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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1993-09-15, Page 31• FA R One Foot in the Furrou' t By Bob Trotter Times•Advoca e, September 15,1993 • Page 31 Mental tonic of great power I have forgotten where I heard it but it has been on my mind for some time: Three months steady ploughing would .cure any •man of a nervous breakdown. For plough- ing is a mental tonic of great pow- -4er. It was written, l believe, by A.G. Street who farmed in Manitoba just after the turn of the century. I have never walked behind a plough but I have sat on a tractor in front of a plough. I am not sure I agree with Mr. Street about ploughing. I found it to be hot, hard, monotonous work. Another quote: "And if plough- 'ing generally be conceded a pleas- ing thing to do, then to plough vir- gin land is pure joy. The thought that you are•pioughing the land for the first time since the world be- gan satisfies your innermost soul. Each furrow is a definite iiule stride in the world's history." ' I have never ploughed virgin land, either, so I cannot share the enjoyment suggested here. In fact, ploughing land is being questioned more and more by those interested in the environment and in ecology. Most men and women on the land fall into this bracket. They are interested in the environment. I remember years ago laughing at the idea that you can fain with- out a plough. It is, of course, not a new idea but it may be an idea whose time has come. It is termed no -till farming and was suggested by early environmentalists SO years ago. Not until recently has a renewed interest been sparked by a few farmers in Western Canada. Richard Nordstom is one of them: In Viking, Alta., Nordstrom and about a dozen of his neighbours are using the no -till method. He is a complete convert to the idea which is getting acceptance across the country. Instead of the old methods -- af- ter harvest, break up and level the fields, perhaps plough again in the spring followed by seeding, maybe rolling, then harvesting again -- the no -till system leaves the soil al- most undisturbed. The crop is planted with a special seed drill which opens the soil for seed. A small packing wheel buries the seed. Some of the new no -till seed- ers are also equipped to place a small drop of fertilizer on each seed which means using a fraction of the fertilizer once needed. The expensive machinery to plow and cultivate can be discard- ed. Nordstorm maintains no -till fanning has cut down, not only on cost, but on weeds. Turning the'soil every year, he says, brings weeds to the surface where weed seeds germinate. No -till keeps them bur- ied and the stubble left over from Mark Coulthard "WHY:'11'1*WN THIS FALL?" A lawn,shouldf LIQ; atrmmer and fall but, the fall is prob • ably the, ppeb �i Iq Mtbvois +a Jslelrrt•grasses. Fall fertilizing stimu- lates •a.fawn to beotirhe thick -and -strong rather than increasing the top growth. In the tall, grass plants utilize fertilizer to manufacture food while, due to the Cool temperatures, other plant processes are slowed down. Some fertilizer is stored in the plant tissues to provide a dense, green lawn early in the spring. A fall fertilizer supplies a homeowner with more value for -the money spent. More nutrients are used in the direct maintenance of.density and green colour. Try a fertilizer application this fall. We hope that you have enjoyed our column this season. This Is the last one for this year, but please feel free to call our office for any lawn related questions that you may have. EXETER EXTER 235-3535 Ifieeci 235- 3535 WE CARE FOR YOUR LAWN SEE US FOR ALL YOUR LAWN INSECT NEEDS: • ANTS • EARWIGS • CHINCH BUGS • GRUBS • ETC • CALL FOR A FREE LAWN INSPECTION AND QUOTATION. The On/{Orr//On The ffai*eI T/,at., •Has The No -Till Toolbar Built Into The Main Frame, No' Need For Expensive Add -On Coulter. Caddies *Has Up To 750# Of Down Pressure Per Coulter •Has Hydraulically Adjusted Weight Transfer To The No -Till Coulters And Openers •Is Designed For Any Field Condition - No -Till, Min -Till, Or Conventional SPEED 5000 SER/ES Fr Sales & Sarvlce Phone (519) 236-4934 fax (519) 236-7330 :;&g#in Street, E., Zurich Uri dA rm/ Too/s Ms Laois -I Coal ►mann Technology the year before further impedes weed growth. Not only that, but the stubble and the harder ground does wonders in preventing erosion dur- ing the spring run-off and during windy days. Have you ever experienced a dust storm in Saskatchewan? I have, Millions of tonnes of top soil must get blown away every year. No -till methods will prevent much of this erosion by wind and water so the experts say. Can it be done on all land? I have no idea but I would suggest it is worth trying. The millions of acres being planted in corn these days leaves so many fields bare and open to wind and water erosion. It certainly cuts down on operating costs simply because the fuel bill will be lower and less money will be spent on both fertilizers and weeedicides. I remember pooh-poohing the idea years ago. I think I would be ready and will- ing to try it now. New program \ Assists farm families GUELPH - Charles Mayer, Ag- riculture and Agri -Food Minister and Minister for Small Communi- ties and Rural Areas, announced funding to encourage farm fami- lies to enhance family income through off -farm employment or the start-up of small businesses. The Canadian Rural Opportuni- ties Initiative provides $25 million over three years for counselling, training and business development to assist farm families to increase and diversity their incomes. In the past, similar assistance was available only to producers leaving the farm to pursue new al- ternative job opportunities. The program will target families with below average incomes and farms not large enough -- or not readily expendable -- to provide a reasonable income from the farm alone. "The federal government is com- mitted to assisting producers in - adapting to changing conditions," said Mayer. "This initiative will enable fami- ly members to take advantage of new opportunities that may exist in addition to the farming operation." "This program fits the real needs of farm families. It encourages people to stay in rural communi- ties while increasing their skills and opportunities." The program was developed by the federal government with input from provincial ministries, farm groups and other interested parties. The federal government will work with the provinces to develop an effective delivery system. •AFIELDDAY TIRE OF FALL VALUES Chrome Sections i John Deere chrome sections are built tough for long life. 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