The Citizen, 1996-07-31, Page 21A Look at Agriculture
New technology for this
growing season
Ralph deVries, Crop Consultant
with Howson & Howson Ltd.
This growing season I am seeing
new trends and opportunities for
crop production from new
technology. Many of these things
are developing much faster than I
had anticipated. All of these items
show promise to be of value to the
crop producer in producing crops
more efficiently.
The first trend that I see is the
switch to more narrow row corn
production. Twenty inch rows
seems to be producing more corn
per acre. This takes some
switching in equipment and
management but these producers
are producing five to 10 per cent
more corn per acre.
The second trend is the use of
MAP fertilizer (11-52-0) in the
insecticide boxes of corn planters.
There are about 35 lbs. of product
going on per acre, but it seems
from the research data that this
works effectively as a starter
fertilizer. With a good soil fertility
program there seems to be a five
bushel per acre yield advantage
over not using the MAP starter in
the insecticide box.
The third trend is the adaptation
of site specific technology; some
people call this Global Positioning
Systems. Most equipment
manufacturers are offering yield
monitors as optional equipment on
their combines. This allows
farmers to map their yields across
a farm to determine the high and
low production areas. There are
many other areas in the production
system that a farmer could adapt
such as variable rate planters but
the combine yield monitor seems
to be the place to start.
The fourth trend that is
progressing very fast is the
adoption of bio technology. In
1997 we will have Roundup
Ready soybeans in this area. This
means that farmers will soon be
able to apply Roundup to an
established soybean crop to kill
only the weeds and not the
Roundup Ready soybean. Growers
will have the option of using
Roundup on their soybeans alone
or in combination with another
herbicide. Other crops are soon to
follow with the same ability.
There are other companies that are
producing similar technologies
that will be available in 1998.
In biotechnology there will also
be crops available that are
resistant to European Corn Borer.
The last trend is the continued
growth of no till crop production.
This trend has been going on for
some time but it seems that more
farmers are trying this every year.
All this new technology offers
crop producers many new
opportunities and challenges.
Some of these will mean reduced
costs of production; others may
increase costs but give a better
return on investment. Each new
technology will have to perform
and be evaluated individually.
Firewood
Hard Maple or Ash
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Mileage charge Beyond That
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by `wed MArc Mark Coulthard
THE CHINCH BUG SCARE
Have you been watering your lawn, yet it still appears to be dry
in patches? The patches may be due to Chinch Bug damage.
This insect first attacks sunny hillsides. If you peer between the
grass blades, you may be able to see the tiny Chinch Bugs
scurry.
Chinch Bugs have reddish bodies in their younger stages. The
tiny young mature into black and white coloured adults. Chinch
bugs pierce the grass blade, inject digestive juices, then suck out
the plants liquids.
Chinch Bugs attack during the mid-summer heat and can
devastate a lawn in days. It is very important to diagnose and
control this pest quickly.
Next Focus: Leaf Spot
See this space each Focus for a valuable Weed Man Turf Tip.
WE CARE FOR YOUR LAWN
Goderich Proprietors TOLL-FREE
524-2424 Chrcisotiunieth&arlsidlark 1.800-387-0342
"ectli pm 6. e ealosatell
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
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1996 PAGE 21.
Brussels Livestock report
McCann steers sell to $98.50 high, avg. $89.22
The sales at Brussels Livestock
for the week ending July 26 were:
fed cattle, 534; cows, 234; veal
calves, 265; lambs, 177; stockers,
1,184; and pigs, light run.
Fed steers and heifers sold $1
higher on a strong active trade.
Cows sold steady. On Thursday
veal sold $2 - $3 higher with lambs
selling steady. Friday calves and
yearlings sold steady to last week.
There were 352 steers on offer
selling $85 to $91 to the high of
$98.50. Thirty-six steers consigned
by Ed McCann, Dashwood,
averaging 1,321 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.22 with sales to
$98.50. Twelve steers consigned by
Mike Fife, Shedden, averaging
1,161 lbs. sold for an average of
$88.28 with sales to $97. Thirteen
steers consigned by Woodham
Farms, Woodham, averaging 1,183
lbs. sold for an average of $84.79
with sales to $96.
Forty-three steers consigned by
Cunningham Farms, Lucan,
averaging 1,291 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.84 with sales to
$95.75. Six steers consigned by
KenRuth Farms Ltd., Lucknow,
averaging 1,259 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.19 with sales to
$95.50. Seventeen steers consigned
by Ken Eadie, Holyrood, averaging
1,356 lbs. sold for an average of
$89.59 with sales to $94.
Eleven steers consigned by Kada
Accident
promts
warning
The handling of large bales has
resulted in a number of serious
accidents this year.
Much of Ontario's hay crop is
harvested as large bales. Along
with the benefits of the big bale
have come a number of hazards.
The manner in which the bale is
handled and transported is the
leading cause of accidents. Several
operators have been seriously
injured when improperly secured
bales rolled down the arms of front-
end loaders.
It is strongly recommended that
tractors handling these bales be
equipped with 4-post rollover
protective structures (ROPS), if
available for your model of tractor.
A loader should be equipped with
a spear or grapple that is specifi-
cally designed for the handling of
large bales. Keep the following
points in mind:
• Always keep the bale as low as
possible for maximum stability.
• The loader should be equipped
with a restraining device to
prevent the bale from sliding
backwards down the loader arms.
• The loader tractor should be
large enough and equipped with
sufficient counterweight to handle
bales safely.
• Set tractor wheels at maximum
width to increase stability.
• Try to avoid steep slopes and
rough terrain when conveying
Continued on page 25
Farms, Bluevale, averaging 1,313
lbs. sold for an average of $89.15
with sales to $93. Twelve steers
consigned by Raye Pegg, Tupper-
ville, averaging 1,304 lbs. sold for
an average of $88.56 with sales to
$92. Thirteen steers consigned by
Schmidt Brook Farms Inc.,
Woodstock, averaging 1,507 lbs.
sold for an average of $87.78 with
sales to $92.
There were 163 Heifers selling
from $85 to $91 to the high of
$95.50. Fourteen heifers consigned
by Mux Lea Farms, Woodstock,
averaging 1,195 lbs. sold for an
average of $88.75 with sales to
$95.50. Fifteen heifers consigned
by Springglad Farms Limited,
Kirkton, averaging 1,080 lbs. sold
for an average of $84.90 with sales
to $93.50. Two heifers consigned
by Geo. Paul & Mark Pennington,
Mildmay, averaging 973 lbs. sold
for an average of $85.77 with sales
to $86.75. Two heifers consigned
by George Chettleburgh, Wingham,
averaging 1,235 ibs. sold for an
average of $84.43 with sales to
$86.75.
Six heifers consigned by Richard
Tanner, Appin, averaging 1,006
lbs. sold for an average of $83.41
with sales to $86.50. Six heifers
consigned by Gordon Dougherty,
Goderich, averaging 1,208 lbs. sold
for an average of $82.51 with sales
to $85. Fourteen heifers consigned
by Ron Coulter, Creemore,
averaging 1,147 lbs. sold for an
average of $84.32 with sales to
$85. Two heifers consigned by
Gordon Daer, Auburn, averaging
1,025 lbs. sold for an average of
$84.38 with sales to $84.50. Two
heifers consigned by Murray
Gordon, Blyth, averaging 1,138
lbs. sold for $84.50. Four heifers
consigned by Lloyd Weppler,
Ayton, averaging 1,345 lbs. sold
for an average of $79.16 with sales
to $84.40.
There were 234 cows on offer
selling from $35 to $50 with sales
to $67.50. Two cows consigned by
Hans Sturzcnegger, Auburn,
averaging 1,583 lbs. sold for an
average of $58.44 with sales to
$67.50. Two cows consigned by
Percy Bros., Holyrood averaging
1,350 lbs. sold for an average of
$59.14 with sales to $65. Three
cows consigned by Mike Courtney,
Ripley, averaging 1,608 lbs. sold
for an average of $53.28 with sales
to $60.
There were 19 bulls on offer
selling from $50 to $58.35 to the
high of $66. One Gold bull
consigned by Harold Jonker,
Orangeville, weighing 1,875 lbs.
sold for $66. One Charolais bull
consigned by Burton Eskrick,
Tiverton, weighing 1970 lbs. sold
for $65.50.
There were 261 veal on offer
selling - Holstein, $65 to $85;
Beef, $75 to $106; Plain and Heavy
Holstein, $50 to $60. Six veal
consigned by Allan McKinnon,
Shallow Lake, averaging 659 lbs.
sold for an average of $89.35 with
sales to $106. Five veal consigned
by Wilbert McLellan, Mount
Forest, averaging 600 lbs. sold for
an average of $77.95 with sales to
$93. Four veal .consigned by Eric
Nonkes, Auburn, averaging 568
lbs. sold for an average of $82.01
with sales to $88.
Lambs, under 50 lbs. sold $108
to $120; 50 - 80 lbs., $134 to $175;
80 - 95 lbs., $133 to $135; 95 - 110
lbs., $120 to $131.
Goats sold $22 to $86.
Steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $73 to
$123.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $63.50 to
$112; 600 - 699 lbs., $58 to $106;
700 - 799 lbs., $73.50 to $102; 800
- 899 lbs., $73 to $96; 900 lbs., and
over, $72 to $93.25.
Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $78
to $93.50; 400 - 499 lbs., $51 to
$96; 500 - 599 lbs., $58 to $84; 600
- 699 lbs., $59 to $95; 700 - 799
lbs., $65 to $88; 800 lbs. and over,
$69.25 to $89.25.
arm