put into tile drainage improvements of fences. Carefully evaluate all the- varieties you are growing. There is sufficient information available to help you decide which varieties suit you and your conditions. Your own farm situation will also be the best test of varieties. Note also the areas that the corn borer is the worst; this often occurs in the sheltered areas or in areas where the corn was more advanced in the early summer. These may be the areas that you may want to try the Bt corn next year. I have seen several corn fields this fall that are dropping the corn ears or breaking down because of corn borer. Watch for these fields. They may need to be harvested sooner than expected. The last item you may want to make note of is your general field condition, if you intend on joining the no-till revolution. Fields have to be prepared if you intend on using this technology. If the plough is going to retire, then the field will have to be without the ruts caused by harvesting equipment in wet field conditions. Often minor improvements or adjustments need to be done to the drainage, soil fertility or weed control before no-till will work for the entire field. There are several things that can be observed in fields this fall that can make the management decisions in the next growing season more profitable. If your memory is short like mine, then just remember to take that notebook and pen with you to the field this fall. 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 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 OUR SLEDS SAY YES, BUT OUR OFFER SAYS NO. Yes, It's Super Sellabration '97. And no, you bwe nothing until January 1st, 1997- when you buy any new 1997 Ski-Doo snowmobile. No money down. No interest. And no payments for our latest sleds. Plus get a great deal on your trade-in, and tree Ski-Doo' videos • just for Sia=doo stopping by. So hurry in today. INCINEERE0100INE WAY YOU RIDE: ENTERPRISES... WINGHAIVI 0 357-3435 PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1996 Brussels Livestock report Veal prices plummet $5, beef average $90 to $121 The sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending Oct. 4 were: fed cattle, 817; cows, 266; veal calves, 496; lambs and goats, 187; stockers, 2,238; pigs, light run. All weights of cattle sold at steady prices on Tuesday. Veal sold $5 lower with lambs selling steady. All classes of stockers sold on a steady trade. There were 546 steers on offer selling from $87 to $92 to the high of $100. Twenty-eight steers consigned by Kenruth Farms Ltd., Luclmow, averaging 1,167 lbs. sold for an average of $91.28 with sales to $100. Thirteen steers consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms Inc., Woodstock, averaging 1,414 lbs. sold for an average of $92.28 with sales to $100. Forty-three steers consigned by Cunningham Farms, Lucan, averaging 1,366 lbs. sold for an average of $90.45 with sales to $97.75. Eight steers consigned by Jim Howatt, Londesboro, averaging 1,286 lbs. sold for an average of $96.48 with sales to $97. Thirty- one steers consigned by Murray Shiell, Wingham, averaging 1,302 lbs. sold for an average of $88.17 with sales to $95.50. Thirty-six steers consigned by Ed McCann, Dashwood, averaging 1,336 lbs. sold for an average of $89.44 with sales to $95. Eighteen steers consigned by Martin Metske, Lucknow, averaging 1,323 lbs. sold for an average of $88.87 with sales to $94.25. Thirty-two steers consigned by Howard Hendrick, Crediton, averaging 1,241 lbs. sold for an average of $87.96 with sales to $94.25. Four steers consigned by Lome W. Reis, Milverton, averag- ing 1,379 lbs. sold for an average of $91.02 with sales to $94. Three steers consigned by Mark Fisher, Ayton, averaging 1,331 lbs. sold for an average of $92.20 with sales to $94. There were 234 heifers on offer selling from $87 to $92 to the high of $99. Twenty-five heifers con- signed by Bill Haines, Wingham, averaging 1,220 lbs. sold for an average of $90.61 with sales to $96.75. Three heifers consigned by Dave Bowles, Brussels, averaging Cranbrook 4-Hers go on breadmaking adventure By, Bronwyn Dunbar The first meeting of the Cranbrook 4-H club was held at Grey Central Public School on Saturday, Oct. 5. The group was led by Amy Cronin, Cindy Van Ness, and Elizabeth DeWit. For four more weeks the members will experiment with different types of bread. For their first meeting the group made whole wheat bread, and decided they did a great job for their first attempt. Other business included voting in a new president, now Laura Rice; vice-president, Nicki Hallman; secretary, Maggie Hallman and press reporter, Bronwyn Dunbar. The next meeting will be held on Oct. 19 at Grey Central once again. Members are eager to journey back into their "Breadventure" next meeting. 1,172 lbs. sold for an average of $89.99 with sales to $94. Three heifers consigned by Aaron Fischer, Ayton, averaging 1,183 lbs. sold for an average of $91.69 with sales to $92.75. Two heifers consigned by Murray Smith, Dublin, averaging 1,033 lbs. sold for an average of $88.26 with sales to $91.75. Seven heifers consigned by Milan Michalek, Keswick, averag- ing 1,148 lbs. sold for an average of $87.35 with sales to $91. Eleven heifers consigned by Russ Faber, Kippen, averaging 1,247 lbs. sold for an average of $88.96 with sales to $89.75. Thirteen heifers consigned by Randy Pentland, Goderich, averaging 1,115 lbs. sold for an average of $85.96 with sales to $89.50. Ten heifers consigned by Lyle and Dave Noble, Glencairn, averaging 1,270 lbs. sold for an average of $86.50 with sales to $88.70. One heifer consigned by John J. Shetler, Auburn, weighing 1,175 lbs. sold for $87.75. Six heifers consigned by William and Elizabeth White, Mount Forest, averaging 1,187 lbs. sold for an average of $83 with sales to $87.75. There were 257 cows on offer selling from $30 to $57 to the high of $65.50. One cow consigned by Ken Walter, Mildmay, weighing 1,830 lbs. sold for $65.50. Two Hereford cows consigned by Beth McKay, Kincardine, averaging 1,347 lbs. sold for an average of $53.97 with sales to $61. One gold cow consigned by Aubrey, Murray and Ray McNichol, Blyth, weighing 1,425 lbs. sold for $60.50. There were 24 bulls on offer selling from $47 to $57.50 to $61. One Limousin !Rill consigned by Harvey Becker, Ayton, weighing 1,770 lbs. sold for $67.50. One Limousin bull consigned by Harold Weber, Mildmay, weighing 2,000 lbs. sold for $65.50. There were 496 veal on offer selling: Plain & Heavy Holstein, $60 to $80; Holstein, $80 to $100; Beef, $90 to $121. Eight veal consigned by John Verberg, Londesboro, averaging 663 lbs. sold for an average of $99.02 with sales to $121. Seven veal consigned by Dennis Wagner, Monkton, averaging 639 lbs. sold for an average of $100.30 with sales to $119.50. Two veal consigned by Elroy Martin, Milverton, averaging 583 lbs. sold for an average of $102.03 with sales to $109. Lambs, 50 to 80 lbs., sold $131 to $149; 80 to 95 lbs., $115 to $123; and over 95 lbs., $117 to $119. Sheep sold $24 to $41. Goats sold $28 to $92.1 Steers, under 400 lbs., sold $61 to $88.50; 400 - 499 lbs., $72.50 to $106; 500 - 599 lbs., $71 to $102; 600 - 699 lbs., $69 to $91.25; 700 - 799 lbs., $67.50 to $94; 800 - 8991bs., $70 to $103; 900 - 1,000 lbs., $67 to $93; and 1,000 lbs. and over, $51.50 to $84. Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $62 to $99.50; 400 - 499 lbs., $60 to $89; 500 - 599 lbs., $70.50 to $83.25; 600 - 699 lbs., $55 to $82.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $56.75 to $86.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $70.50 to $90; and 900 lbs. and over, $50 to $82.50.