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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-03-09, Page 17'SS PAGE 16--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1978 Management key to erosion problems By Keith Roulston Good farm management is the key both to preventing erosion problems on farms and reducing farm originated pollution of the Great Lakes water basin, Dr. Dick Franks of the Ontario ministry of agriculture and foods pesticide lab told the monthly meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture in Hensall Thursday night. Dr. Franks was speaking on the subject of the Pollution from Land Use Activities Reference Group (PLUARG) which was formed under the auspices of the International Joint Commission to look into pollution problems in the Great Lakes. He warned the farmers present that if we don't do something to im- prove the quality of water in the Great Lakes basin, we may survive, but future generations won't. Once the Great Lakes get in bad shape, he said, it will take a long time to bring them back. It's better to stop pollution before it gets into the water system. During the speech, Dr. Franks was generally very sympathetic to the con- cerns and problems of far- mers, but he said that while farmers like to be in- dependent, they have to remember that we are all dependent on each other. He is often criticized, he said, by farmers who have the feeling that steps to curb pollution and erosion will cost the farmers more money. "But if we don't do something about it" he said, "farmers won't be able to make any money because many won't have any land." Erosion, he said, is a rapidly growing problem in southern Ontario and said that on a recent airplane trip over Huron County he could see where the snow had turned brown because of wind erosion, He blamed modern cropping practices for many erosion problems and said government has been as much to blame as anyone urging farmers "to grow corn, corn, corn." He said in Wellington county he has seen many farms that were very good before they went into corn that now have tremendous erosion problems from corn being planted year after year on side hills. Most of the erosion losses, he said, are in a two to four week period in the spring during run off. During the rest of the year there is crop cover. The first year corn is planted on land the erosion may not be great because there is a good soil structure but as corn crop after corn crop is planted, the amount of vegetable matter in the soil decreases making it easier to wash away in heavy run off. Although erosion is a major problem in itself, it also in- creases water pollution by carrying fertilizer residues in trhese soils into the water system. The problem of most concern to the International Joint Commission is phosphorus which promotes plant growth in the water and changes the chemical balance, killing off fish crops such as trout in favour of poorer quality fish like carp and smelt which can thrive in the new water conditions. In connection with phosphorus, he said, studies showed that farmers were, on average, putting on two and a half . times as much phosphorus as needed for the growth of their crops and in some cases it showed up to 17 times the amount of phosphorus recommended by the soil test was applied to crops. He told farmers that they are throwing their money away putting on fertilizers they don't need. "I get the impression that in some areas there are a lot of gullible farmers" who are being sold fertilizer by fast- talking salesmen, he said. Still, he said, the amount of soil from erosion getting into the Great Lake System from erpsion isn't as big a problem for the water system as it is for the farmers. He warned farmers that we could eventually face the problems of the Mediterranean sea Tricks with a mix basin which went through many of the same erosion and pollution problems much earlier in history. Now far- mers in Cyprus and Greece, he said, are actually farming on the subsoil and. aren't getting nearly the yield our farmers get off their rich land. We don't want to he peasant farmers like those in the Meditterranean, he said Pollution from livestock operations is not as big a problem as it often appears, Dr. Franks said. Livestock pollution is very visible and thus causes concern. He said that new facilities built should have some kind of manure disposal system to keep pollution out of the water stream, but if the government wants farmers to change their existing systems, he feels the government should provide some of the money. But the good farm manager ,,is not causing pollution problems either from livestock or from erosion, he stressed. "Pollution starts at home." In other business at the meeting, representatives of the Huron county board of education were present to answer questions about the current impasse in contract negotiations' with Huron County secondary school teachers. John Elliott, board chairman, Herb Turkheim and Clarence MacDonald provided information on the two issues of the strike, teacher workload and sick - leave gratuity. Since there were no representatives of the teachers' side of the dispute present, the meeting did not result in any action to support one side or another in the disputeµ Gerry Fortune reported on the successful bus trip to Ottawa which saw 46 people from Huron, Perth and Bruce counties (21 from Huron) attend the farmers meeting in connection with the National Food Policy Conference. Workshop for broiler growers An all -day electric energy conservation workshop for broiler chicken growers will be held t Ontario Hydro's regional o 'ce in London on March 13 ,,:30 a.m. It is part of a province -wide conservation program developed by Hydro for farm producer groups. "We aim to shave 10 per cent off the electricity used in producing the province's yearly supply of 60 million broilers and roasters," says Stan Stewart, Hydro's workshop co-ordinator. About ten workshops will be held across Ontario to reach the more than 500 major broiler producers. All are members of the Ontario Chicken Producers' Marketing Board, workshop co-sponsors. Participating growers will learn how to save electricity through the increased use of insulation, using adequately sized wiring, proper ven- 4-H club meets Clinton 1 4-11 club meeting was held March 6 at Julie Taylor's home. This week's club was "Emergency First Aid" and babysitting. Our guest was Elaine Hopper from Seaforth who taught the interested members how to do macrame basic knots. Members not learning macrame worked on their articles. We discussed our trip which we are taking to the Ice Capades on March 14. We also discussed our skit for Achievement Day. Julie served refreshments and we thanked Elaine with a gift. Our next meeting is to be held at Helena Tiesmas home. --by Cheryl Arm- strong and Lorrie Mann Farrier up with the times Farrier John McClinchey of RR 1, Belgrave, has just completed an advanced Horseshoeing Seminar held at the South Jersey School of Horseshoeing in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. The school is owned and directed by Bruce B. Daniels, well-known teacher, lecturer and National Horseshoe Forging Champion. The International Plowing Match will be held in Huron County this year. At the Western I. air Farm Show in London, host of the match for this year Jim Armstrong of Wingham, left, Art Peppin of Toronto, assistant secretary manager of the Ontario Plowmen's 1ssociation in middle, and Raymond Scotchmer of Bayfield, publicity chairman, sat at a display to promote the match. (News -Record photo by Ashley Geddes) news farm news The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Home Economics Branch, invites everyone to attend the food forum "Tricks With A Mix." In our very busy world, there is often a crisis of time shortages in the kitchen. The cook is not willing or able to spend all day in the kitchen so the trend is toward fast, convenient methods of food preparation. Along with this trend is the cry for good, old- fashioned home baking. Do you ever wonder how these two ideas can be combined? A homemade ready biscuit mix can be the answer. Made ahead and used as needed, this mix offers surprising versatility from savoury appetizers to tasty main dishes and light -textured desserts. At this forum, the quick and easy method used to make this ready biscuit mix will be demonstrated, followed by demonstrations of varoius dishes to make using the mix. Everyone attending the food forum receives a free recipe booklet outlining these and several other practical recipes. An extra feature of the evening's program is a look at wise energy conservation in the kitchen. "Tricks With A Mix" will be held at Ontario Street United Church in Clinton on Tuesday, March 14 starting at 8 pm. sharp. Remember everyone is welcome. Plan to attend this program and bring a friend. Smile t Then there was the fellow who went into the road map business and folded. Fewer dairymen reduce size of Milk Committee By Ashley Geddes A reduction in the size of the Huron County Milk Committee was brought about Monday as a result of a major decrease in the number of milk producers in the county. In December; 1977 there were 593 milk producers in Huron county as compared to 815 in Decem- her, 1976. It is estimated the number of milk producers in Huron county 15 years ago was 1,600. ' Chairman of the dairy farmer's annual meeting, •John Campbell -of Bayfield, read a proposal to a group of about 150 milk producers requesting a reduction in the size of the milk committee from 15 to 12 producers. The by-law was readily accepted by all hut about five of those present. One opposer of the by-law said he felt the north end of the county was not tilation, the correct sizing of hearing units, and the use of minimum lighting levels to achieve maximum growth. "Similarly tailored workshops are being planned for pork and dairy producers," says Mr. Stewart. Total electricity use on Ontario farms last year was approximately two billion kilowatt-hours. A ten per cent saving on this total, or 200 million kilowatt-hours, would be enough to supply. the yearly requirements of a town the size of Whitby or Orillia. ( hairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, Ken 'VI c K i n n'o n. adequately represented. The majority of the Holstein herds are in the north, he said, and therefore he felt the milk producers from the north should have ample say. He felt the decision to reduce the number of committee members was made "at the top". "Why does the meeting have to be held in Clinton?" he asked. "Why not have it in the north end (of the county) where the producers are?" Campbell answered the question admitting the annual meeting does not necessarily have to be in Clinton. He pointed out, however, the ministry of agriculture for the county is located in Clinton so that would seem the appropriate location for the milk producers to meet. Another man from the floor stated the decision to reduce the number of committee members was not made "at the top". The decision was made at other meetings, he said, because there are;, half as many milk producer -s as there used to be. He said if producers from the north of the county want to be heard they should nominate a representative in the next election to voice their opinions. Doug,las Trewartha, secretary -treasurer for the Huron milk producers, said after the meeting it was his opinion milk producers from all over the county 'are represented equally. He said the natter was not brought up again in the question and answer period. Ian Kennedy, who works in milk quality control for the Ontario Ministry of WHEN STORMS KNOCK OUT THE PON/ER LINES Mc• moo ;:- ',/,/'.19707,..17,—,',/,/'.19707,..17,—,' - Agriculture and Food, said the constant decline in the number of milk producers in the county is a result of large operations taking over the business. In the last year, however, he said the decline in the number of producers stems from a law passed by the Ontario Milk Market Board in 1977. As of Sep- tember 1 of last year all milk producers have to produce in bulk using mechanical cooling systems, he said. He explained dairy farmers had shipped milk in 80 -pound cans in the past. These were manually handled and often cooled in unacceptable ways, such as in cold water troughs, he said. Now the milk is pumPed into stainless steel tanks holding from 100 to several thousand pounds, Kennedy said. He explained that farmers were faced with either producing in bulk, changing to cream production or quitting, and many quit due to the increase in costs. "The milk industry has had a difficult year," Kennedy told . the dairy farmers. "Everyone is aware of it." Chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, Ken McKinnon, told those at the meeting he was, "really amazed in the producer reduction in Huron county." He said the rest of the province have about half as many milk producers as have existed, but Huron county has about one-third. He blamed the high drop in the number of dairy farmers just recently to the high milk quota value. He warned farmers to produce the quota of milk set for them by the marketing board and said they should not worry too much about over -producing a little. "We've got to sell this product," he said. "Industry and individuals suffer more if dairy farmers under - produce." McKinnon said he does not feel the last year has been more difficult than any other year for the milk producers. In fact he said most people had more income than the previous year. "It's been a difficult year but not much more difficult than any year in (he in- dustry," he said. McKinnon, who is also the elected representative for the Huron, Bruce and Grey Turn to .page 17 • (C3t) PIONEER. 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Bank s trnanc ial serer( 's pa( kage that provides l ine-ot-Credit Finan( ing in( luding Credit tor operating, expansion and imprmements. Here is FARMPI AN Creditor Lite Insurance, the FARM( HI h Business Rec ord Ss stem, FARMPLAN Income Opportunities and total AGRICULTURAL 1)F PARTMI NT Services. Here too is the RO1 F ARM MORTGAGE Program. Your Royal Bank manager will he pleased to dim uss FARMPLAN -and the many other Royal Bank seri is es 'a rth you. PTO -POWERED ALTERNATORS at HOLMESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL Several Units In stock for Immediate delivery oma on THURSDAY, MARCH 23 at 8:00 P.M. Dr. DOUG HOFFMAN, from the University of Guelph will be speaking on the Effects of a Nuclear Generating Station on a Rural Conit- munity. -Coffee and Donuts - GASOLINE GENERATORS ALSO AVAILABLE Harold Wise Ltd. Mery Dill c ASSISTANT MANAGER Mrs John Mertill, John Westbrook Secretary. Twp. President. BAYFIELD RD.. CLINTON 482-7062 Iner Smith MANAGER ROYAL BANK serving Agriculture MAIN CORNIR. CLINTON 482-3477 Y 9