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Zurich Citizens News, 1980-11-27, Page 12Page 12 -.ya..o ... 4...4.4; Y -,N K •e Citizens News November 27, 1910 Peanut crop looks good in Ontario Commercial peanut far- ming began in Ontario this year and crop scientists expect it to grow steadily. "Within 10 years we might be producing 8,000 hectares (almost 20,000 acres) of peanuts in the province," says Bob Roy, a University of Guelph researcher. The university began peanut research in the Simcoe-Delhi tabacco belt eight years ago, and six growers got into the business when a new processing plant near Simcoe provided the market they needed'. They recently harvested about 76 hectares (190 acres) . That's amodeststart, but Roy expects the crop to double each year for the next three years to meet the shelling plant's capacity. The peanut grown in Ontario is the valencia, • featuring three nuts per pod. They're mainly eaten from the shell, but can also be used in peanut butter. Valencia peanuts are grown extensively in New Mexico. In Ontario, they are expected to yield about 2.2 tonnes per hectar (a ton per acre) . At an average price 44 cents per kilogram (20 cents per pound), a producer could gross about $985 per hectar ($400 per acre). Cost of production, including land costs and interest, is estimated at ;865 per hectar ($350 per acre). "The economics show that a producer can make about $120 per hectar ($50 an acre)", says Mr. Roy. "However, that figure should increase when Ontario bred varieties become available and when some of the harvesting problems are corrected." Surveys show that under Ontario conditions, losses due to harvesting damage range from 25 to 30 percent. Damage results because Ontario growers must harvest and combine a green crop containing 50 percent moisture instead of 20 to 25 percent. Because of the risk of frost, peanuts cannot be windrowed and left to dry in the fields before combining, as they are in the southern United States. The moist, green peanuts plants clog the combine frequently and too many pods are missed or damaged. To solve the problem, Mr. Roy and colleague Peter White are developing and testing a prototype peanut harvester to suit Ontario conditions. This machine, which includes a digger blade, brushes and con- veryor belt, accomplishes the work of the two-step conventional harvester and combine used in the United States. "The development of better harvesting equipment and Ontario varieties, combined with experience, will increase the potential of this crop," says Mr. Roy. "Slow, steady growth is what we hope to achieve." LAST NIGHT THURS. NOV. 27 COAST TO COAST A PARAMOUNT PIC TUNE What's slower than a .4 speeding bu1Nt? AIRPLANE WARNING ADULT SOME SCENES UNSUITABLE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PRE TEENS THR. BR. ONT. Starts FRIDAY! NOV. 2S-TUES. DEC. 2 SHOWTIMES FRI. Si SAT. 711 SUN.-TUES. ONE SHOWING MOO P.M. THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD BURIED HER FOREVEN' A1DU�;I J -- SHE AWAKENING WARNING: SOME SCENES UNSUITABLE FOR PRE -TEENS. THR. BR. ONT. TWO NIGHTS ONLY WED.-THURS. ONE SHOWING 8:00 P.M. ARFFY1NG SECRET SHAS tf 1e BEEN KEPT... TIN ISLNNN PARK GODIRICH 30 THE SQUARE 1 PHONE 524-7811 AIR CONDITIONE •niTI!LLMC•I4.7_T:arii ;r -:r is:•i .- ZPS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPS — The intramuralvolleyball championships were held recently at Zurich Public School. Taking the title was a team consisting of (back row) Chris Miller, Todd Stephan, Danny. Kirk, Terry Zehr, Darren McKinley, Chris Goodliffe, Mark Johnston and Marc Clausius. Seated are Martha Klopp, Tanya Forrester, Cheryl Kuepfer, Sharon Thiel, Mary Ann Kenny and Dawn McAdams. Staff photo Holsteins gain weight quicker Lighting can affect animals Livestock may be spen- ding less time in the dark as a result of research efforts in Canada and the United States. "Poultry producers have known the importance of controlling the length of day for laying birds for quite some time and are putting that knowledge to work for them", explains J.W.G. Nicholson, an animal production specialist at Agriculture Canada's research station in Fredericton, N.B. "But other livestock producers are finding. that controlling the amount of light can affect the per- formance of their animals as well." Research efforts in this area have been an in- ternational affair. Dr. R.R. Peters, of the University of Maryland, has found that Holstein cows given 16 hours of light daily produce 7 to 10 per cent more milk than those kepi under natural light conditions during the fall and winter. Dr. Peters also found that Holstein heifers, kept with 16 hours of light between November and March, had weight gains 11 to 17 per cent higher than similar heifers under natural light con- ditions. Dr. Roger Hacker, at the University of Guelph, has been involved in light research with pigs. He found that gilts given 18 hours of light daily reached maturity up to 40 days sooner than gilts given minimum lighting. He concluded that 14 to 16 hours of light per day gave the best results. The same length of light time per day was found to best for nursing and open sows. During the past two years, Dr. Nicholson has been studying the effect of light time on beef cattle at the Fredericton Research Station. "We have run four trials to date. In each, some beef cattle were given 16 hours light per day, while others were kept under natural light conditions", Dr. Nicholson says. "So far, the results are mixed." In the first experiments, calves were fed red clover silage from October to January. There was no significant difference in weight gain between calves raised under natural light conditions and those receiving 16 hours of light daily. "A second trial, however, did give us significant results," Dr. Nicholson says. This trial ran from February to the end of March. The cattle were fed corn silage and those cattle given 16 hours of light daily outgained those under natural light conditions by 0.16 kilograms per day. The cattle kept under the ex- tended light program gained 1.57 kg day while the cattle kept underthe natural light conditions gained 1.4kg day. During the second year the steers in the fall trial were fed corn silage and in the winter trial they were fed grass silage. "In neither case did the extra light result in significant increased in - weight gains or efficiency of feed conversion", Dr. Nicholson says. "From the results ob- tained, it is clear that we are still far from being able to predict when animals will respond to extra length of day during the winter," Dr. Nicholson says. "However, enough promising results have been. obtained that we can expect more research on this subject, expecially with - breeding females." "The day may not be' far away when the next gadget farmers will be buying for their barns is a time clock for their lights." New type of graduate The University of Guelph is turning out a new breed of agricultural graduates in response to changing con- ditions in agribusiness. Next spring 25 men and one woman will graduate in the agricultural mechanization major of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program. The first graduates of this new program, they will use their training in agriculture, engineering and business and economics in a wide variety of careers. Some will work in government, others in industry and yet others in organizations providing information for the agricultuural industry. About a third of the class expects to go into farming. Engineering professor P.H. Southwell explains that the graduates will be equipped to bridge the gap between the agriculturist and the professional engineer. "There has already been considerable interest from industry," he says. . Employers will benefit as the graduates trained to match mechanization systems ' to particular cir- cumstances come into the work force. Field machinery accounts for over 25 percent of Ontario farmers' current operating cost and over 15 percent of the capital value of the agricultural industry in the province. It is im- 8 WOOD PATIO THERMO DOORS 6' Sole Prite $350.00/eo. WAREHOUSE DISPOSAL ALL NEW BUILDING MATERIALS WOob BASEMENT WINDOWS STORMS & SCREENS % PRICE uMIT� SUPPtY 10 ONLY 8' PICTURE WINDOWS Fixed upper Lower slider opener Liquidation Price $298.00 50 ASSORTED CEDAR DOORS Front, Rear, Single, Double Patterns & Glass • Etc. Discount Mees 2'x4' 4 -TUBE COUNTERSUNK FLUORESCENT FIXTURES C/W Tubes & Shades $35.00 /ea. DOUBLE STEEL DOORS As low as 5170.00 ea. STEEL "1" BEAMS 24" - 18" - 14" - 12"x30' Used: Nicol USED WOOD BEAMS 9"x9"x9'6" 8" x 16" x 16' 2" x 6" - 8 • 10" TONGUE i GROOVE BAYS "FALL SPECIALS" BUILDING MATERIALS AT BARGAIN PRICES "WE HAVE THEM NOW" 500 Pcs. Cupboards WAX6°„S All Sites & Weights T.T. RUBBER RIDE 3500 LBS. ELECTRIC BRAKE $150.00 UTILITY (WITH SPRINGS & HUBS) NO WHEELS From 1700 lbs. to 3000 lbs. As low as $63.00 /ea TANDEM & TRI SETS AVAILABLE WHEELS, ITC. COUPLERS ASST. JACKS • BOWS SLIDERS ' PICTURES MAHOGANY SHUTTERS Your Choice Values up to 510.00 .99C/each "While They Lost" 9,000 SHEETS 4 x 8 x sti ASPENITE: TONGUE & GROOVE FLOORING, ROOFING, SIDING 1's 59.00 sheet #2's as low os 55.00 /sheet 2 x 4 x 10' ECOMONY GRADE $1.00 /ea. 2 x 4 x 8' UTIUTY GRADE .73c /ea. 2x4x6'40C/ea. 2x2x8'ECONOMYORAN .50 /10 TRIM �V1on.-hi. 3.5:30 Sat. 8.3 PHONE 432.4112 The Rear of 820 Cabers St., London, Ontario - One Block South of CNR Trucks off Rectory Sf.- ACT NOWT $SAVE$ portant to have skilled people to select and operate equipment that plays such a large role in our food system. Graduates will also make a valuable contribution to industries which manufacture and sell farm equipment and buildings, as well as in auxiliary services like irrigation and drainage contracting. Government departments concerned with extension and advisory services, conservation, data analysis and agricultural research and development will also provide a wide range of opportunities for graduates. Some students already have government ex- perience. Warren Wilson, a fourth year stiudent from St. Matys, ,spent last summer working with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Stormont and Glengarry Counties where he helped design drainage systems and plans for farm buildings, and did some surveying. - All students in the major take courses that range from energy conversion to farm buildings, water and waste management and farm mechanization systems. They also take a number of courses in agricultural economics and accounting and financial management. In addition each student takes a sequence of three courses in soil or crop science, horticultural science or animal and poultry science.