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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1992-04-29, Page 16Page 16 Times -Advocate, April 29, 1992 Killer bees pose no threat to Canada GUELPH - Africanized or 'killer' bees now in southern Texas will probably not survive in Canada, says Gard Otis, a University of Guelph environmental biologist and president of the Canadian As- socaition of Professional Apicultu- ralists. The worst-case scenario -- that the tropical bee adapts to Canada's climate and overpowers its bee Col- onies -- will not happen, predicts Otis, who has suidied the . bees since the mid-197Os. He is current- ly working with Texas statistician Jim Matis to develop mathematical models to predict their rates of spread. "It is an amazing story scientif- ically," says Otis. "In the -next two years, the bees will go from tropi- cal southern Texas to semi -tropical northern Texas." In tropical areas, Africanized bees have been characterized by rapid growth and.reproduction. The phenomenon began in 1957, when swarms escaped during a cross- breeding experiment in Brazil. By 1982, the bees had reached Pana- ma. They made their way to Mexi- co in the late 198Os, then reached Texas in 1990, African bees are aggressive both in visiting flowers and defending nests, which earned them the "kill- er" moniker. They are also prolific breeders. As they steadily move northward at a rate of about 350 kilometres a year, they invade and completely replace other bee colo- nies. They are also hard to manage for commercial pollination and have a tendency to abandon hives. This poses a threat to the U.S. hon- ey and pollination industries. Otis remains unperturbed. He says the "whole suite of characteris- tics" of the Africanized bees will determine their relative survival in semi -tropical and temperate cli- mates. "Many people believe the Afri- cancized bees will male with Euro- pean bees (the type in Canada) and we will end up with aggressive characteristics in our `-bees," . he says. "However, that is not likely to happen." If aggressive characteris- tics were beneficial in Canada, Eu- ropean bas would be more defen- sive, he says. "If there is no advan- tage for aggressiveness, that trait won't spread." In addition, African- ized bees would die if they were to swarm or abandon hives in mid- to late summer. Africanized beet aro now moving into areas where. they are less able to adapt and where they face stiffer competition from European bees. Otis believes their invasion will slow down and three representative zones will emerge -- a zone of Afri- can bees in tropical areas, an inter- mediate zone in semi -tropical areas and a zone of pure European bees in temperate areas. This has occurred in Argentina, where African bees are not found below 41 degrees south. By comparison, Guelph is 43 degrees north. "What will happen in North America will center around that phenomenon," he says. "If they are mixing and mating with other strains, there should be some dilu- tion as they move northward." Worm control should be die on pasture REGINA - New research from both Canada and the United States suggests cattlemen should be treat- ing internal parasites where they do the most damage - on pasture. The research shows an extra 15 to 30 pounds of weight gain can be real- ized if cable are treated in the spring. "To control parasites you have to focus your control efforts on pas- ture. The greatest production loss occurs during the grazing season," says Dr. Ron Clarke, Manager of Technical Services and Research for Hoechst Canada Inc. at Regina, Saskatchewan. "Controlling worm contamination on pasture is the key." Clarke says even small levels of Usborne 4-H By Lori Kernick EXETER - On Wednesday, April 22, 1992 the Usborne #1 Let's Landscape 4-H club had a meeting. The group went to Dave and Loralee Marshall's house and toured their perennial gardens. Afterwards the members went to Judith Park- er's house to watch a video on pruning and to finish the meeting. pasture contamination by parasite eggs can quickly infect' the entire herd. Both cows and calves are in- volved in parasite transmission on pasture. In cows, parasite egg production generally starts to rise in February and March, and peaks just before grazing starts in the spring. By mid-season, egg output in cows normally declines and remains at lower levels into fall. Calves pick up larvae on pastime, and -parasite egg production starts 'to -rise 30 to 40 days into grazing, remaining at higher levels through grazing season. "Calves represent the biggest source of pasture con- tamination and transmission poten- Granton 4H GRANTON - The #3 Granton 4H club, the Granton Greeners, met at the home of leader Margaret Bryan on Thursday evening and learned all about propagation. Stem cutting was demonstrated with English Ivy, division with .a fern, offsets with Aloe, runners with a spider plant and seeding with mar- igold seeds. The members also Teamed differ- ent ways of leaf cutting such as a leaf with stem attached is rooted in water done with African violets; and another way was done with be- gonias where the leaf is laid on rot- ting medium and soil. Afterwards the girls each had a chance to propagate a few plants and take them home to see if they survive. tial," says Clarke. Effective control and economic response become a matter of treat- ing the entire herd - cows and calves - once . cattle have been turned out on pasture. It is called preventative parasite control. "Additional weight gains of 15 to 30 pounds per calf are typical bf preventative parasite control •pro- grams," says Clarke. "Similar weight gains also occur with dairy heifers and yearling grassers." The goal of preventative parasite control is to reduce pasture contam- ination. Worms are controlled with strategically -timed treatmetus throughout the year. The timing de- pends on the type and age of ani- mal. Junior Farmers'hold annual conference GUELPH - At the Junior Farm- ers' Annual Conference held in Wa- terloo from March 20-23, over 519,000 was raised for this year's chosen charity, Camp Trillium, a camp for children with cancer. Mao at the Conference, this years .Provincial Executive was elected. Daryl Broadhaecker from Welling- ton County was elected Provincial President, while Brent Barton from 'Prescott County 1s the new Vice President. The rest of the executive includes Paul Naim, Past Provin- cial President; Diane Martin, Secre- tary -Treasures; Terry , Howell, Wentworth, Executive Director; Don Hess, Grenville, Zone 1 Direc- tor; Don Maloney, Lennox/ Addington, Zone 2 Director, Shir- ley Steed, Simcoe South, Zone 3 Director; Ken Edgar, Brant, Zone 4 Director; Danny Hodgins, Middles- ex, Zone 5 Director; Keith Emiry, ■■■■■■■■■■■■■•■■■■ ■ Salm Up To‘vimium■ ■ ■ . S4 An Acm ■ ■ ■ -when yea use a to kinix el LEINE NE aF ■ O ii■d.Dar and purchase LEXONE DF and ■ 110 VNCL[ ■ 111 SPECIAL OFFER FOR SOYBEAN GROWERS ■. inHere's an offer that can give you a lot! Cleaner soybean fields. Easier harvesting. ■ - Less dockage. Higher soybean yields. Plus a rebate of up to $4 an acre. • thaw the 8PECIAL OFFER welts: ■ ■ Pit la For each acre you treat with a tank -mix of LEXONE DF and Dual herbicides, ■ • you qualify for a $2 per acre Rebels. Pat 2. When you purchase one or more cases of LEXONE DF, you are entitled to • a $2 per we Rebate on your purchase of PINNACLE herbicide. Since each box of • PINNACLE treats 20 acres, that's a saving of *40 per kW . You may take advantage of one or both parts of this offer Nay ALL the benefits of fids exciting REBATE OFFER: A • The time -tested tank -mix performance of LEXONE DF/Dual on broedieaf and grass weeds. 1111 • The post -emergent power of PINNACLE to control tough bfO ___..____....._.__. �iitBads — redroot 111 plumed, Iamb's -quarters and velvetieef. • The SPECIAL OFFER REBATE of up to $4 an acre on your soybean herbicide al investment. ill Full REBATE OFFER details and separate Claim Forms for Part 1 and Part 2 d the SPECIAL OFFER are available from III your local ag chem supplier. ACT —Alla SET ALL TIE SAL ORM molts MANY Nall! Rebate is subiect to ms terms and condition descried on tie Glom roma • %me aaaMasaaim" rt i woo re rasta , iltaraaa" .• ilm as a woo• t troll rwaeta"a••rrWIWI *Doi sa,siboal rrllOa41•0•rrW Mk a" *MK wr aat•Maas" MOM ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ u .■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■.■uua■■ Sudbury, Zone 6 Director and Steve Dow, Bruce, Zone 7 Direc- tor. The Provincial committees that directors and grassroot members will be participating in for '92-'93 are: Public Awareness, Travel and Hospitality, Agriculture Education, Communications, Leadership, Ex- perience Sharing Events, Marketing and Membership and Strategic Planning. This year two new positions were created, Marketing Director and Planning Director. Chosen as chair- persons are Craig Martin and Shir- ley Steed respectively. !.Junior Farmers is a dynamic and vibrant organization open to young people between the ages of 15-29. Anyone who is interested in joining Junior Farmers' should contact your local club or OMAF office for more information. Half the people in the city would, I'm sure, enjoy a return to rural routes. Although only about two or three percent of the entire population is actively engaged in agriculture, an- other 40 or 50 percent are aware of an agriculture background even though they may have not been on a farm for a generation or two. A friend of mine -- a senior citi- zen who was born on a farm -- is on a tight budget. He has his two government pensions and a third pension from the company he worked for before being forced to retire. He loves the country. He even remembers doing chores as a child on a dairy farm. "I wrote to a lady in Alma, Onta- rio," he said, "and asked about a farm vacation. She sent mea list of more than 100 farms in Ontario where the proprietors are actively engaged in farm vacations. I spent two weeks on a farm and I have not had a better vacation in many years." Some people call it the best kept secret of tourism iii Canada. Others say 'they wouldn't be caught dead on a farm: "I don't want manure on I my boots." I mentioned farm vacations to a sophisticated lady not long ago and she said she couldn't stand the smell of most farms. I tried to explain that odors around a farm are usually confined to a certain time of year and always confined to the barn the rest of the year and she would not have to go near the barn if she didn't want to. She decided it was too much to take and I do not believe she ever took a farm vacation. She missed a great time. Just talk to some people who have taken ad- vantage of a farm vacation. It is good, clean, wholesome fun in an atmosphere that is beautiful and friendly. It should be pointed out that not just any farmer can become a mem- ber of the Ontario Farm Vacation Association. Those who are mem- bers are carefully self -regulated to ensure that vacationers receive top quality accommodations and food. Some farm couples go to a great deal of work to see that their guests have a good time. They arrange hayrides, farm barbecues, picnics, even daily swimming trips to popu- lar swimming holes. The food, though, is what our friends raved about: homemade jams and jellies, fresh-baked muf- fins and pies and cakes and even bread. "And the beef!" said the husband. "1t was the tenderest, juiciest, tasti- est beef I have ever eaten, bar none. We're going back this year because we have become good friends with the people on the farm. Our kids are about the same age as theirs and they (the kids) had the best time ever. They even watched a calf be- ing born. It was a wondcrful experi- ence for all of us." Probably ,the best feature of a farm vacation, though, is the price. If you investigate, I think you will find that the rates are more than rea- sonable, probably cheaper or at least on a par with any bed -and - breakfast establishment. In these days of belt -tightening or budget tightening, farm vacations can be most affordable for families, couples or even singles. Don't go for an exciting night life, mind you, although it may surprise you how much is going on in rural circles. It will be a good time and easy on the budget,, believe me. If you are interested, send a query to Sharon Grose, RR 2, Alma, Ontario NOB 1AO. Be polite and include a stamped envelope with your own address on it. She'll love you for it. FARM AND MUNICIPAL We have the Enperisnoeatti, f +.' Fi f' & Specializing in: D Farm and Municipal 0 Open Trench or Plow Method 0 Backhoe Service O Clay & Plastic Tile Installations For quality and service call WAYNE COOK R.R. 2 Zurich 519-236-7390 PARKER & PARKER L rniteri WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN CHOOSING A LIQUID PLANT STARTER Thompson's is pleased to offer the best quality LIQUID PLANT STARTERS to our customers. Careful consideration of the following factors along with acurrent soil analysis are important steps in maintaining a sound Agronomic program for your farm. • Nutrient Solubility • Nutrient Availability • Nutrient Uptake • Micro -Nutrient Requirements Many of trday's farmers are adjusting their crop input programs to take advantage of the convenien e of fluid fertilizers. r For more information on LIQUID PLANT STARTERS, contact your nearest W.G. Thompson branch. S.aforth H•neell Mitchell Ailsa Craig Granton Pt. Albert 345-2545 262-2527 348.8433 293-3223 225-2360 529-7901