The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-08-31, Page 15THE BEST IN FARM MACHINERY' Area farmers see Centralia crop tests Times -Advocate, August 31, 1983 Page 15 Solid seeded white beans look good; canola gaining in popularity Area farmers, joined by a group from Michigan and another from New York State, had a first-hand view of the cropping tests conducted at Centralia College of Agricultural Technology and to hear speakers report on those tests at Wednesday's "Crop Update". Pat Lynch, Huron -Perth soil and crop specialist, was SHOWS PROMISE — The tests with solid seeded white beans ore showing promise according to Pat Lynch, one of the speakers at the. Crop Update session at Centralia College, Wednesday. He said it was not an ideal yeor for the test to compare with regular planting and it would take three years to determine how successful the program may be. on hand at the first group of plots to report on the ex- periments with solid seeded white beans. "They look damn nice - now," he said, quickly ad- ding, "but so do conventional". In a general reference on white beans, Lynch said this has been a year in which OMAF - received the fewest number of problem calls in the past 11 years. .He told the various tour groups that the results of solid seeded beans would have to be looked at for three years "before going gung-ho". This year solid seeded white beans (row widths of seven inches) looked good, but he noted this was not a typical year. The increased popylation is expected to help reddce white mould problems as the pods are held up off the ground, but fortunately white mould was not a problem anywhere this year and so comparisons :3 addition, the high wind and rain caused pia;its to fall over more than would nor- mally be expected, making it a poor year to back any theories on standability. Lynch, who reported that solid seeded beans require about 25 percent more seeds per acre, said that while researchers suggest .there should be yield advantages, he'd be satisfied with the same yield if there were less hassles with disease and harvesting. A yield advantage CONVENIENT SOURCE FOR WINTER WHEAT Stewart Seeds offers local growers a new, convenient service for handling this fall's seed requirements. Drop in to our Ailsa Craig office or call today and choose from a good selection of pedigreed seed varieties including Favor and Fredrick. You can always be sure of the highest quality from Stewart's and now you can take advantage of complete cash and carry discounts. Save even more! Buy bulk certified #1 seed at a savings of $ 20.00 per metric tonne. Order your fall seed today from the new convenient source ... Stewart Seeds. * good selection * highest quality * cash & carry terms * bulk savings * convenience For more information call Shirley Rees at our Ailsa Craig office Toll Free: 1-800-265-4258 USE IT FOR ALL IT'S WORTH! Stewart Seeds division of CIBA-GEIGY SEEDS CIBA-GEIGY CANADA LTD. Ailsa Craig. Ontario NOM 1 AO CEREALS would be an added bonus. Direct combining is possi- ble with solid seeded beans and it is here that one of the main advantage:, arises as it does not require the ulcerous decision on when to pull beans. Combining is critical and to that end, a demonstration will be held at the Mitchell area farm of Jim Harper on Wed., Sept. 14. Lynch told the farmers that white beans have the lowest consumption of all the edible beans and he predicted that os colored beans increase even more in popularity, area farmers will be ready to move into ,h, m in larger proportions. "If we can growsolid seed- ed white beans, we can grow anything," he said, noting that all the rest were easier to grow as they were not as susceptible to disease and in- sects as whites. Tour members were advis- ed that area beans suffered ozone damage on two occa- sions this month. On August 17, there was a two-hour period in which the levels were more than 30 percent higher than the critical level. J Rick Upfold manned the next test area to tell about in- tensive cereal management in which it would be hoped to duplicate the 120-130 bushel per acre that occurs in cereal crops in many European countries. The Guelph specialist pointed out that, to date, results have not been very im- pressive in Canadian tests, primarily because of weather conditions. It is too dry and hot in this arga to expect vast yield improvements, he sug- gested, noting that in Europe the plant fills over a longer period of time and therefore takes greater advantage of the growth stimulants used. To illustrate the point, Up- fold asked farmers how last year's barley crop was, and when they replied it was one of the best ever, he pointed to the fact the season has been cool and wet, and with the slower growth period, the yield was increased. While some yield gains have been recorded in tests, it was explained that none had reached the point where the added cost of nitrogen, growth regulators and fungicides has been warranted. Indicating that the added material costs were $45 per acre, he said it would take an increased yield of 15 bushel just to pay for the material, let alone the extra work and time involved in going over the field three, four or even five additional times each season. The extension coordinator at the crop service depart- ment at Guelph, Upfold noted that the increased costs with no appreciable returns was the state of farming in many areas, "but why encourage it?". Experiments with canola were outlined next by Bob Forrest of the Centralia agronomy division and he noted there was "cautious op- timism" with the crop, which is expected to increase in popularity in Ontario. He said that Centralia is on the southern fringe of the ideal growing area and it will probably do better in northern parts of this county.and even further to the north. Forrest indicated that ear- ly planting is critical because if the weather is too hot when the plant flowers, a great many will abort. That's why spring varieties do not do well in southern parts of the province. Winter canola varieties ap- pear to have greater poten- tial, but as yet none is licenc- ed in Canada. Canola has similar yields and uses to soybeans, but unlike the latter, canola re- quires nitrogen and is af- fected more by insects, par- ticularly the flea beetle. The survival rate has not been good in Centralia crops and Forrest said future On hand to show the weed testing will look at increased control test plots was Jim seeding rates. O'Toole of Centralia College. cuts!. lot '1 tp i. ii••• NOT PROFITABLE — Rick Upfold, extension dinator crop service deportment at Guelph, outlines tests on intensive cereal management at Centralia Col- lege Crop Update session. Figures reveal the extra costs involved are not warranted in view of the low yield increase that results. (r ' Y •4 coor- GET UN UPDATE — Area farmers, joined by a group from Michigan and New York State, attended Wednesday's Crop Update session pt Centralia College of Agricultural Technology. CCAT staff member Jim O'Toole, left, is shown discuss- ing the weed control tests with one of the tour groups. t BOB FORREST ....canola gaining in popularity, but Centralia is at southern fringe of the best growing area. Still time to get sign Last year the Huron Coun- ty Farm and Safety Associa- tion launched a program whereby the Iluron County Junior Farmers would at- tempt todistributeasigniwar- ning of the possible presence of deadly gasses to all farmers having either liquid manure storage or upright silos. These signs will be in- stalled at no cost to the farmer. To date over 1200 signs have been distributed. Do you have your sign? if not. contact the Farm Safety Director for your Township - Ilay Township - Lionel Wilder - 2:16-4020; Stephen Township Allan Turnbull - 238-2614: Ushorne Township - Allan Hern - 229-6844; or contact the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Clinton at 482-3428. - Hydrostatic drive - Floating auger head (No canvases to wear our) - Excellent in grass - Excellent in grain - Large conditioner (easy to drop off for groin windrowing) - Double knife drive EFE f This unit must go!!! We sloshed the price Special s25,00000 Regular price '35,64000 Choice of programs FREE financing till April '84 or Financing at.4.9°i0 for one year or 7.9% for two years or 10.9% for- three years Coll for a demonstration ' 519-235-1380 EXETER FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED 7.7 N t on, 510 FIS t1E0 When is the federal govern- ment going to provide reasonable financing for farmers? As this is written, the Farm Credit Corporation is crying for funds. All the promises made by Etldbtre' Whelan have come to naught and pro- vincial agricultural organiza- , tions are fed up to here. Away hack in the 1960s and the early 1970s, the almost - defunct farmers union talked about drastic measures to im- prove the lot of farmers. They talked about a massive, province -wide holdback, a strike, that could cripple the food industry. In a few days, they said, farmers could bring this nation to its knees by withholding everything they grew until they got a reasonable price. it didn't matter, they said, what was being grown. All that was needed was withholding their products from the market. it was drastic talk then and still is. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has considered this step: a massive, province -wide strike of undetermined duration. This is the same approach taken by the fanners union more than 15 years ago. The farm union was laughed at. Nobody took them seriously because they became a na- tional union, their local sup- port died and the union is r ,I a force to be reckoned with any more. But the federation of agriculture is. A five -point program has been adopted by the federa tion but the sixth point. the holdback of products. is not a part of the program. The OFA will continue to spread the gospel of farming by press releases. briefing politicians and civil servants and by giving media inter- views. The 'federation will continue to lobby at Queen's ne loot in the furrow' by�� tete•,. r.pp•e.•,••+o, Bon r•ot,e• 14. a Rn 1,m... 0-1 N38 Jt , Park and Ottawa and give assistance to county people who want to inform the public on farm issues. But this is not drastic enough to give everyone in Canada an insight into what is happening at the farm gate. Until a massive public rela- tions program is mounted, nobody will know the plight of most farmers. More impor- tant, nobody will care. The day is long past when most people had a glimmer of what was happening on the farm. Years ago, almost everyone had a relative con- nected with farming, if not a relative who was a full-time farmer. Not today. Fewer than five percent of the population today is direct- ly connected with farming. , Most people know nothing about it. They cannot tell the difference between a Holstein and a Hereford. And why should they? Magnum P.1., Dallas, Dynasty and The Journal are more important than the Gelds of grain wav- ing along -the highway. And that is a natural progression. What farm organizations FARMERS Book Now To have your seed wheat custom cleaned on your farm. We clean, trent, bag or bulk and we offer ger- mination tests. Call: Canadian Mobile Seed Cleaning Ltd. (agent) 519-289-5602 We'll Do the lob Right... Ready -Mix Concrete FREF ESTIMATES Res,clnnt,ol commerical and faun iounda Irons floors slabs sidewalks driveways manure tanks etc form rentals equtpme•,t rentals For guaranteed strength quality controlled and service call C.A. McDowell Redi-Mix Ltd. Contralle, Ontario Plant: Exeter, Hwy. No. 83 wast 235-2711 Office: 2286129 Alter hours: 228-6780 must do is tell the whole coun- try about their plight. They need a topnotch public rela- • tions firm to bring their message to those great un- washed millions out there who do not know the dif- ference between a crop of clover and a crop of corn. But farmers are too brr .e to hire Dalton Camp or Keith Davey to tell their story. They must depend on the largesse of local editors. But local editors are too aware of the big faced stores who can make or break them with advertising. So farmers are left out in the back forty waiting for pro- vidence to send them a fly. Still, the thought of an emp- ty belly is wistful thinking and farmers could consider it. Couldn't they? le- fA 0: 11111, ,1=�-Nv.-==-=-.... r • Model 851 New Holland with automatic twine wrapper • Make round bales up to 1500 lbs. • No belts to flip, tear or stretch • totally enclosed, no leaf loss • Fast one man haying One only (Regular price $16000°") August Special $11,500°° Hay!!! This "is"! A bargain Choice of programs FREE financing till April 1, 1984 or choice of: 4.90,0 for one year 7.9°o for two years 10.9°,0 for three years Call for a demonstration now Financing at or or • EFE 1.1 1 519-235-1380 EXETER FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED 747'.'A N5' NO074 EXETER CNTARIC Seed Wheat Excellent supply of Old and New Varieties of Seed Wheat available "Check our prices before you buy" We are buyers of • Seed oats • Feed oats • Feed barley • Seed barley • Mixed grain Highest prices paid for your 1983 grain crop Please give us a call at 235.0770 9h GOLDEN HARVEST FARM SEEDS 151 Thames Road East, Exeter Give Us a Call at 235-0770