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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1992-11-11, Page 104 Harvesting coiiditious severe, but patience urged for corn farmers GUELPH - Wet field conditions and grain corn crops which are high in moisture and hard to har- vest and preserve have created harvest conditions more severe than anything experienced for nearly two decades for Ontario com farmers. "The cold summer growing season of 1992 has resulted in grain corn crops which are commonly in the range of 35-45 percent moisture in most ar- eas of Ontario,".said Frank Anthony, president of the 25,000 -member Ontario Corn Producers' As- sociation, who also farms near Acton, Ontario. "With a moisture percentage of 35 percent or above, it is virtually im- possible with modern technology to harvest grain corn and dry it down to an acceptable level for storage of 14-16 percent moisture, in a manner which will ensure the quality of product required by many corn users," said Anthony. "For fanners attempting to do so, the costs are enormous, because of the huge requirement for fuel for drying, and the low -quality discounts de- ducted by buyers - and these charges must be deducted from.grain prices which are already at or near historic lows, because of the record size of the corn crop now -being -harvested in the United States." "The charges and deductions can exceed one-third of the gross value of the crop," said Anthony. Harvest problems are being compounded by wet, soggy soil conditions canoed by excessive rainfall in recent days. The corn association president notes that while similar harvest difficul- ties prevail for much of southern and eastern Ontario, the crop is.in some- what better condition in extreme south-western parts of the province. "We expect that the supply of corn from south-western counties should be adequate to meet the needs of high-quality corn buyers in the coming months," stated Anthony. Farmers difficulties are increased by the fact that official moisture test- ers are only calibrated up to a level of 35 percent moisture for corn. "Al- though the Canadian Grain Commission has just released a new 'unoffi- cial' calibration chart for corn above 35 percent, growers will find that this chart gives moisture percentages about three percent, or more, higher, for a very small increase in meter reading above the upper calibration limit of the standard charts," said Anthony, "and there is no downward adjustment of moisture percentage readings because of low 'test -weight' values, such as occurs with use of the standard IOA and 10B calibration charts." Growers delivering com above 35 percent moisture to commercial ele- vators may wish to send a sample to the Canadian Grain Commission of- fice in Chatham for a more accurate moisture measurement. Commercial elevators have information on procedures for sending samples. There is no charge from the Commission office for this service. Producers and com- mercial elevators usually share the sample shipping costs. The com association recognizes that leaving corn in the field to dry to 30 percent moisture or below - so that it can be dried at a lower cost and - with less damageto•quality during the drying process - will mean that corn will remain in many Ontario fields when winter begins in a few weeks. Past experience has shown that, although little natural, field drying of corn usually occurs in November, a slow, steady rate of field drying can be ex- pected with the colder temperatures of winter. A very rapid rate of field drying usually occurs in early spring if corn remains unharvested in the field until this time. There is a substantial risk that winter snow will knock many corn plants down to the ground, especially in "snow -belt" counties, thereby increasing harvest losses, but that risk must be weighted against the financial cost and quality -loss problems associated with the harvesting and drying of corn in its present wet condition. Crop insurance officials recognize that many farmers will have no choice but to harvest their crops later than normal. The Ontario Crop Insu- rance Commission has -assured the Ontario Corn Producers' Association that unfavourable harvest conditions this fall will not jeopardize a grower's eligibility to receive benefits under the program. "If it is determined that it is not feasible to harvest corn this fall, the Commission will not pressure farmers to do so," said Henry Ediger, Gen- eral Manager of the Commission. The date of harvest has no bearing on a producer's eligibility under the Market Revenue Program. "Corn producers are asked to exercise patience at this time to allow the crop to dry down to more normal moisture levels, in order to more accu- rately assess the quality of the crop," said Bill Jongejan, chairman of the Ontario Crop Insurance Commission. If corn producers consider that their individual corn crops will never be worth harvesting because of immaturity and low quality, they should con- tact their crop insurance adjustors for further advice. Grain corn is grown on approximately 1.75 million acres in Ontario, and has a total annual 'farm -gate' value of about $500-600 million. Most of the crop is used for industrial processing and for the feeding of livestock in eastern Canada, although a sizeable quantity is usually exported in most years. Admiring Ralph Ferguson's support One Foot in the Furrow Bob Trotter Although he did not have much time in the.position, Ralph Fergu- son never _faltered in his support for Canada's supply management marketing boards. When Eugene Whelan was fired as Canada's agminister when John Turner was prime minister, he ap- pointed Ferguson and we all know that John Turner did not last long as Canada's prime minister. When he went, his Cabinet went with him. So Ferguson did not have enough time in his post to get any policies in place: He still repre- sents Lambton-Middlesex in the House of Commons and has con- tinued working behind the scenes to help agriculture. He has pre- pared two pamphlets to prove that farmers continue_.to..receive a .de- clining share of the money that consumers spend for food. I know how difficult it is to get statistics in this country to prove anything. Not enough research is done and the figures just do not seem to be available. He, has given a . few speeches around the province recently and he maintains that the average Ca- nadian family has an income of 541,000 a year but in Ontario, the average farm profit was 517,000. More than 50 percent of that $17,000 profit comes in the form of subsidies from the federal and provincial governments so that the real profit from farming averages only about $7,615 a year. I have no reason to doubt Fergu- son's figures. He does his home- work. He has spent considerable time gcuing his information to- gether. I agree with him when he says the figures are a national dis- grace and Canadian agriculture cannot continue 10 .survive_ on that basis. I would certainly believe Fergu- son before I would believe some of the information bandied about by other people along the food sys- Soil and Crop annual meeting BLYTH - If crop fanning is com- for Thursday, December 3, 6:30 pared to baseball, the November is p.m. at the Blyth Community Cen- the bottom of the ninth inning of trc. Tickets are available through the seventh game. Very soon there your local soil and crop director or will be no guessing about what ef- the Ontario Ministry of Agnculturc feels different production factors ani Food office in Clinton. had on yields - the proof is in the Some key players and pinch - bin. Your local Soil and Crop Im- hitters will be at the meeting to re - movement Association has been view this year's cropping trials and keeping score of the players, treat- plan for 1993. Three of the players meats, and what really affected include Alan McCallum, Soil and yields. The line-up includes corn Crop Advisor for Huron County; hybrid, soybean, wheat and canola Laurence Taylor, Chairman, Land variety trials, fertility, plant papule- Stewardship Committee and Chris tion and seeding and harvest meth- Hoskins, Maitland Valley Conser- od competitions. vation Authority. The Huron Soil and Crop Ian- One. pinch-hiuer this year is Dr. provement Association has age- Bina van Duren, Agricultural Eco- nized its annual production meeting nomics, University of Guelph. Applications being accepted CLINTON - Applications arc now being accepted for an innova- tive leadership program in Huron Cooly. "10 Steps to Corrununity Action" is aligned for rural people with 1 desire to increase their lead- ership [tills and-awaroee rot local issues. Information packed sessions with bands on applications have been planned to take place in various 10 - cations around Huron County. From January to April 1993, share will be two day awions and tbrct *gaiting asaiaes-91111-a ane --day travel appu [unity and a weekend cahoot to give participants a chance to 04 Jowled .in topics mash as Msdenhip al►les, effoodve copmu- nication, conflict resolution, group dynamics, motivational techniques, decision making, community infra- structure, strategic planning...and MOM. Your participation in "10 Steps to Community Action" will -help the rural community gain loaders with an increased awareness of their own potential and the skills to nuert- age community reaources. Registration is limited. The cost is $107. Information brochures and application farms we available -kosniors-Mmosisiat.sbrQusasio Ministry of Assiotauro and .Food office, Clinton (phone 482-3428 or 140043654170). Drilla. is De - anther II. e-antheri1. tem. Ferguson recently quoted state- ments made by George Fleisch- mann, president of the Grocery Products Manufacturers of Canada. Fleischmann said that the poultry and dairy systems in Canada -- both of which are supply management systems -- have cost Canadian con- sumers $5 billion too much. How could that be, countered Fer- guson, when the combined value of all the milk, cream. Eggs, tuuice�rS and chickens marketed by Canadian farmers came to only 54.8 million'' In other words, Fleischmann claimed that Canadian consumers paid 5200,000 more than what was sold in this country. "We cannot let them (the grocery manufacturers) get away with this," Ferguson said. The grocery products manufactur- ers, of course, have a vested interest in tearing down the Canadian supply management system. Without sup- ply management, they could play one farmer off against another and get their primary products a great . deal cheaper. In so doing, they would gleefully buy everything as cheaply as possible and chortle all the way'to {he bank when More and more Canadian farmers went belly - up. When they could not get the prod- ucts here, they would go elsewhere and buy as cheaply as possible around the world. In the end, agri- culture would die in this country and we would all be dependent on other countries for all of our food. the beautiful fuel of choice - a DI& DID YOU IIOW "The national energy board forecasts that natural gas prices will exceed oil prices causing a considera- ble conversion from gas to oil between the years 2000 and 2010". For any of your heating needs Please call Dave Moore Fust at5 Maln attaat North kaaMr, Ontario NOM 183 Telephone:00j 1911418113 t•Nfl•Bds a9a1 •TA. a..c some raw Yea nod Moor When drought or revolution or pesti- lence hit other countries, we could end up starving simply because we did not support a strong agricultural community in our own country. I have always admired Ralph Fer- guson and 1 would like to get a copy of his two pamphlets. I think he is right in supporting supply manage- ment and I hope he can get as much publicity for his material as the Gro- cery . Products Manufacturers of Canada. Business gets 4H award EXETER - An Exeter businessman is being presented with a Friends of 4-H Certificate for his support of local 4-H clubs. Kevin Buchanan of Dave Moore Fuels is being presented with the certificate this week, National 4-H Week, by the Middlesex 4-H Asso- ciation. Phyllis O'Neil, president of the association, said Buchanan and Dave Moore Fuels have provided valuable financial aid to the farm clubs over several years. for 12 months NOV WHITE: DEALER HAS INTEREST WAIVER/LOW RATE: F.(,)I'1131111 NT FINANCING lour Whit,. dealer ha.. the equipment you need. and nos he has the financing you want - flexible and solid. Ask vow dealer for complete details about White's Interest X\;liver/1.m%. Haw program. When von choose ACCO White, you get all this and more: • Flexii,ie 1 inane, Programs • l':as\ :1pl,ircatronN • dame Ila\ "turnaround • Los• Hat, and \\aiver Option. • Lease and Installment Purchase Options Available dee Or (:all lour Whtre Dealer. 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