HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-02, Page 10Page 10 May 2, 2007 • The Huron Expositor
News
Winter weeds, compacted soll are c
facing County farmers this s
the prices have rebounded quite a recent dry spell.
bit from last year," he said. "So, sud- "Spring applied manure is always
denly, everyone's going to be scram- a bit of a concern because of the
bling to plant corn at once." potential for compaction," Johnson
Reid explained that may mean said, noting that they're hopeful
there won't be enough equipment or that things are okay because it was
fertilizer to go around on the days fairly dry when it was spread.
everyone wants it. "Nonetheless, we always worry
"It doesn't sound like there's going about that," he said.
to be any actual shortages, he said, Keith Reid said the soil itself is
"but the logistics of getting stuff going to be a challenge in some
where it needs to be when people fields.
want it is going to be a challenge." "We do have soils that were pretty
Reid said he's sure that people in badly beaten up last fall during corn
the industry are aware of this. and soybean harvest," he said,
Johnson agreed. referring to the rain that seemed to
"In terms of fertilizer and seed fall constantly from last September
supplies," he said, "there's definitely until the snow came.
some level of apprehension in the "There wasn't a window where
countryside that we'll be able to you could really harvest on soils
complete everything in a timely that were really dry enough," he
fashion." said, "so it was always a matter of
He noted that he's often amazed saying 'When am I going to do the
by how much gets done when you least damage?' not 'When am I
don't think there's going to be time. going to do no damage?"'
As for the other crops, Johnson As a result, Reid said there will be
said that wheat winter survival was issues with rutted and compacted
mediocre in the Seaforth area, soil.
though it was much worse to the "The best advice we can give to
south where they got more rain last farmers on those fields is not to be
fall. pushing the envelope in terms of
"As far as the spring cereal crops getting in too early. Wait until the
go," he said, "a nice bunch of them ground is dry enough, because if
have been planted. Probably virtu- you go in and try to work that
ally everything in the Seaforth area ground when it's not quite dry
has been planted that is going to be enough, it'll actually do more dam -
planted." age."
He said there are still some spring Because the ground won't drain as
cereals to go in to the north. easily as it might normally, Reid
According to Johnson, a lot of said the soil in those fields will take
manure was spread during the longer to dry out.
A a r o i J a c k l i n
Area farmers have to keep an eye
on the winter annual weeds, accord-
ing to crop specialist Peter Johnson.
Johnson said that while it may
seem to growers that this has been
a slow spring, that's only compared
to the last couple of very early
springs.
"This has been maybe a little clos-
er to what we'd expect from a nor-
mal spring," he said.
Johnson said that growers may be
tempted to slow down themselves
when it comes to weed control.
"Those winter annual weeds out
there in the fields are just going
gangbusters, just like they always
do," said Johnson. "Guys have got to
pay attention, in terms of herbi-
cides, to the annual weeds."
Johnson said that about five to 10
per cent of the acres intended for
corn this season have been planted.
"We hear
reports of some
of the larger
operators having
well in excess of
1,000 acres of
corn in the
ground each,"
Johnson said.
"But the bulk of
the farmers
haven't really
gotten too excit-
ed about putting
corn in the
ground yet."
Keith Reid,
an OMAFRA soil
specialist in
Stratford, said
that area farm-
ers will be chal-
lenged by corn
this season.
"There's a big
increase in
intended acres
for corn because
111ROTH DRAINAGE LIMITED
'`ieb, QualityWorkmanship Since 1948
• Farm Drainage
• Excavator & Backhoe
Service
• Municipal Drainage
• No Obligation Quotes
• We Install Bruce Tile
Call Dennis or Gerald for our
2006 Booking Program.
Gads Hill Clinton
519-656-2618 519-482-5950
1.800.494.2618 1.800.641.4857
Gaiser Kneale
Insurance Brokers Inc.
• Home • Auto • Farm • Commercial
Please call Wayne or Kelly
for any of your
insurance needs at
1-888-482-9747
gkins (cabletv.on.ca
Wayne Ische Kelly O'Leary
# 44 Ontario St., CLINTON 519-482-3401 #
-7-.► - w w lifs., ,• •. O. N
./ J._l ._/ ....i— r —J J. J _i . .._ ....1
eas we" ow ors .ar:.: ast airessmiaa as Oaf ots 19 rs ss+ ~Mb n•
THE WORLD'S FASTEST LAWN MOWER
XTREME
Gas, Diesel or
Propane Models
Available
21 models
available with
34" to 74'
Decks
ARVA GRAIN
Seaforth London - Kintore
(519) 527-0303
HFA president sees buy local
campaign as `mixed blessing'
for export -dependent Huron
Susan II u n d e r t m a r k
A new Buy Canadian, Buy Local campaign
launched by the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture could be a "double-edged sword"
for export -dependent farmers in Huron
County, says Steve Thompson, president of
the Huron County Federation of Agriculture.
"Here in Huron County, we grow a lot of
food that gets exported a long way and we
represent farmers who may take an opposite
view," he says.
"If we try to push buying locally, they might
not want our pork in the U.S. We don't. want:
to bite off our noses to spite our face."
The Buy Canadian, Huy Local campaign
was taken to Parliament 1lill last week by
Ottawa -area farmers from both the OFA and
UPA (1'Union des Producteurs Agricoles) from
Western Quebec.
The message to government was that farm-
ers continue to produce a safe, nutritious local
supply of fresh food as well as other valuable
services including sustainable energy produc-
tion, protection of water and wildlife habitat
and the sequestration of carbon, says an OFA
press release.
The Buy Canadian campaign is hoped to
increase farmers' share of the marketplace
dollar, ensure national food security and keep
the rural economy strong.
Thompson said the "ready -to -eat" end of
agriculture has a valid point when pushing
the idea of buying locally.
"I applaud the initiative hut. I have reserva-
tions. It's a mixed blessing," he says.