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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1999-11-24, Page 29Wednesday, November 24, 1999 Exeter Times -Advocate 29 Farm news Research proves manure seepage is reaching groundwater By Marion Duke SPECIAL THE TIMES -ADVOCATE STRATFORD -- Concerns about nutrientinanagement and bow it might be affecting the quality of water in rural Ontario are topics which continue to top the agen- da of meetings in Perth — even though the county is in the forefront of dealing with such issues. Members of the Perth County Municipal Association received some valuable information on both nutrient management and water quality at the 51st annual meet- ing of the organization, held in the Stratford Kiwanis Community Centre. The information on nutrient management research wasn't something anyone would welcome. However, the report given by Ian Wilcox, a co-ordinator of plan- ning and research with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, confirmed what many rural municipal politicians and farmers have long suspected. That is that liquid manure, applied in accepted quanti- ty and under "ideal" conditions, is leaching through cropland into field tile and finding its way directly into streams and rivers. Moreover, the liquid manure is reaching field tile in the highest amounts within 30 minutes after being applied. Wilcox illustrated his information with a slide presen- tation of photographs taken during the research pro- gramme. There were gasps from the audience at a slide taken of samples of run-off from field tile. At the peak of the run- off, the water sample was so dense with manure parti- cles that it looked black. . The research by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority was done on land in Oxford county, near Kintore. Liquid pig manure was applied after a period of three dry weeks, at the accepted rate of 3,000 to 5,000 gal. per acre. Not a sponge Wilcox noted it had been thought that soil acted like a sponge, soaking up the liquid manure. However, it is evi- dent soil isn't uniform. Instead it is channeled with worm and root passages. Also, tests done with smoke being piped into field tile, revealed the smoke was get- ting etting to the surface. • Researchers used three different methods of applica- tions on a no -till field that had produced a corn crop. While there was some difference in amount of manure and the time it took to reach the field tile, tests showed manure getting into the tile regardless of the application used. Tests were taken of groundwater from field tile up to two hours following the application of liquid manure. After two hours, water was again running almost clear. Wilcox said researchers also used different applicators and the results obtained are being used by Husky, which helped fund the research, on modifying, sprayer equip- ment. The UTRCA also found increases in the amount of nitrates reaching streams was 80 per cent due to run-off from field tile. However, the deeper the tile was placed in the field, the less the amount of nitrates. Buffer zone In its research, the UTRCA found a buffer of earth along the bank of a stream is extremely valuable in con- trolling the amount of surface run-off from fields, and therefore the amount of nutrients getting into a stream. Wilcox said the research project pinpointed an unregu- lated area in nutrient management. While municipalities such as Perth County have regula- tions for nutrient management, as does the Ministry of the Environment, should a farmer be found polluting a waterway, there are no regulations for farmers applying liquid manure. "And this also applies to commercial fertilizers applied by fanners, or by people living In urban areas, who fer- tili7e their lawns and gardens," Wilcox said. He said there are no regulations regarding the spread- ing equipment used by farmers, under what conditions Denfield Livestock wee The market at Denfield traded on a vary strong demand at prices fully steady to higher on all classes of fed cattle. American cattle traded strong at higher prices. Cows sold 2.00 cwt. high- er. Stockers strong. Veal fully steady, pigs, sows and boars steady. Legge Farms, Chesley sold 42 steers avg. wt. 1477 avg. price 102.16 with high sales to 109.00 purchased by MGI and 108.00 purchased by Richard Heleniak for Norwich Packers. Morley Hodgins„ Parkhill sold 24 steers avg. wt. 1363 lbs. avg. price 99.45 with sales to 106.50 purchased by Norpac. Norm Hodgins, Parkhill sold 30 steers avg. wt. 1455 lbs. avg. price 98.80 with sales to 105.00 pun- ch ed by Norpac. Bob Hodgins, Lucan sold 15 steers avg. wt. 1414 lbs. avg. price 97.57 with sales to 101.50 purchased POLICE BRIEFS Scam alert in Huron HURON CTY. — The Huron OPP are warning county residents about a number of phone and in-person scams victimizing the elderly and bargain hunters. Const. Don Shropshall said the OPP have received several calls about aggressive sales people over the phone in the last few weeks. One of the scams involves vacuum cleaner sales persons attending elderly peo- ple's homes and convincing them to buy new vacuums. Shropshall said most of the time these calls were received by telephone advising the person they had won a prize and someone would come to their home giving them the gift. Shropshall advises not to let the person into your home and speak to them through the door. He said to remember if you have won something you don't have to pay for it and you don't have to have a demonstration to receive it. In another apparent scam, a company from B.C. has listed Pentium 111 computers for sale at the low price of $700. A few Huron County residents have ordered the computers which have not arrived. Shropshall said the company can't be reached by phone and their whereabouts is unknown. Another case involves a paralegal who was paid some money to handle a situation but didn't fulfill the contract and has gone missing. Shropshall said to check with the Better Business Bureau and other agencies to make sure the company in question is in good standing. sales report by MGI. Choice steers 98.00- 105.00 sales to 109.00; Good steers 93.00-99.00; American type steers 95.00-102.00; Plain steers 85.00-90.00; Good fed Holstein steers 84.00- 92.00; Choice exotic cross heifers 96.00-1.00 sales to 103.50; Good heifers 92.00-96.00; Common and medium 84.00-90.00 Good cows 55.00-60.00 sales to 64.00; Canners and cutters 45.00-50.00; Shells 25.00-40.00 Direct to packer cows over 600 lbs. 1.06; Direct to packer bulls over 800 lbs. 1.15. Good Holstein veal 95.00-1.05 Plain veal 80.00-90.00 Yearling steers 95.00- 110.00; Yearling heifers 95.00-1.08 Steer calves 110.00- 135.00; Heifer calves 110.00-130.00 Pigs over 60 lbs. 50.00- 60.00; Heavy sows 40.00- 43.00; Light sows 35.00- 40.00; Boars 13.00-16.00 Township of Tuckersmith PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING To review the proposed amalgamation report of the -Town of Seaforth, Village of Brussels and the Townships of Grey, McKillop and Tuckersmith Wednesday, December I5t,-1999 8:00 p.m. Brucefield United Church For further information Please contact the Municipal Office 527-1997 fertilizer is spread, or the amount per acre. In response to a question from Listowel administrator Les Tervit, who asked if there is any research data on the sludge from waste treatment plants which is spread on farmland, Wilcox said no research had been done on sludge. "It is expensive to do this kind of research," he said, adding there are regulations regarding the nature of the sludge and also that commercial sprayers must be licenced. Following his presentation, Wilcox told the Banner the Upper Thames River conservation Authority had done its research on pig manure, "because that's the area of concern." He said the authority would like to do research on "dry" manure and commercial fertilizer, but at present cannot financesuch projects. 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