Clinton News-Record, 1978-08-03, Page 14PAGE 14—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1978
New bean cutter
Harvesting revolutionized
By Rhea Hamilton
Necessity is often
called the mother of
invention. That's not the
case though for George
Smyth who has built what
he feels is the first bean
cutter that remains
undaunted by mud and
weeds.
After viewing an ex-
perimental model last
year at Centralia College
of . Agricultural
Technology, Mr. Smyth,
of RIS 2, Auburn, went
home to the welding shop
he's operated for years,
and put together his own
working model.
It is the first new idea
cutters (each cutter takes
one row), can be mounted
on the front or rear of a
tractor and operates at
up to seven mph.
Hydraulic motors
power a chain drive
which, in turn drives the
vertical mounted axle for
each cutting disc. The
machine is made in
modules with two or three
cutters making up each
module,
Each -module "floats"
and is equipped with a
pair of adjacent cutting
wheels for uniform
operating depth on
uneven ground. A divider
can be used to move
in bean pulling because it ` ' plants out of' the way so
severs the plants gently they aren't trampled by
just below the surface. the rear tractor wheels.
The Smyth Bean The bean cutter is
Cutter's 20 inch disc equipped with a drawbar
cutter blades are the and PTO shaft extension
same as those used on a for simultaneous "un-
conventional disc. Each derground cutting" and
disc cuts the bean plants multi -row windrowing of
ahead of it, then spins the the crops.
cut material to the rear. Tractors must have a
The disc cutting the minimum of hydraulic
adjacent row turns in the pump capacity of six
opposite direction, gallons, and provide 2,000
thereby putting two rows psi to power the cutters.
into one for harvesting. A The machine has been
windrower can be pulled tried out in the area by
behind to pull several several farmers last year
rows into a single swath. when wet conditions
The compact machine, made it almost im-
available with four or six possible to harvest beans.
Bean day planned
Growers of white beans
will have an opportunity
to see the newest
developments in white
bean production at the
Ontario Bean Day on
August 22 at the Centralia
College of Agricultural
Technology.
The research plots at
Centralia College will be
featured during tours
throughout the day.
Researchers from
Centralia College,
Ridgetown College, and
the University of Guelph
will be present to discuss
their research and to
answer questions about
bean production.
The tour will feature
work being done on new
varieties, disease control,
weed control, ozone
damage and crop
rotations. Since many
white bean growers are
now growing soybeans as
well, information will
also be presented on
soybean production in
short -season areas. The
tours will run con-
tinuously throughout the
day beginning at 10 a.m.
and again at 1:30 p.m.
During the noon -hour
the Ontario, Bean
Producers' Marketing
Board will update
growers on market
outlook for the 1978 bean
crop. Also, during the
lunch hour, the
capabilities of aircraft
for applying chemicals to
bean crops will be
demonstrated.
.Throughout the day,
producers will be able to
visit a large area of
commercial exhibits.
Many dealers . and
manufacturers of
equipment and supplies
for bean producers will
be present to display
their products and to
discuss them with bean
growers.
Clean storage bins
BY: MIKE MILLER,
ASSOC. AG. REP. AND
PAT LYNCH,
SOILS AND CROPS
SPECIALIST
- Before harvesting this
year's grain crop, far-
mers should be sure to
clean up their grain
storage facilities to avoid
contamination 'and
damage caused by stored
grain insects. If not
controlled, insects can
contribute to a reduction
in the market value of the
crop, feed contamination,
a loss of feed value,
heating and spoilage, low
seed germination and
destruction of wood
granaries.
Your preventat ve
measures should include:
sweeping the dust and
grain from the walls,
floor and ceiling;
removing grain ac-
cumulations from behind
partitions, between
double walls, outside and
under the bin; also
thoroughly cleaning
grain handling equip-
ment and burning or
burying the sweepings;
repairing wooden bins to
make them weather -
rodent -bird proof;
eliminating cracks and
crevices -that can harbor
insects, likewise, repair
cracks in concrete
foundations of metal
bins; applying a residual
spray (bin treat) to the
walls and floors of
wooden bins and foun-
dations or base edges of
steel bins (bin treatments
should be applied well in
advance of refilling) ;
establishing grain
storage facilities away
from feed bins, feed
grinding equipment and
livestock housing.
Livestock produce
moisture and feed
facilities are difficult to
keep insect free. Extra
good housekeeping is
needed. Fumigation is
only an emergency
measure that does not
totally eliminate storage
insects. Only preven-
tative measures can do
that.
WEED WATCH
There are a number of
agressive weeds showing
up in Huron County. They
include velvet leaf,
jimson weed, nutsedge
and Atrazine resistant
lamb's quarters. Each
starts as one to two plants
in a field , but can cover a
number of acres two or
three years after being
established. These
weeds, generally escape
our most common her-
bicides.
All of these weeds can
he controlled with
specific herbicides next
year, but it's necessary to
identify them now.
Control, this year, .may
consist of using a burn -off
chemical. If a burn -off
chemical is used, avoid
damaging the crop. An
aggressive crop will
reduce further weed
germination this year.
CHECK SOYBEANS
FOR NODULES
Soybeans are a legume
that produce their own
nitrogen. This nitrogen is
made by bacteria that
form nodules on the
soybean roots. The
bacteria are introduced
to first year soybeans by
means of a bacteria
inoculum. If this
inoculum has been ap-
plied properly, each
soybean plant should
have four to 10 nodules. If
the plants have few
nodules, there is nothing
that can be done to the
current crop. This simply
means that the method
used this year is
inadequate and a dif-
ferent method must be
used the next year. *Once
the bacteria is introduced
to a field, it will remain
for a number of years.
Murray Wilson of
Strathroy and James
Hawkins, of Nile both
used the cutter last year
and recommend the
results. They both got
their beans off with little
trouble at a time when
many farmers had to
abandon bean fields to
the mud.
Joseph Biener of Port
Elgin purchased a Smyth
Bean Cutter to take off
300 acres of beans last
September and recom-
mended to Mr, Smyth
that hilling be kept at a
minimum in most sails.
Although the Smyth
Bean Cutter has been in
existence for less than a
year the demand is
already picking up
mostly by word of mouth.
Already the Smyths are
getting letters from the
USA and even from as far
away as Rio de Janerio in
Brazil.
According to George
Smyth, Americans seem
to be making the most
inquiries into the cutter.
It was suggested by hlis
wife Judy that some of
the American demand for
the machine is due to the
fact that in the States
there are few govern-
ment subsidies for crop
damage incurred by
weather conditions.
"Our government ism
spoiling us," Mrs. Smyth
said "sometimes it seems
farmers don't bother
finding another way to
save their crops but let
them go . because the
government will pay for
the losses through sub-'
sidies and insurance,"
pointed out Mrs. Smyth.
Inquiries about_ the
revolutionary bean puller
' have come from North
Dakota, New York,
Pennsylvania and Idaho.
Farm machinery in
Minnesota are looking
into buying the Smyth
Cutter in volume.
Mr. Smyth is selling his
machine direct to
dealers.
"We are too busy
making them (cutters). If
a customer meeds a
service call, it is easier
for the dealer to make the.
call than us," he pointed
out. Mr. Smyth employs
five men Who do various
other welding jobs as well
as making the cutters.
This year the Smyths
have put in two acres of
beans with which they'll
demonstrate the Smyth
Bean Cutter.
Dealers offering the
Smyth Bean Cutter are:
McGavins Farm
Equipment, Walton; H.
Lobb and Sons in Clinton;
George Wraith,
-Goderich; G. and E.
Sales and Service in
Lucknow; Hydro Farm
Brothers Farm Equip-
ment in Hensall; Tye's in
Thorndale; Perth
Machinery Ltd. in
Listowel; Gilmore Farm
Supply in Harriston;
Doupe's Equipment Ltd.
Kincardine; and Logan
Farm Equipment in
Mitchell.
a
It's been 70 years now since any major changes or improvements have been
made in white bean farming. However George Smyth of RR 2 Auburn has
taken the revolutionary step with his new, improved bean cutter. The new
cutter cuts the beans off by rotating discs, rather than pulling them. The cutter
is also sparking interest in the United States and from as far away as Sweden
and Venezuela. (News -Record photo)
news farm news
Achievement days planned
Achievement Days are
quickly approaching for
the 4-H Homemaking
Clubs sponsored by the
Ontario ministry of
agriculture and food and
local county volunteer
leaders. This summer the
members have been
involved in a "Garden
Club" with an emphasis
on "Preservation".
During this project all
members have been quite
busy growing a garden
containing at least ten
vegetables and four
annual flowers. They also
have learned how to
preserve their produce
for enjoyment in the
winter months by
pickling, freezing,
canning and cold storage
methods.
Bea McClenaghan and
Grace Bird, County
Home Economists will be
condu.cting Achievement
Days in Huron County.
,They are scheduled as
follows: Clinton, Ontario
Street United Church,
Bean producers get $2.14 mill.
Ontario's 3,500 white -
bean producers will
receive a government
subsidy of up to $2.14
million to offset last
year's major crop
disaster, federal
Agriculture Minister
Eugene Whelan said last
week.
Agriculture Canada
has set the support price
at $379.85 a tonne, which
is about 90 percent of the
average 1977 market
price of $320.77 a tonne, or
$14.55 a hundredweight,
Whelan said.
This works out to be a
deficiency payment of
$59.08 a tonne, or $2.68 a
hundredweight.
Individual producers will
be eligible for assistance
of up to 160 tonnes, he
said.
Charles, Broadwell of
Smile
Money used, to talk.
Then it whispered. Now
it just sneaks off.
CHANGE IN NAME
INDEPENDENT SHIPPER
TO
United Co -Operatives
of Ontario
Livestock Department
Toronto
Ship your livestock
with
FRANK VOOGEL
Dashwood
Monday is shipping
day from Varna Stockyard
previously Roy Scotchmer
'1.15 per hundred for
cattle.
'1.50 per hundred for
veal and sheep.
CaII Dashwobd 238-2707
or Bayfield 565-2636
By 7:30 a.m. Monday
for prompt service
No charges on pick-up
ATTENTION
FARMERS!
Now is the time
to prepare your
bins for winter storage
•,S
See
HUMMEL'S FEED MILL
for Bin Treat,
Bin Fume, and
Grain Guard for the
best protection' against
Grain Insects.
Hummel' Feed Mill
35 Mary St., Clinton
482.9792
London, manager of the
Ontario Bean Producers'
Marketing Board, said
Thursday he was "ex-
tremely pleased" with
the decision.
He said the 1977 crop
was "the worst disaster"
in the marketing board's
55 -year history with
heavy rains falling at
harvest time.
The board anticipated a
record-breaking crop last
year only 920,000 bags
(100 pounds each) of the
estimated 2.5 million
bags were harvested, he
said.
Broadwell said it is too
early to predict the size
or quality of this year's
Wednesday, August 16;
Wingham, St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church,
Thursday, August 17;
Crediton, Huron Hall,
Centralia College of
Agricultural Technology,
Huron Park, Wednesday,
August 23; Exeter,
Usborne Central Public
School, Thursday, August
24.
All afternoon programs
begin at 1 : 15 p.m.
We offer a special in-
vitation to all friends and
relatives to attend the
afternoon program.
Special displays by the
club members include
record books, canned or
pickled vegetables and
beautiful -vegetable
displays. Highlighting the
program will be skits,
exhibits and demon-
strations put on by the
members as an
educational summary to
the project.
To conclude the af-
ternoon, special awards
and certificates are
subsidy
crop.. "It's been suffering
from the drought, the
same as everything else.
It's too early to tell until
we start harvest around
the first of September."
Market prices last year '
were set in advance, with
the board expecting a
record crop, he said
However, this year the
board will not be making
any advance sales.
Ontario exports about 75
percent of its white bean
crop, largely to the
United Kingdom.
About 99 percent of all
white beans produced in
Canada are grown in
Southwestern Ontario, he
said.
presented to those who
satisfactorily complete
the project.
Please accept this as a
personal invitation to
attend pur special
program. Your interest
and attendance will most
surely be an educational
experience. As well, the
young people taking part
will be gaining con-
fidence as they perform
before an enthusiastic
audience. Your support is
a valuable contribution to
a strong 4-H program in
Huron County. Plan to
attend the Achievement
Day in your area.
SWIMMING {i
POOL
CHEMICALS
Come in and see us for
all your pool
chemicals...ln econom-
ical. bulk sizes for your
summer pool pleasure.
BAKER'S
FARM & GARDEN
CENTRE
ISAAC ST., CLINTON
482-9333
DO IT YOURSELF AND
SAV
With One of Our Siding Systems
HORIZONTAL
SIDING
DRIP CAP
INDIVIDUAL
OUTSIDE CORNER
VERTICAL
SIDING
VERTICAL
JOINER
LINEAL OUTSIDE
CORNER POST
INSIDE
CORNER POST
STARTER
STRIP
Improve your home the easy and economical way. Our exterior sidings
have been selected for their durability as well as good looks. Let us
help you beautify your home and select your siding from a full range
of colors.
Get excellent value here
• Aluminum Siding
• CoIorIok-XNinety
(homecare
BUILDING CENTRE
BALL -MA CA(JLA Y LTD
BUILDING SUPPLIES
Clinton 482-3405 Seaforth 527-0910 Hensall 262-2418
4
•