Times Advocate, 1995-02-01, Page 11-•--j,,.Ir- ---
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Times -Advocate, February 1,1995
Page 11•
Opinions on soil fertility presented
Ontario perspective differs from Ohio recommendations
By Heather Vincent
T -A staff
LUCAN - Recommendations from guest speaker Dr. Maurice Watson
for fertilization do not necessarily apply to Ontario soil, local farmers
were told last week.
Watson a soil science researcher from Ohio State University pre-
sented recommendations for fertilization at a meeting last Tuesday at
the Lucan Community Centre.
The meeting was attended by approximately 200 area farmers and in-
dustry personnel. Organizers said that the turnout was tremendous. A
farmer panel added personal experience with discussion of a variety of
soil fertility and crop nutrition methods.
Keith Reid provided an Ontario perspective to the agenda. Ontario
soil, Reid explained, has a different composition than American due to
the rich mineral deposits left after the glaciation of the ice age receded.
"Recommendations in Ontario are based on crop response," said Reid.
largest dollar impact of fertilization is the ratio of nitrogen in the
s'till. If the rates are not correct it can mean a difference of 30 to 40
bushels to the bottom line. Other nutrients such as phosphorus, mag-
nesium and potassium do not demonstrate the same impact on yield.
Site specific fertilization management• is a hot item which was dis-
cussed by both Watson and Reid. Variable rate fertilizers are applied to
specific areas in this method. The use of a field grid allows for precise
repeat sampling, but this method is time consuming. The results of a
nitrate test may differ substantially between samples taken only 100
feet apart and detailed sampling would be required to attain useful data.
When farmers are attending to crops, little time is left for extensive soil
testing.
Yield response is a test recommended by Reid which allows farmers
to fine tune their field fertilization. By leaving a strip of field without
fertilization, the farmer is able to determine how nitrate works on their
land.
Watson and Reid also differed in their opinion regarding the practice
of building up soil nutrients. Watson recommends building up soil,
"we need to be thinking about the future," he said. •
But since there is no crop increase in the year of application, build-
ing up the soil may apply to future crops but extra fertilization will not
add to the bottom line in the present year. "I'd rather get paid for the
crop than build the soil up," argued Reid.
John Straatman of Watford began the farmer panel discussion by out-
lining the advantages and disadvantages to injecting manure. He felt
that the benefits did not outweigh the negative aspects which include a
more compact spread pattern, concentration of manure in streaks and
longer drying time in some zones. Straatman said he uses the no -till
method and spreads approximately 5,000 gallons per acre of liquid ma-
nure with each application.
Watson left the audience with a positive outlook for the future of
farming. He said that excess production in the next several years is un-
likely. "There is going to be a need for food in the coming century,"
said Watson. The farming industry is banking on China taking more
grain in the future and there was expected to be an 11 percent increase
in exports to Mexico. However, with the recent financial difficulties
this is no longer a certainty.
OCA launches new Linkages project.
GUELPH - As part of an ongoing
effort to establish a more profitable
beef industry in Ontario, the Onta-
rio Cattlemen's Association (OCA)
launched a new project in January
called the Ontario Beef Linkages
1?kQject. "Its focus is to develop an
�—_-infroved channel of communica-
tions between producers, packers
and retailers. This will enable the
beef industry to respond more effi-
ciently to consumer demands",
commented Bob Kerr, a beef pro-
ducer, past president of OCA and
project leader.
The Linkages project will endea-
vour to join together parties from
different components of the beef in-
dustry chain: seedstock, cow -calf,
feeding, processing and retailing.
These parties will work co-
operatively toward resolving a
problem or capitalizing on a market
opportunity for their mutual bene-
fit.
TlipeAbsce-mtrApakil is being
funded by the OntariorCattlemen's
Association (OCA), the Ontario
government, through jobs Ontario
Community Action and Agriculture
and Agri -food Canada's CAFDI
Program.
From the initial reaction to the
project, Bob Kerr is optimistic.
Several industry parties have ex-
pressed their willingness to become
involved with the project.
"We have to attempt to break
down the island mentality that ex-
ists'in the beef supply chain", states
Kerr. "We need to develop linkages
that create a series of win-win situ-
ations for all the parties involved."
The two facilitators, Jim Vidoc-
zy, retail -packer facilitator and Neil
Gillies, packer -producer facilitator,
started the project in early January.
Vidoczy has extensive experience
in retail meat merchandising and
marketing. Most recently, he was
the retail specialist with the Ontario
Pork. Producers Marketing Board.
During his tenure with the Pork
Board he developed new value add-
ed meat products with Ontario meat
retailers and processors. He also
helped retail meat managers to cut
and display pork products more ef-
fectively.
Gillies joins the Linkages Project
with over 20 years experience in
seedstock and commercial beef pro-
duction. For the past seven years,
he worked for the Canadian Charo-
lais Association as manager of ge-
netic improvement. His primary
duty in this position was the inter-
action between production sectors
to develop and evaluate techniques
that promoted genetic improve-
ment.
In the next few weeks Vidoczy
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and Gillies will make contact with
key industry players and listen to
their ideas and concerns.
"I am cautiously optimistic that
beneficial linkages can be
achieved," noted Vidoczy. "It is
important that we resist the tempta-
tion to rush out and develop linkag-
es only to see them fail for lack of
•proper planning. Any contractual
linkages must be sustainable."
"Progressive producers realize
that their future production will in-
clude delivering a product that
meets market specifications," Gil-
lies commented. "My initial contact
with Ontario producers has indicat-
ed a willingness to become in-
volved. If we work with all the in-
dustry segments and share our
information, I am confident we will
b.
achieve our mission. I know one
thing for sure, it will be a tremen-
dous challenge."
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Trailers Inc.
RR 5 Parkhill, Ont. NOM
2K0
Manufacturers of
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* Steel fabrication
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machinery and
equipment
* Sandblasting
* Painting
* Trailer Parts
Phone: 519-294-6336
Farm families invited
STRATFORD - Women and Ru-
ral Economic Development, a pro-
vincial organization based in Strat-
ford, has received funding to
provide consultation and training
assistance to farm families who
wish to develop new ineome gen-
erating opportunities. "Farm Ven-
tures" is a pilot project that will of-
fer farm families a chance to
develop income opportunities ei-
ther on or off the farm, and will as-
sist them in the decision-making,
planning and establishment of
these opportunities.
Anyone interested in taking pfirt
in the Farm Ventures project can
contact Wayne Lamb of the Mil-
verton-Morningtom Economic De-
velopment Corporation, 595-4252,
Jackie Canning of the North Well-
ington Advisory Group327-8877
or Paul Nichol of the Huron Busi-
ness Centre. 527-0305.
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