HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-06-22, Page 18Page 18 Tinres-Advocate, June 22, 1994
FARM lIPDATF.
Visitors face interest of 40-60%
It's tough selling tractors in the former Soviet Union
By Fred Groves
T -A stag
EXETER - Risks.
That's what farming is all about, no matter in what country.
Over the past couple of weeks, Huron Tractor in Exeter has been host-
ing four agriculturists, two from Lithuania and two from Latvia and they
have been learning how to sell farm equipment.
While the farm equipment business is a tough one right now, it's even
tougher in the Baltic states where, according to Gytis Slavinskas of Lith-
uania, interest rates soar between,40 and 60 percent.
So how do Slavinskas, Ugis Laimite, Antanas Juostas and Girts Aspers
expect to make a go of selling equipment in their countries?
The barter system comes into play in a big way as Slavinskas ex-
plained that those who own dealerships will trade equipment for a per-
centage of crops.
"It's part of a leasing concept, we'll take grain or whatever the farmers'
produce," he said. "It's a risk but if you want to farm in our country you
have to take risks."
That method is perhaps the only way in which farmers can manage to
have a Canadian -made tractor which costs over $100,000.
Farming in any country is a risk but when you are trying to produce
food for a nation that is not receiving a lot of government assistance for
agriculture, it's difficult.
"The assistance is not that substantial, they have no finances," said Sla-
vinskas.
The four all attended university in their country and were selected to
come to Canada when Canadian Agra went to their school and told their
dean of the program.
Canadian Agra is a private agricultural company based in Kincardine
who sponsored the group for the four-week training program on how to
market, merchandise and sell John Deere tractors.
It began the training program in 1992 and has been preparing 52 Lat-
vian and Lithuanian's to work on one of two joint venture "model farms"
it operates in Eastern Europe.
Herb Verbeek is the past president of Huron Tractor and he does con-
sulting for the company. One of the organizations he deals with is Ca-
nadian Agra.
"As a large dealer we get calls from everyone. They (Canadian Agra)
are John Deere distributors. These fellows are being trained to be man-
agers."
Verbeek said their technical knowledge is very good as they have been
in college learning about agriculture. At Huron Tractor, he had the group
learning everything from parts and service to sales.
"They've got a technical over view of how we run our service de-
partment. The second week here we're orking on a business plan and
how the departments connect."
And what about the future of farmin to Lithuania and Latvia?
For Slavinskas, Laimite, .Brost nd Aspers they hope it changes and
comes into the 20th centu
"We hope that it will be�ietter than it is now," said Slavinskas.
Herb Verbeek, past president
neath the four agriculturists
of Huron Tractor stands be -
from Lithuania and Latvia.
Alternative controls for white mould are found
GUELPH - White mould, a dis-
ease that affects more than 350 spe-
cies of plants worldwide, including
econorttically impOrtgtlt cash crops
such of white bans, canola, soy"-
beans,
oy=beans, peas, tomatoes and carrots,
can be reduced by rotating certain
crops and leaving crop residue on
soil surface. That's the finding of a
scientist visiting the University of
Guelph from Brazil's Centro de
Pesquisa Agropecuaria dos Cerra -
dos.
White mould in Brazil is a seri-
ous problem. A seed -borne fungus,
it can cause sporadic losses of up to
30 percent of the country's impor-
tant soybean crop. Researcher Luiz
Nasser and University of Guelph
environmental biologist John Sut-
ton have found that the disease di-
minishes in beans grown under
zero tillage in areas previously
sown to upland rice in the summer.
The soil is covered by a three to
five centimetre layer of rice resi-
due, which effectively buries the
fungus,,
.: in *4h -room trial at the Uni-
verrfl of tuteph. Nasser has re-
created the Brazilian Cerrados to
determine the most effective meth-
od of controlling the fungus. The
project includes treatments of crop
residues on the soil surface and
comparisons of soil moisture. By
controlling factors such as tempera-
ture, humidity. soil moisture and
residue conditions, Nasser can oh -
serve the onset of white mould un-
der typical conditions that exist in
the Cerrados. We are re-creating in
the lab what we saw in the field,"
he said.
Initial results indicate that survi-
val of the fungus after 120 days
was reduced by 64 percent when
buried three centimetres and by 40
percent when placed ',in the soil sur-
face. Reduced fungal survival was
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associated with higher and longer
duration of soil moisture under
wheat residue.
. White mould was introduced in
the 1980s in the Cerrados (savan-
nah) soybean area; it is most severe
in years of high rainfall with no dry
spells in the summer season. With
the introduction of overhead irriga-
tion in the mid -80s - mainly
through centre pivots - farmers
were ahlc to extend their crop sea-
son into the summer by cropping to
soybeans. Different cropping regi-
mens were adopted over the years,
often geared to the most profitable
crops.
Extended cropping to soybeans
caused problems. however. espe-
cially when alternated with dry
beans. peas or tomatoes. White
mould increased, resulting in in-
creased fungicide use. But inters - ;
sive use of fungicides reduces their
effectiveness and increases the risk
of residues contaminating the food
of both humans and animals, says
Nasser.
"By using crop rotation and resi-
due techniques. fungicide costs
could be substantially reduced.
with potential savings to the farmer
of $4,000 U.S. per centre pivot per
100 hectares of dry bean -growing
period." he said.
The growth -room trial is being
extended to a four-year joint pro-
ject between Canada and Brazil.
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Final acreage reports for crop
insurance and market revenue due
TORONTO - Producers who
have insured their crops are re-
quired to complete their final
acreage report for the 1994 crop
year and to send it to the Crop In-
surance Commission no later than
10 days after they have finished
planting their crops.
Packages were mailed to farmers
on June 7 and include simplified
forms and detailed instructions.
Premium cheques for crop insu-
rance and/or market revenue must
accompany the returned forms.
Crop insurance premium cheques
can he post-dated to July 1, 1994.
Market Revenue premium cheques
can he post-dated to November I.
1994.
"We remind producers that com-
pleting final acreage reports and
collecting premiums by mail is a
new procedure and they will not
be contacted by crop insurance
agents," said Greg Brown, general
manager of the Crop Insurance
Commission. "The producer will
complete the forms and mail them
back to the Commission's Toronto
office. Should they have any con-
cerns or questions after reading the
instructions, district co-ordinators
are available to provide any assis-
tance they need."
Producers must also report any
crop damage or unseeded acreage
to the district co-ordinator whose
name appears on their personal-
ized form.
Producers who have not received
their forms yet may contact the
Crop Insurance Commission at
(416) 326-3276 or their district co-
ordinator.
Free admission Canada Day
at Agricultural Museum
MILTON - You are invited to
celebrate Canada's Birthday
"country style" as the Ontario Ag-
ricultural Museum offers free ad-
mission on July 1. A fun -filled day
of entertainment games, crafts and
activities awaits visitors.
Activities for all ages highlight
these Canada Day celebrations.
Children will enjoy taking part in
games and crafts based on an Inuit
theme. riding a pony or having
their face painted.
Vintage car fans will not want to
miss our second annual Canada
Day Antique Gu Show. Proud
owners from across south central
Ontario will have their vehicles on
display. Spend some time explor-
ing more than 30 historical build-
ings and displays before enjoying
a taste of fresh Ontario strawber-
ries at the afternoon Strawberry
Social.
Pack a picnic lunch or enjoy a
meal from our country -style res-
taurant, but spend the whole day
before you head out to a local fire-
works show.
The Ontario Agricultural Mu-
seum is a living history site which
depicts the evolution of Ontario
agricultural and rural life. Cos-
tumed interpreters, wagon rides.
farm animals and colourful gar-
dens all combine to make your day
at the Museum a memorable one.
The Museum, open daily 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. through September 25, is
located five km west of Milton.
From Highway 401, exit Guelph
Line or Hwy. 25 north and follow
the signs. For more information on
Canada Day celebrations or other
special events contact Public Rela-
tions at (905) 878-8151.
FIELD CROP COMPETITION
Sponsored by the Kirkton Agricultural Society
Anyone wishing to enter their
Wheat, Corn, Soybeans, or White Beans
Please contact Rob Morley 229-8868, Mike O'Shea 225-2600,
Mervin Shute 229-6159, or Jim Nairn 229-6467
Samples must be shown on Kirkton Fair Day for wheat (1 gal.),
corn (6 cobs), soybeans (6 plants with roots), white beans (no
sample required), in order to collect prize money.
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► 2% APR for
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3% APR for
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Reminder... Daily parts drop off in Exeter and area.
After hours call Al, 235-3206
LOGAN FORD
Tractor Sales Ltd.
Hwy 1 a Hwy 19 284-1778
St. Marys 1
FORD
6T!»cuaro
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