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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-08-23, Page 3Pre -Register at al Rec. Office inside the Ar Agriculture Farmers use grants while they last BY PAUL CIUFO - Expositor Staff Many farmers in the area are hurrying to take part in a grant program that play lead to increased farm efficiency and better water quality for everyone. The Clean Up Rural Beaches (CURB) program, run by conservation authorities and the Ministry of Environment and Energy, helps landowners cure septic system and manure run off problems. Grants through the program will only continue until September 1, 1996, and may be cut sooner as the province trims its budget. "There is. always a sense of urgency in these turbulent times with provincial programs," said Doug Hocking, CURB _ Coordinator at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), As he completes his second CURB project and considers undertaking a third, Eg- mondville farmer Mau Haney is pleased with the program. "It's a worthwhile venture for keeping - the streams clean. There's considerable grant. money, so there's more incen- tive to do it," Haney said. A stream runs through Haney's property within steps of his livestock yard. CURB is helping him build . a . large, covered manure yard to remedy run off problems. "When the place - was pioneered, the buildings were put right t 'ar the .creek. I'm not far fron the Bayfield River here," Haney said. Run off is a big threat to water quality, Hocking said. "Especially when it rains, - water quality really decreases. Bacteria counts can increase a hundred times in a couple of hours. And if bacteria are geeing into a - water course, every user along the water is at PAUL ClUFo PHOTO PROTECTING THE WATER SUPPLY - Farmer"Matt Haney stands on the banks of the creek that passes through his property and in the background stands his new dry manure storage facility and barns, partially funded through the .Clean Up Rural Beaches (CURB) program. The new facility helps ensure manure run off does not end up in the Bayfield River, and helps Haney utilize manure more effectively. risk. I've seen tracer bacteria travel 16 kilometres," he said. Many landowners between Seaforth 'and Mitchell have been taking part in the CURB program, Hocking said. CURB has allocated $700,000 to the ABCA- coverage area. Sixty per cent of CURB grants . go to septic system repairs (fixing collapsed tanks or plugged weeping beds), and 30 per .cent go to manure storage or barnyard run off problems. The program also deals with milkhouse wash water problems, and helps fence livestock out of water courses, something Haney said he will probably undertake next year. Besides safeguarding water quality, a manure storage facility like Haney's helps him utilize manure more effectively. "It provides longer storage. I don't need to draw (the manure) in winter. I can wait until there's no snow. That prevents run off too," Haney said. "They get more effective nutrient management. They can use the manure they have to their best advantage," Hocking said. Hocking said there are long- term benefits as well. "I believe . farmers will recover a lot of their expense. Proper manure storage is an asset so their farm will have a . higher value when they sell." Farmers must also consider potential fines if manure spills contravene environmental regulations. Farmers complete environmental plan BY KERRI-SUE LANG News Canada • Gordon McKay was one of thefirst farmers in the province to complete an Environmental. Farm Plan. He operates a dairy farm near Embro in Oxford County, and is always looking for ways to minimize his farm's impact on the envi- ronment. Completing an EFP resulted in no revelations for Gordon but it clarified what aspects of his farm could become trouble spots if not properly managed. On . livestock operations, waste management is a top priority. In the cast of dairy farms, both manure and milkhouse wastes need respon• - sible treatment. Up until recently, Gordon had been. using an irrigation gut to spread manure and had ident- ified a number of concerns. For one, cross winds affected evenness of distribution pat- terns. Manure could never be applied on headlands, close to through the tip onto a tiny fence lines, trees or other round plate. When it hits the people's property due to the possibility of drift and the arc shape of the application. Because irrigation guns shatter particles into very small sizes and blow them into the wind, odours were strong and ammo- nia loss significant. Results from research done in 1991 showed a loss of 188 pounds of ammonia from one million gallons of irrigated manure compared to a Toss of only 14 pounds with a Tess aggressive applicator. Small particles created with irrigation guns can also drift long dis- tances even in Tight winds. Manure droplets on neighbours' cars, houses, or laundry will never go unnot- iced. Gordon converted from the gun to an irrigation boom 150' long (46 m) with 7 to 10 nozzles along its length that gently drops the manure to the ground. The manure swirls in the nozzle before it . sprays plate the droplets spin into a circular pattern that will -over- lap slightly with the pattern created by the next nozzle, creating uniform distribution over the length of the boom. Ideally, Gordon would like to be able tospread between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons per acre on standing corn, so the nutrients can be absorbed immediately. A few years ago, he installed an underground line to carry manure from the home farm storage right to the back of the farm and across the road to another farm. Over the length of the line, the manure travels underneath 2 creeks. This way, the risk of accidental spillage is minimal, manure can be spread much further from the buildings and he saves fuel. The pressure required to oper- ate a boom applicator is much less than that required for a gun, so fuel consumption is reduced. "One_ of the challenges with manure management is regulat- ing how much we put on each acre," says Gordon. "With this system, it's easy to tell. Once we figure the flow needed to give adequate pressure at the line, we can use a meter to determine how much we're applying." Completing his EFP helped Gordon identify the weak link in his . manure management. Then, he applied through the Oxford Soil and Crop Improve- ment Association for a major grant to convert from a gun to a boom, using existing equip- ment with some modifications. The grant was approved and the project will be monitored as part of a separate joint effort by Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada and the Ontario Minis- try of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The study will evaluate evenness of applica- tion, the potential of this equip- ment to implement proper nutrient management and will compare it to other systems. Tilleys win lawn bowling tournament Scaforth Lawn Bowlers were very active this past week bowling in out of town tourna- ments. Sunday saw Fred and Betty Tilley winning the Bill Ducklow Memorial Tourna- ment in Mitchell with three wins +41. A close second was Art . Finlayson and daughter Diane March also with three wins +41 but with one less end scored. High two game winner was Neil Beverman and Jean Lunn and placing eighth were Lee Ryan and Carol Carter. Neil also skipped the Novice pairs team at Agincourt on Saturday with Dennis Schmidt of Goderich to a second place finish in the Novice pairs com- petition with three wins +46. it" PAUL C1UPO PHOTO MONSTER DISPLAY - Leonard Teatero, owner of TMP, decided his new monster truck would make short work of an old Chev and attract people to his business. "It was easy. I drove it right up," he said. In Clinton on Saturday Tom Phillips and Thelma Coombs placed first in the Bankers Tournament with Neil and Edna Bell taking second prize and Sandy Pepper and Eileen Adamson fourth. At the Lome Webb Memorial Tournament in Goderich last Wednesday Lee Ryan and Seaforth Co -Op Children's Centre is now accepting registrations Toddlers 18 - 30 mo. Preschool 30 mo. • 5 yrs. School age 6 -12 yrs. New location Room 4 at Seaforth Public School For more information cell 527-0682 Carol Carter won third with Neil and Edna Bell placing seventh. In Atwood ladies' pairs last Tuesday, Carol Carter and Edna Bell were fourth while Thelma Coombs and Marie Muir won the Consola- tion prize. Friday evening saw 28 bow- lers out for a mixed jitney followed by a corn roast. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 23, 19211-3 POWER SKATING Once again the Seaforth Recreation Department will be offering Power Skating for Chlldren ages 6 and up. September 18 - 25, 1995 Monday to Thursday each week 8 Lessons for $45.00 Each Lesson is 1 hour long Register for Power Skating on September 6 & 7 at the Arena From 7:00 to 9:00 pm each night Late Registrations can be done at the Recreation Office or by calling 527-0882 MINOR HOCKEY REGISTRATION WED. SEPT. 6 and THURS. SEPT. 7 7:00 to 9:00 pm Seaforth and District Community Centres Houseleague $125.00 (Family of 3 or more $325) Mites (7 & Under) $75.00 Novice to Midget $125.00 plus $100.00 Travel Fee Midget Only $165.00 Please bring two cheques Travel Fees Paid by Post Dated Cheque to November 1, 1995 COACHES NEEDED FOR HOUSELEAGUE & MIDGET TRAVEL TEAM Late Registration Fee $25.00 Deadline Sept. 15,1995 FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 527-1272 OR 527-0882 .7 5a,r/. ,4' dale! nmeeomeiry e!,3l6 nr/7/en rne,n 4 ,i u nu&a!SS /0 8.7zrew dee:- 46'14.w i4.w 4'4oai s /o a eav%yrais/a0ale�!aica! m�zf% omeen/n4' &t .Jl/r2 e2 JlucPWJ. )/recltl7/4ai, /0 ezF/Xoie !! n teir/ !/n"raaiya•J. . /f pe,y�leCft7//% l ?% f/n!! In /.4 malty andlur/neat"nirr ez,14 oryanl,:rafond ,?tome'! n. ,/asst/!!nr/aw /aze ezn w. o eir /'deal Jcen e., !s 7/-ea4 ayrrec!¢/ee/ "l!/v�l�!//nye/r�e,... owe?* carve./ t_7€011?e€ w w1'?f (evfheftew e JOIN US AT OUR NEW PLACE OF WORSHIP SEAFORTH HIGH SCHOOL 9:45 Christian Education Hour (classes for all ages) 11:00 Morning Worship Service "The Bible Church that has the family at heart".,". Bethel Bible Church 48 Water St., Egmondville 7:00 Evening Bible Study (held at the Church) There are also a number of small group Bible Studies that meet through the week. Let us know how we can serve you. Call for more information Pastor: Rev. Rick Lucas (519) 522-0070- 'TCte vii acle oit the 4i-ev'i rut45 oln SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1995 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. (please try to register before noon) STARTING FROM SEAFORTH ARENA Pledge sheets available around Town. For More Information CaII 527-0882