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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-07-22, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, July 22, 1987 TIIIage for the "Tillage for the Timet" was the theme of the 1987 Huron, County Soil Conservation Day on July 16. Approx- imately 260 people from close by and as far away as Lucknow and Strathroy dropped in at the farm of Jack and Norma McGregor, RR 5 Clinton, to tour the trial plots, ex- amine the equipment on display, and listen to two speakers at lunchtime. Host Jack McGregor shared the 1986 Norman Alexander Conservation Award with Bruce Shillinglaw. He began ridge tilling five years ago, and now has about 500 acres of corn and soy beans in ridge tillage. He modified a planter to plant on ridges, and purchased a ridge -forming cultivator. He uses band spraying, which has cut his herbicide cost by two-thirds. McGregor has found his yields are as good, or better than before he began ridge tillage. The adaptation • has saved time, money and soil. Eric Devlaeminck, RR 2 Lucan, was one of the noon -time speakers. He practices minimum tillage, utilizing a sweep bottom plow which shatters the soil but maintains a good protec- tive residue cover. He goes over his fields once in the spring with a landleveller, then plants. Devlaeminck does no -till custom planting with a modified John Deere conservation planter purchased from the Huron soil and water conservation district, now that he has more time to do more acres. Devlaeminck has cut his herbicide times dlseussed rate down to'owe-third by banding in 10 -inch rows. His minimum tillage has resulted in lower fueic`osts, sav- ed time, erosion control and equal or better yields than with former con- , ventional methods. No -till winter wheat harvested the following day yielded 68 bushels to the acre. The other speaker was Jim Shaw from Ridgetown College of Agriculture Technology. Shaw is one of two people in Ontario working to develop efficiency data on weed con- trol in reduced tillage. The 1987 OMAF weed control publication con- tains no recommendations for no -till or ridge tilling, but Shaw hopes some data will be ready for 1988. Shaw emphasized the importanc( CONSERVATIONISTS — The annual Huron County Soil Conservation Dayitvas held on the farm of Jack McGregor (right). Talking with him are Jim Arnold, Herb Norry, Don Lobb, Doug Filsinger and Martin Vink. of knowing one's weeds, as reduced tillage means increased dependence on herbicides. Farmers have to become more adept at weed iden- tification and weed biology, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of available herbicides. Weed control in reduced till fields and ridge till fields is usually as dependable as in conventionally till- ed fields, because the same her- bicides are used and cultivation is possible. Full season control in no -till fields remains a greater challenge, as it is fully dependent on herbicides. The Conservation Day was jointly sponsored by the Huron Soil and Water Conservation District of the Huron Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority, the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, OMAF and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The HSACIA and HSAWCD are hosting a series of crop production tours over the next three weeks. A twilight tour on July 22 will ex- amine hard red spring wheat varieties at Hill and Hill Farms, solid seeded Ex Rico white beans at Ken McCowan's, a white bean variety trial, soybeans and soft winter wheat on the Jack Peck farm and barley trials at Gerald Hayter's. A north Huron tour on July 24 wil visit Doug Filsinger's no -till corn and soybeans, Harry Winkel's no -till se- cond year corn and Wayne. Cantelon's no -till soybeans in 15 and 30 -inch rows. Another north Iluron tour on August 3 will stop at CCAT's Brussels research farm where Bob Forrest will discuss soybean and canola variety trials and performance tests, stop at the Filsinger farm, and go on to seven varieties of white beans in wide rows and solid -seeded at the farm of Glen Warwick. More information may be obtained by calling the Clinton OMAF office at 1-800-265-5170. TRY US HILL & HILL FARMS LTD. VARNA Have been appointed agents to receive both Red and White Wheat for 1987 11' —mow WHEAT Harvest services can be provided Hill i) Hill FARMS 11,11111 ‘'ARNA ONT. HIII a VIII [levator Bev Hill 482-3218 TALKING CONSERVATION — Ken Carnochan, Seaforth (right) talks with noted conservationist Norm Alexander during the Huron Coun- ty Soil Conservation Day. Farm grant forms soon will be coming Ontario farmers will be mailed enrolment forms. brochures and ap- plication forms about mid-August. The $2,500 grant program runs from June 1, 1987 to May 31, 1988. Total funding is limited to $50 million. Farmers submitting records for the farm enterprise analysis section can receive up to $300.00. Eligible safety items such as fenc- ing of existing ponds and manure pits, ladder cages, roll bars,safety cabs, shields, protective clothing, warning systems, child -resistant fenced play areas and first-aid kits are funded at 80 percent. Also included are the elimination of derelict structures and the filling in of unused wells. Invoic- ed labour is eligible in this section. Under the repairs category, a farmer can apply for a grant cover- ing half the cost of replacement parts BRANDY POINT FARMS • Our breeding stock pro- vides our buyers with proven genetics from the top 3% animals tested across Canada • Our program enables us to offer quality and health at a price that is hard to beat • We hove an ongoing supply of A.1. sired Hamp/Duroc, York and Lan- drace boars and F1 York/Landrace gilts. All Boars are priced 'from 92754375 Fl York Landrace gilts are priced 955 above market hog value. • Our closed herd is ranked "Good" by the OMAF BRED GILTS ALSO AVAILABLE Delivery available KURT KELLER R.R. 1 Mitchell, Ontario 519.348-4043 for field machinery and for specified farm ship equipment. Labour cost is not eligible in this section. Barn equipment parts are not eligible. The feed storage section, including monitoring equipment and conveyor equipment is based on a 40 percent grant. Labour is not eligible in this section. Enrolments and applications will booforwarded directly by farmers for • central processing. All related in- voices marked "paid" with vendor's signature or initials must be kept by the applicant until July 15, 1989. An applicant can qualify for $12,000 income froni agricultural production or Tess than $12,000 if non-farm in- come.is not more than farm income. Applicants sharing a principal residence are considered as one ap- plicant. Members of partnerships and corporations can each qualify if they meet the income requirement and have a 20 percent interest in the operation and are active in the farm- ing operation. Projects with more than one applicant are subject to the percentage limitation in each section. Farmers who do not receive an ap- plication and information brochure about the Ontario Farm Manage- ment, Safety and Repairs Program should contact the Agricultural Of- fice, Clinton - 482-3428 or 1-800-265-5170. Don Pullen Agricultural Representative, for Iluron County Winter Soft White Wheat such as Augusta, Houser, Frankenmuth Fredrick varieties. Order your fall seed wheat from us. We handle the popular Augusta, wheat, as well as Houser, Fredrick and Harus. W.G. Thompson's will again be offering "Cer- tified Monopol Hard Red Wheat for sale this fall. See us for bin treat such as Malathion "Grain Protectan t" 6 locations to serve yc CHAPARAL FENCING R.R. 1, Lucan Ontario NOM 2J0 ALL TYPES FREE ESTIMATES k duetriai Fiona Chain Link a Polio Perm Panes Phone Bob Hardy 227-4160 4 Hensall 262.2527 Mitchell 3411-11433 Soafiorth 345.2545 Pt. Albert 529.7901