The Citizen, 1996-08-14, Page 14A Look at Agriculture
Ways to increase your fall
hay supply
Ralph deVries, Crop Consultant
with Howson & Howson Ltd.
This past year many growers
have experienced low yields of
hay. In many cases this has been
the result of a harsh winter in
1996. Many alfalfa stands are very
thin as a result and the amount of
hay stored is not adequate for this
winter. In addition, hay is
becoming more scarce and costly
to purchase. There are two things
you can do to help increase your
hay supply for this fall and 1997.
The first thing is to manage your
third cut for maximum production.
Cutting an alfalfa stand after the
last week of August can
significantly contribute to high
levels of winter kill. The main
reason for this is that the roots
become weak after trying to
produce more top growth in the
month of September and it makes
the plant susceptible to the winter
elements.
To protect the alfalfa stand you
want to keep for 1997, avoid
cutting after the last week of
August and treat your field with
some winter fertilizer. You might
consider trying to harvest this field
during the second week of
October if you are still in real need
of feed. This may put your field at
more risk for ice damage in the
winter, but there will be less risk
than if you were cutting this field
in September. The reason for this
is that the root reserves will not
drain because the plants will not
be growing much after the second
week of October.
The field you will not be
keeping for 1997 you can let grow
as long as possible to get
maximum yield. Because this
season's hay cuts arc delayed you
may not have enough time to get
sufficient growth (six to eight
inches) after your third cut to
control it with post harvest
spraying of Roundup. You may
want to consider applying
Roundup Pre harvest to provide
good control of your perennial
weeds in that field and allow you
to harvest the hay crop at the same
time.
Apply Roundup Prcharvest three
to seven days prior to taking the
final cut when the forage stand is
being taken out of production,_
Roundup is a transiocated
herbicide so activity is slow. The
forage crop and the weeds will
change colour slowly with grasses
showing symptoms sooner. The
forage crop will generally be an
off-green or yellowish colour
when cut three to seven days after
treatment. If the crop is cut sooner
than three days after treatment,
weed control will be reduced and
it should not be left more than
seven days after treatment if you
want to harvest the field. The
treated crop can be harvested as
haylage or allowed to dry and
harvested as baled hay. There are
no effects on feed quality or
livestock when applied properly.
The second thing you could do
to manage your hay supply for
1997 would be to seed an alfalfa
stand this summer. In this area
those stands should be seeded by
Aug. 20. The two problems with
summer seeded alfalfa are; late
seedings with the lack of moisture
and competition from volunteer
cereals such as oats or barley.
Seeding late results in small
alfalfa plants that are susceptible
to winter frost heaving. If these
plants survive they are slow to
start in the spring and often can
not handle more than two cuts.
Seeding before Aug. 20, with
rain shortly after, will ensure a
successful alfalfa hay stand.
Packing the new stand at seeding
will help conserve moisture and
allow for better seed/soil contact.
The problem of volunteer cereals
can be controlled with herbicides
or by planting into fields that did
not have cereals this season.
Considering the above two
options for alfalfa hay stand
management you may have more
hay in your storage.
Firewood
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LEAF SPOT
If your lawn is being watered and fertilized correctly but still seems
yellowish, this yellowing could be due to Leaf Spot disease. This
disease is a fungus that attacks the blades of the grass.
Leaf Spots are small circles with yellow centres and dark borders.
These spots are dotted along the leaf blade. This disease can be a
problem when the weather is cool and moist. Leaf Spot occurs most
often in lawns that are mowed quite short.
A fungicide application is usually not necessary on a home lawn.
Most modern bluegrass lawns are resistant to this disease. If your
lawn is affected, increase your mowing height, water deeply and less
frequently. Apply your fertilizer a little later in the spring. An additional
application of fertilizer can help stimulate the lawn to heal faster.
Most lawns grow out of this problem as the days get hotter.
Next Focus: Why Aerate Your Lawn
See this space each Focus for a valuable Weed Man Turf Tip.
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WE CARE FOR YOUR LAWN
Goderich Proprietors
524-2424 Christine & Mark
Coulthard
TOLL-FREE
1-800.387-0342
.etzie Apt a iftee eatiocate"
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1996
Brussels Livestock report
195 heifers on offer range $84 to $89
The sales at Brussels Livestock
for the week ending Aug. 9 were:
fed cattle, 588; cows, 248; veal
calves, 229; lambs, 197; and
stockers, 809.
The fed steers and heifers sold $2
higher with the cows selling steady.
On Thursday veal sold $4 - $8
higher with lambs selling steady.
On Friday the calves sold steady
with the yearlings selling $2 higher.
There were 373 steers on offer
selling $84 to $89 to the high of
$105. Twenty-six steers consigned
by Carl Stanley, Lucknow,
averaging 1,210 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.88 with sales to
$100.25. Forty-three steers
consigned by Cunningham Farms,
Lucan, averaging 1,266 lbs. sold
for an average of $87.81 with sales
to $97. Five steers consigned by
Mark Fisher, Ayton, averaging
1,228 lbs. sold for an average of
$92.88 with sales to $95.75.
Thirteen steers consigned by
Schmidt Brook Farms Inc.,
Woodstock, averaging 1,473 lbs.
sold for an average of $87.68 with
sales to $94.75.
Six steers consigned by Martin
Metske, Lucknow, averaging 1,273
lbs. sold for an average of $85.56
with sales to $89.50. Thirteen
steers consigned by Woodham
Farm, Woodham, averaging 1,196
lbs. sold for an average of $83.90
with sales to $89. Ten steers
consigned by Doug Shiell, Wing-
ham, averaging 1,314 lbs. sold for
an average of $85.43 with sales to
$88.50. One steer consigned by Jeff
Mollard, Parkhill, weighing 1,390
lbs. sold for $88. Thirty-nine steers
consigned by Ed McCann,
Dashwood, averaging 1,327 lbs.
sold for an average of $87.34 with
sales to $88.
There were 195 heifers on offer
selling $84 to $89 to the high of
$91. Fourteen heifers consigned by
Mux Lea Farms, Woodstock,
averaging 1,191 lbs. sold for an
average of $87.03. Twenty-three
heifers consigned by Johnston
Farms, Bluevale, averaging 1,117
lbs. sold for an average of $85.82
with sales to $90.50. Eleven heifers
consigned by David J. Smith,
Meaford, averaging 1,120 lbs. sold
Planning plowing
Continued from page 1
Townsend has attended many
parades and functions this summer
and will be competing at the IPM
in Haldimand-Norfolk at Selkirk in
September of this year.
A pork chop barbecue is planned
for noon Aug. 23. Tickets are $10
adults and $4 for children under 12.
Call (519) 887-6365, (519) 527-
0936 or (519) 523-4742 for tickets.
There will be special classes for
antique tractor plowing and horse
plowing classes too. A Learn of
Haflinger horses will be plowing
with a sulky plow.
Horseshoe pitching competitions,
nail driving etc. will also provide
excitement.
Step dancing and clogging will
provide entertainment during the
morning afternoon. Matt O'Neil
from the CKNX (Morning Show)
will be challenging plowmen to a
plowing duel.
A farm machinery show and
demonstrations will be held
throughout the day.
The Huron committee is gearing
up for the International Plowing
Match Farm Machinery Show in
1999 to be held on the Earl and
Michael Becker farms at
Dashwood.
for an average of $84.70 with sales
to $88. Seventeen heifers
consigned by Tom Triebner,
Exeter, averaging 1,207 lbs. sold
for an average of $84.79 with sales
to $87.50. Seven heifers consigned
by Ron Smith, Denfield, averaging
1,078 lbs. sold for an average of
$84.82 with sales to $87. Two
heifers consigned by Aaron
Fischer, Ayton, averaging 1,145
lbs. sold for an average of $85.22
with sales to $87.
Eight heifers consigned by
Dwight Zehr, Bright,_ averaging
1,041 lbs. sold for an average of
$84.55 with sales to $87. Four
heifers consigned by Alan Dallner,
Atwood, averaging 1,221 lbs. sold
for an average of $85.94 with sales
to $86.75.
There were 248 cows on offer
selling from $38 to $55 to the high
of $70. One R/W cow consigned by
Ellen Keith, Teeswatei, weighing
1,460 lbs. sold for $70. One BWF
cow consigned by Eldon Plantz,
Ayton, weighing 1,665 lbs. sold for
$66.50. Five Charolais cows
consigned by Wat - Cha Farms,
Mount Forest, averaging 1,875 lbs.
sold for an average of $59.73 with
sales to $65.
There were 19 bulls on offer
selling from $48 to $57.50 to the,
high of $66. Two red bulls
consigned by Harry Hodges, Mount
Forest, averaging 1,138 lbs. sold
for an average of $63.29 with sales
to $64.25. One Charolais bull
consigned by Gary Hillis, Grand
Valley, weighing 1,910 lbs. sold
for $57.
There were 229 veal on offer
selling: Holstein, $75 to $95; Beef,
$80 to $107 and Plain and Heavy
Holstein, $50 to $70. Six veal
consigned by Bill DeVos Jr.,
Bluevale, averaging 671 lbs. sold
for an average of $100.42 with
sales to $107. Four veal consigned
by James Brand, Dashwood,
averaging 580 lbs. sold for an
average of $87.55 with sales to
$104. One veal consigned by Andy
Yoder, Lucknow, weighing 615
lbs. sold for $98.50.
Lambs, 50 - 80 lbs., sold $137 to
$157.50; 80 - 95 lbs., $135 to $149;
and 95 - 1101bs.,$131 to$141.
Sheep sold $49 to $60.
Stocker steers under 400 lbs.,
sold $74.10 to $99; 400 - 500 lbs.,
$86.20 to $104; 500 - 600 lbs.,
$84.50 to $94; 600 - 700 lbs., $80
to $94.50; 700 - 800 lbs., $84.50 to
$88; 800 - 900 lbs., $85 to $110;
and 900 - 1,000 lbs., $85.70 to
$98.50.
Stocker heifers, 300 - 400 lbs.,
sold $73.60 to $100.50; 400 - 500
lbs., $68.45 to $93; 500 - 600 lbs.,
$70.80 to $83; 600 - 700 lbs.,
$73.25 to $83; 700 - 800 lbs.,
$77.60 to $83.75; and 800 - 900
lbs., $71.85 to $80.50.
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