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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-10-05, Page 23Huron farm and home, news Beef sale sof for Thanksglving; ladies can learn rug braiding Here's the opportunity we have all been waiting for, a chance to fill our freezers with top quality beef. That's right, top quality and the op- portunity to view the live animals before they are slaughtered. On Monday, October 10, 4-11 members from Huron and Bruce counties will be show- ing and selling their 4-H beef calves to the public. The 4-H calves represent several months of dedicated effort on the part of the 4-H members to learn and to economically raise a top quality beef animal. Through their own in- itiative and the encourage- ment of parents and volunteer 4-H leaders, these 4-H members have worked hard to learn more about the beef industry. This show and sale is an excellent opportunity to come out and see what the 4-H members have to offer. All the 4-H calves will be judged at 10:30 a.m. by Jim Coultes from Wingham in order to determine the sale order. The top animal will win a trophy donated by Modern Livestock Auctions. The sale will start at 1:00 p.m. with Jack Riddell, MPP as the auctioneer. The past two shows and sales have been very suc- cessful due to the strong com- munity support and the dedicated work of the 9-H members and leaders. So, why not come out on the 10th and see our future farmers in action ! -John Bancroft Rural Organization Specialist ( Agriculture) Rug braiding Are you looking for a leisure -time activity which allows you to conserve energy, recycle fabric and save money while you create something useful and beautiful. Rug braiding is a course designed by- the Home Economics Service of the On- tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to be offered as an Adult Leadership Workshop in Huron County this October. Braided rugs are enjoying a revival today partly because of the present anti- que collecting craze, but also because of their practicality, simplicity of construction and appealing designs which com- plement all styles of decor. Braiding doesn't' stop with rugs though - think of it in- volved with napkin rings, placemats, runners, wallhangings, frames, belts, headbands, etc. At the Rug Braiding Workshop, you will learn leadership skills, how to recy- cle fabric from old household articles and clothing and will be taught Cie basics of braiding, how to use new and old fabrics, how to plan colour schemes in braided articles and how to use your braiding skills to make other household items such as a trivet, a placemat or a chair pad. For further information,. contact your Rural Organiza- tions Specialist for Home Economics, Jane Muegge, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Clin- ton, NOM 1LO. There are two workshops„ each two days in length. Classes begin October 18 and 25 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Wingham and October 19 and 26 at the Hensall United Church. - P. Jane Muegge Rural Organizations Specialist (Home Economics ) Estimating corn yields There is a formula available for estimating corn yields. This formula is based on counting the number of kernels per ear and then mak- ing some calculations. You can do this calculation any time after the kernels start to fill. However, if the corn has reached the black layer stage, your yield estimate will be more accurate. This is because you will be able to count all the harvestable kernels. To find if your corn has reached the black layer stage, cut the kernel from top to bottom and observe the black layer formed at the tip of the kernel where the kernel attaches to the cob. The first step to estimate your yield is to count the number of fully formed ears in 1/1000 of an acre. If you are in 30" rows, it takes 17.4 feet to make 1/1000 of an acre. Similarly, if you are in 28" rows, it takes 18.7 feet, and if you have 32" rows, it takes 16.5 feet to make 1/1000 of an acre. After you have counted the number of ears in 1/1000 of an acre, select three average ears. Count the number of rows of kernels - this will always be an even number. Then count the number of harvestable kernels per row. To calculate your estimated yield, take the number of ears per 1/1000 of an acre times the average number of kernel rows times the average number of kernels per row times 0.01116. This will give you bushels per acre at 15.5 percent moisture. For example, if you fine 22 ears in the row length, 14 kernel rows per ear and 36 kernels per row, your estimated yield is 22 x 14 x 36 x 0.01116 equals 124 bushels per acre. As in any sampling techni- que you should sample a number of areas. Also, the areas should represent the field. If 20 percent of your corn field is poor, you should do one sample in the poor area and four samples in the other areas. The more samples you do the more accurate your yield results will be. Generally, I am sceptical about calculations such as you have just read. However, this formula is used by crop scouts in Michigan on a regular basis. Last year they boasted about using this calculation and were general- ly within 5 to 10 percent of the actual yield. ; If you use this calculation, let me know how close it came to your actual yield. Pat J. Lynch, Soils and Crop Specialist OFF WITH THEIR HEADS — Charlie Denomme (left), Jeff Horn and Ron Anderson harvest sunflowers at Centralia College of Agricultural Technology's test plot north of Exeter. The three are CCAT graduates now working in the College's agronomy research division. I� One foot in the lurrow' "CA►v fro., f..♦ .ppv[•.,td bp Sob 1.011H 110.4 N0 nm.. On. hie 2C Buried on page 6 of the an- nual brief prepared by the On- tario Federation of Agriculture, presented to Premier Davis, are some questions begging for answers. First, a scenario: An On- tario Municipal Board hear- ing was held in Stormont County to permit quarry development. The area for the quarries forms part of a significant agricultural zone in Eastern Ontario. The deci- sion went to the quarry owners. Now Available Beginning Farmer Assistance Program A New Ontario Program to Help Farmers Get Started in Their Own Operation Over the next five years, the Ontario government will be investing up to $135 million to encourage competent new farmers to enter the farming business. This will be done—for qualified applicants — by making it easier for beginning farmers to meet the present-day high costs of farm loans. How the program works: • The Ontario government will pay a direct cash rebate for 5 years on the amount of loan interest in excess of 8%, up to a maximum of 5 percentage points. This interest rebate will apply on loan amounts up to a limit of $350,000 per person. • The loans will be administered by the FCC (Farm Credit Corporation) and other authorized lending institutions including the Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and the Toronto Dominion Bank • The program applies to qualified loans granted on or after May 10, 1983 • Applicants must never have been a farmer before (either for a majority of their time or for a majority of their income) and never owned a viable farm, but must have agricultural experience and/or agricultural education. FULL DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE from local OMAF county offices or from lending institutions. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Iknl.; T,mtor,,'I AAmicV•• \Wham I)rlv1S Prgm,,'r Indeed, the brief states, one of the sites had been partial- ly stripped of top soil before the municipal board hearing. What is important in the case is the planning process that led to the board's decision. Now, the question: Where were the planning safeguards for agriculture that should have prohibited such non- agricultural activities within the recognized agricultural core of this community? Where were the planning safeguards for the agricultural commt.mity that permitted two additional quarry sites in a county already characterized by a proliferation of quarries? Those . questions need answers. This is not an isolated case in this province. The same thing has happened in a dozen townships. The aggregate in- dustry — those captains of the construction trades — need gravel to build roads, buildings, plazas, offices. All those roads lead to the cities, leaving the agrieultu"al com- munities with huge, bleak eyesores. Yes, I know. the operators are supposed to build berms to hide the holes and the scars from the prying eyes of other citizens. They are supposed to replace the top soil after the pits have been exhausted but a gravel pit is a gravel pit is a gravel pit. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. You can't get green grass from a horse's... behind. What is even more impor- tant is that some great agricultural land may be lost forever and agricultural land is not infinite in this country. Less than six percent of the vast acreage that is Canada is goof) for green, growing things. It seems too few peo- ple give a hoot whether we run out of foodland. Let the aggregate industry ruin it. Let residential units ruin it. And plazas and highways and power corridors. The only conclusion that can be drawn in the light of OMB decisions in recent months is that nobody there gives a damn about the generations to come, the population explosion and the millions of mouths to be fed in the future. Nobody is making land any more. Instead, through the lack of planning checks and balances for agriculture, land is being lost at an astounding rate. To quote the OFA's brief, government policy on foodlands must address more than just the physical base of . the agricultural industry. The goals of such a policy should include the protection of special agricultural areas of productions; it should protect viable agricultural com- munities and protect prime foodlands. , Who can question such a policy? Well, the ministry of environment for one. The lob- bying efforts of the aggregate industry for another. The prime developers who want easy -to -develop land, which is usually prime farm land, close to the cities. The latest attempt to ad- dress but one aspect of the issue, namely the aggregate extraction versus protections of prime foodlands, is gross- ly inadequate. So says the federation of agriculture. And they know what they're talking about. VITAMIN & MINERAL PREMIXES for all your livestock Use our straight ingredients or we will custom blend a pre -mix for your farm. Now Available Premium White Pine Kiln Dried Baled Wood Shavings Get our price: - in trailer Toad lots - or by the bale WE ALSO CARRY A FULL LINE OF BALANCED REGISTERED MINERALS KENPAL FARM PRODUCTS Hwy. 4 N. Centralia 228-6444 Feeding wheat to milking cows We have received a few calls and visits to the office regarding the question to feed wheat or not to feed. Wheat usually is not considered to be a feed grain, but evidently there is a carry-over of sprouted wheat on some farms. The real incentive for feeding wheat is its value as a protein supplement. It does not contain as much protein as supplements such as the oil meals; it can, however, be us- ed to replace the mixtures of corn and protein supplements. Wheat contains about 13 percent protein compared to 9 percent of corn. Since pro- tein is the expensive compo- nent in dairy rations, wheat's higher protein content makes it more valuable than corn. The net energy content of corn and wheat are similar, thus adding wheat to a grain mixture does not affect its net energy content. The best way to adjust a grain mixture when adding wheat is to replace 10 pounds of soy meal or other 44 per- cent protein supplement and 90 pounds of corn for each 100 pounds of wheat added. The resulting mixture will contain about the same amounts of protein and net energy as the original mix. Economically, then, the value of feeding wheat depends on the prices of in- gredients it replaces. However, since wheat has not been a common feed in- gredient, many dairymen have had no or little ex- perience with it. This, then brings up the matter of a few precautions that should be taken. Wheat protein (gluten) has different properties than pro- teins of other feed grains. (Gluten is responsible for the pasty nature of the wet wheat flour, which is so very impor- tant to the baking industry). However, this characteristic can affect how much cows will eat and cause some digestive disturbances if too much wheat is fed. How much is too much? I believe the amount of wheat in grain mixtures should be limited to about one-third of the total mix. At this level, palatability should not he a problem. Most palatability problems due to feeding wheat are caused by grinding top fine. This finely -ground material results in a floury meal that forms ' a pasty material in the mouth which causes cows to eat a great deal less and tends to form a sticky mass in the rumen. Therefore, coarse rolling or grinding is necessary and recommended. Another problem with the feeding of wheat is one of making a change to wheat too quickly. Sometimes, cows will go off feed since the rumen bacteria have not adjusted to the different feed. A gradual change to wheat should be made. Start by adding 10-15 percent to the grain mix for 2-3 weeks. After this, the level may be increased to 30-35 per- cent without any ruman disfunction. Dennis Martin, Farm Management Specialist Winter Experience 1083 The main purpose of the program is to provide the youth with a training ex- perience leading toward a better understanding of farm responsibilities and duties. Eligible youth must be bet- ween 16-24 years of age and must have been unemployed and looking for work for a least twelve weeks. The host farmer must be willing to provide a learziing experience for the youth. The youth will receive $3.50 per hour based on a 40 hour week with both the government and host farmer contribyting,50 percent of the wage. Employ- ment will be for 12 to 19 weeks beginning no earlier then November 1, 1983 and ending by March 16, 1983. More information and ap- plication forms are available at the Agricultural Office. John Bancroft, Rural Organization Specialist (Agriculture) Smut infested corn safe for cattle The 0.M.A.F. office receiv- ed several calls on corn smut in September. Common smut is prevalent this fall. It usually affects the stalk, showing as a spongy grey mass. This turns dark as the smut spores mature. The smut spores are not toxic to cattle. In severe cases where the smut reduces grain yield, the energy level in the silage will be lower and should be compensated for by feeding extra grain. Head smut was identified in Ontario in 1979. It was more wide -spread in 1980 and has been less prevalent since. Head smut, a fungus, enters Please turn to page 24 Times-Advocote, October 5, 1983 Pogo 23 We'll Do the Job Right... Ready -Mix Concrete FREE ESTIMATES: Residential. commerical and form, founda- lions, floors, slobs, sidewalks. driveways, manure tanks etc.. Iorm rentals, equipment rentals. For guaranteed strength quality controlled and service call C.A. McDowell Redi-Mix Ltd. Centralia. Ontario Plant: Exeter. Hwy . No. 83 west 235.2711 Office: 228.6129 After hours: 228-6780 1 STARTABII.ITY CUMBILITY DEPENDABILITY AFFORDABILITY That's Pioneer's mid-range maxi -value lineup! P41 For heavy pulpwood and light timber cutl ng 4 cu in 65 cc power to handle 16 — 28 guide bars with ease Cha.nbrake option available . P28 Top-of-the-line utility chainsaw with effective 4 -pont a,Dration isolation system Hand guard and chain brake option available r • 4 cu 4 COI:LAWN n;65 eIec'- vible'.: _. The Farmsaw For :'es of the loan ,g':.t.un 6 -pouf! 5ysie'n and a 10t e value' Firewood Cutters Special Buy any Pioneer chain saw before Oct. 31, 1983 and get 2 FREE Chains Brian's Service Center Dashwood 237-3322 Brian Kipfer SEED CORN Breakfast & Plot Tour Friday, October 7th/83 7 a.m .to 10 a.m. at Jim Kerslake Farm 1/2 mile south of Exeter • Free Breakfast • see the NEW Co-op Hybrids • Meet our NEW salesman Brad Elder • special Discounts on Corn ordered today Everyone welcome EXETER DISTRICT COOP 235-2081