Times Advocate, 1992-07-15, Page 56i
Page 24 Times -Advocate. July 15, 1992
Literally thousands of Ontario silos on verge of collapse
SEAFORTH - "It's a story that
definitely needs to be told," ex-
plained Dennis Harper, consultant
with the Kitchener Silo Company.
Harper said that out of the 50,000
silos in Ontario, about half are in
use. Many of those are approach-
ing 15-25 years old and have not
been properly maintained.
"There's literally thousands of si-
los in Ontario on the verge of col-
lapse," he said.
Farmers, especially in tight eco-
nomic times, fail to empty out their
silos for drying every second year.
Many aren't regularly inspected for
corrosion. Some farmers put feed
in them with a moisture content
above 65 percent, even though lev-
els that high will generate acids that
will etch and corrode the concrete
or steel.
"It's like a cancer," said Harper.
"Once it's m there, it won't go
away."
Some of the blame must rest with
silo companies who failed to prop-
erly inform customers of new silos
how they were to be maintained -
`or if they did the farmers weren't
listening".
That's why, he said, his company
now issues a manual with each silo
its builds. The book costs 550 he
said.
'There's a lot of information in
here fanners don't know."
Nevertheless, Harper said silos
are "still good economical sense".
Maintained well, new ones with
high strength steels and concretes
can serve up to 100 years.
Harper cautioned against buying
a used steel silo, mainly because
they are not designed to be moved,
added to, or re-formed into smaller
Sizes.
Farmers, he said, can't be expect-
ed to be experts on everything,
which is why silo companies offer
free inspections and advice on how
to make repairs.
"I'm not kidding when I say there
arc thousands of silos ready to
come over There are," said Harp-
er.
Dennis Harper demonstrates how acids in silage ate away at
this silo block, greatly reducing its thickness. Harper said he
has seen silo walls corroded away to only a fraction of an inch
in thickness.
Farmers to discuss
mandatory $150 .,fee
SEAFORTH - Farmers in Huron
and Perth Counties are invited to an
informauon meeting on Ontario's
new stable funding and registration
proposal.
The location will be Seaforth's
Community Centre on Wednesday,
July 22, 1992. The format is open
house between the hours of 3 p.m.
and 9 p.m.
If stable funding is considered fa-
vourable by the agnculttral com-
munity and recommended by the
general fans organizations. legisla-
uon would be introduced. This leg-
islation could require all Ontario
farms with a gross income greater
than 57,000 per year to pay a man-
datory fee of5150per year tothe
farm orgartmzauon of their choice.
This stable tunding would provide
resources to the farm organizauons
to increase their efforts in educa-
tion, research and policy develop-
ment.
Wntten comments on the propo-
sal can be sent to: Stable Funding
Stecnng Committee, Box 2020,
Stauon Q. Toronto M4T 2L7, or
taxed to (416) 326-3507. If you
would like to leave your comments
on tape call 1-800-465-2960.
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di
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It takes a 66 GAL. ELECTRIC
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AVERAGE HEATING FUEL
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BASED ON A FAMILY
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Electric $666.00
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Oil $264.00
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All the Best Now and in the
Future
Thank you for choosing us
to build your new facility
Dashwood
DESIGN • BUILL
• Homes • Commercial Additions
• Renovations • Architectural Drafting
237-3789
Insurance, he pointed out, won't
cover structural collapse due to
misuse and lack of maintenance.
Repairs though can be thorough.
He said his 'Company repaired one
1975 silo for 56,200 as good as
new, even though it -hadn't been
emptied since it was built. On the
other hand, a fanner who repaired
only one of two deteriorating silos
had to spend 530,000 the next year
to replace the other one that col-
Harper also spoke about silo
doors. Failure to inspect and re-
place deteriorating silo doors re-
sults in several falls and deaths
each year, he explained. Latches
that rust, step that pun through the
wood, metal that cracks or bends,
or even installing the doors upside
down, causes farmers climbing up
the chute to fall as something gives
way.
"It happens...regularly ...regular-
ly ," said Harper.
Old loose doors also spoil silage
with allowing oxygen to enter, but
they also encourage silo fires.
Again, economic considerations
SHUR•GAIN
SCOTT'S FEEDS 'N NEEDS
often take precedence over safety,
said Harper. Silo doors host 550
each to replace, or can be built with
approved parts for less, but bre of-
ten forgotten.
Harper noted most farmers regu-
larly change the oil on their tractors
and service their combines, but
many forget to check the safety of
their silos.
GROND OPENING CELEBREITIOM
duly 13th - 18th, 1992
Como and join in the Grand Opening of our
NEW STOKE EIMD WAREHOUSE
Lots of FUN, FOOD, SERVINGS, DISCOUNTS and FELLOWSHIP!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY 1 SAVINGS SATURDAY
Barbecued Beef on a Bun ALL
8:OOam-12:OOnoon
WEEK LONG
11:OOam - 2:OOpm
Coftee & Donuts
"LET ONE CALL DO IT ALL"
ELEVATOR LTD. Tel:
CA ONT4 RIO (519)11.800-265-7624
The firms below are happy to have been selected
to play a part in this fine project
Best WLthes
to Scott's Elevator Lta.
on the Grand Opening of your
new facility
J.M.S.
Contracting
186 Main St., Lucan 2274190
CongratuCattons
to
Scott's Elevator Ltd.
We were very pleased to have
done the cabinets and counters
for your new facility and wish you
continued success in the future
Lucan Cabinets
179 William St., Lucan,
Ont. 2274629
Congratulations
on your new showroom
Beat of luck in the future from your friends
at
Langford Lumber
Home Centres
Lucan
2274416
tittatilla
t,u,d,rg centre
Clinton
482-3995
Best Ashes
to Scott's Elevator Ltd.
We were very proud to have done
the electrical work for your lovely
new facility
K.L.
Electric
179 William St., Lucan, Ont.
227-1059
Best Wishes
to Scott's Elevator Ltd.
Thank you for asking us to
supply and place the concrete
McCann Redi Mix Inc.
Redi-Mix Concrete
Washed Sand & Stone - Form Work
R.R. 3 Dashwood, Ontario
(519) 237-3647
•
Chubb Security Syssems
1033 Clarke Sid.road, Unit 11, London, Ont. WV 383
(519) 669-7362
IS most honoured to provxie your security needs et "Scott's Elevators".
Congratulations on your grand opening!
Stew Mclean, Commercial Sales Representative
Congratulations
to Scott's Elevator Ltd.
We were very pleased to have done
the heating and cooling for your new
facility
Yearley
Control
Controlled heating and cooling
throughout the year
R.R. #2 Crediton
.234.6289
a'i3Q
pod.
Fun
Swags
iscoonts
MI
WEEK
1n -Stove
to •ars
SQQct
GROND OPENING CELEBREITIOM
duly 13th - 18th, 1992
Como and join in the Grand Opening of our
NEW STOKE EIMD WAREHOUSE
Lots of FUN, FOOD, SERVINGS, DISCOUNTS and FELLOWSHIP!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY 1 SAVINGS SATURDAY
Barbecued Beef on a Bun ALL
8:OOam-12:OOnoon
WEEK LONG
11:OOam - 2:OOpm
Coftee & Donuts
"LET ONE CALL DO IT ALL"
ELEVATOR LTD. Tel:
CA ONT4 RIO (519)11.800-265-7624
The firms below are happy to have been selected
to play a part in this fine project
Best WLthes
to Scott's Elevator Lta.
on the Grand Opening of your
new facility
J.M.S.
Contracting
186 Main St., Lucan 2274190
CongratuCattons
to
Scott's Elevator Ltd.
We were very pleased to have
done the cabinets and counters
for your new facility and wish you
continued success in the future
Lucan Cabinets
179 William St., Lucan,
Ont. 2274629
Congratulations
on your new showroom
Beat of luck in the future from your friends
at
Langford Lumber
Home Centres
Lucan
2274416
tittatilla
t,u,d,rg centre
Clinton
482-3995
Best Ashes
to Scott's Elevator Ltd.
We were very proud to have done
the electrical work for your lovely
new facility
K.L.
Electric
179 William St., Lucan, Ont.
227-1059
Best Wishes
to Scott's Elevator Ltd.
Thank you for asking us to
supply and place the concrete
McCann Redi Mix Inc.
Redi-Mix Concrete
Washed Sand & Stone - Form Work
R.R. 3 Dashwood, Ontario
(519) 237-3647
•
Chubb Security Syssems
1033 Clarke Sid.road, Unit 11, London, Ont. WV 383
(519) 669-7362
IS most honoured to provxie your security needs et "Scott's Elevators".
Congratulations on your grand opening!
Stew Mclean, Commercial Sales Representative
Congratulations
to Scott's Elevator Ltd.
We were very pleased to have done
the heating and cooling for your new
facility
Yearley
Control
Controlled heating and cooling
throughout the year
R.R. #2 Crediton
.234.6289