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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-11-16, Page 18PAGE 18—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 16. 1978 Onions, biggest crop yet Ontario onion growers know their onions. This year they produced more than 87 million kg - the largest crop on record. "This year's crop is up about 70 percent from last year," says Matt Valk, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food muck crop specialist. In Ontario, the average person eats about 5kg of onions each year, he says. This year there are enough onions to double the average annual consumption. Mr. Valk 'attributes the success of this year's crop to the beautiful growing conditons last summer. The 1978 crop is not only exceptionally large, but is also of ex- cellent quality. "Drought conditions don't have the same effect on muck soils as they have on clay," he says. "When it comes to growing onions, the drier the weather the better, because muck soils retain moisture well." Most of the onions grown in Ontario are the yellow cooking onions. The most popular varieties are Rocket, Autumn Spice, Super Spice, and Exporter. These varieties can be baked, fried, boiled, or served raw in salads or relish. Onions are valuable sources of important minerals, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. A mature onion weighing 100 g contains 38 calories. Ontario's onion crop is grown primarily in the Bradford and area marshes. However, onions are also grown in the Thedford, Blenheim, and Port Colborne areas. "We have about 400 ionion growers in the province," says Mr. Valk. "The total growing area is about 1645 hec- tares." New oats show promise A new variety of oats, Oxford, has added another page to the success story of the University of Guelph's cereal breeding program. Crop scientists, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, developed this new variety to withstand the red leaf virus. "Three years ago, red leaf was a very destructive disease," says Dr. Ernie Rein - bergs, crop scientist. "At that time, none of the recommended oat varieties had much tolerance to this disease." In several years of regional tests, Oxford showed good tolerance to red leaf and septoria. It Nuclear power a set back, farmers say According to farm leaders, they have only been given sympathy in the Porter Royal Com- mission's interim report on nuclear power: "A Race Against Time", released . in late Sep- tember. At a meeting of the Food Land Steering Committee, in Waterloo the report was seen as another set back in the already four-year-old battle with Ontario Hydro to get agriculture con- sidered seriously in Provincial planning. "Agriculture in rural .Ontario, ntario, has once more been relegated to the position of hinterland for Ontario's urban - industrial complex", says Lloyd Moore, Chairman of the Food Land Steering Committee and Chairman of the Concerned Farmers of • the United Townships. "The Royal Com - ,mission's report recognizes that agriculture will bear a disproportionate share of the risks and in- convenience of large scale electrical generation but it has made no recom- mendation to eliminate these risks and in- conveniences. Instead the Commission has ac- cepted Ontario Hydro's definition of demand: - if you can predict that someone will desire the power then Hydro must produce it." The Food Land Steering Committee is made up of seven farm related organizations established in 1975 to co- ordinate the farm community's par- ticipation in the Royal Commission's hearings. It includes the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Christian ,-Farmers Federation, the National Farmers Union and the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. The Commission said that the demand for electric power will in- crease 4.0 percent an- nually. Hydro has predicted an increase of 5.5 percent from now until 1987 and 4.5 from then until 2000. "We are encouraged by the lower prediction," says, Lloyd Moore. "But Porter's report still leaves us with having to accept all these risks and inconveniences for every alleged need for elec- tricity in Ontario's urban - industrial complex. We are convinced that many of those alleged needs are not as important as the risks the community has to accept under Ontario Hy,dro's proposed generation and tran- smission system." The farmers pointed out that the Royal Commission was ap- pointed as a result of a major uproar about Ontario Hydro's proposals for new transmission lines in Bruce, Huron. Grey, Wellington, Dufferin and Waterloo Counties. The. farmers want to know what the power is and whether it is a real need before they accept any more stations and transmission lines. They are not about to accept the risks, the inconvenience, and the loss of farm land in return for some sym- pathy. Answering service sought by Exeter The Exeter and Area Fire Board members still haven't decided how fire calls will be handled next year, but they'll be making their decision within a month. The Exeter Times - Advocate explained that the board has been in- vestigating its alter- natives and will probably opt to for a telephone system that will see phones installed in the homes of 10 members of the fire brigade as well as the clerk's office and the fire hall. If the system is ap- proved, it will be put into operation as of January 1, 1979. The board has advised Mrs. Lorna Dale, operator of the Exeter Answering Service, that her contract will not be renewed in the upcoming year. Thank you to the voters of Colborne and Gdderich Townships. was available com- mercially on a limited basis last spring, and produced well, says Dr. Reinbergs. Oxford hasseveral other advantages for commercial growers. It has less double oats, and stronger straw than the popular Elgin variety . These traits make it even more resistant to lodging than Elgin: In the 1978 regional tests, it yielded 3.5 tonnes per hectare, ap- proximately the same as Elgin. However, on a three-year average, it showed slightly higher yields. "Oxford is a little bit different in appearance from mot lodging - resistant oats," says Dr. Reinbergs. "It is a little taller than Elgin, and has finer straw, and well- filled yellow kernels." Oxford was released two years ago to a private seed company. It.. was increased in New Zealand last winter, and in Ontario in the summer of 1978. "There should be lots of Oxford available next spring," says Dr, Reinbergs._ Dr. Garnet Leitch of the South Huron Vet Clinic in Zurich explained the fine art of treating incoming feedlot cattle during a special feedlot day at the McGregor Feedlots in Kippen last Friday. The McGregors kindly loaned several of their 3,000 heifers for the demonstrations. (News -Record photo) news farm news Forage conference set Farmers are reminded of the Forage Conference to be held at the Skyline Hotel, Toronto, December 13th and 14th, 1978. The Conference, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and the University of Guelph will feature 60 top speakers (30 of which are farmers) fromCanada and the USA ori forages. The program will in- clude separate sessions for each producer's group, exhibits, as well as personnel from com- panies servicing forage producers. In addition, a ladies' program will be held. A copy of the proceedings will be provided to all par - ti c ip ants . articipants. Further program details and application forms are available at the Agricultural Office. - Because of strike and delays the registration date has been extended beyond the November 10th date and organizers will accept registration on a first-come basis. Smile Mother to children's shoe clerk: "Sure, they might as well wear them home - while they still fit " factory 14 HURON STREET, CLINTON THIS WEER'S sicju BUY ANY LARGE PIZZA AND GET AN IDENTICAL SMALL PIZZA FREE: (Example - buy a Targe 6 item Deluxe Pizza at our regular price, get a small 6 item Deluxe Pizza free! (OFFER EXPIRES AT CLOSING, TUESDAY, NOV. 21st) STUDENTS 2O' DISCOUNT On every item on our menu (excluding our regular specials) when you present your student's card. Open: Sunday thru Thurs. 4-12 MIDNIGHT Fri. & Sat. 12 NOON - 2 A.M. fact.ry 14 HURONSTREET, CLINTON PHONE 482.3$5 OR 482.3558 New barley variety Bruce barley, —a - promising new variety developed at the University of Guelph, will be available to com- mercial growers next year. This early -maturing variety achieved the highest average yield in three years of extensive variety testing, says Dr. Ernie Reinbergs, University of Guelph crop scientist. Bruce, and its predecessors, Perth and Trent, were developed through the crop science department , breeding program, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. This variety has good potential for Ontario farmers, says Dr. Reinbergs. Yields are above average, with records of 3500 kg per hectare. The provincial on-farm average yield for barley is 2800 kg per hectare. One of the most at- tractive characteristics of Bruce barley is its genetic tolerance to spot blotch, a fungus disease that affects older Ontario varieties. "This . variety is also resistant to mildew, the major disease affecting barley crops in the Guelph area," says Dr. Reinbergs. Lodging has always been one of the problems facing barley growers. But Bruce, because it has short straw, has good lodging resistance. Regional tests con- ducted last summer in 19 locations in Ontario in- dicated that Bruce performed best in nor- thern Wellington County and Huron County and in the New Liskeard and Ottawa areas, says Dr. Reinbergs. "It did not fare well in Lambton and Kent counties this year because of drought," This variety was released to SeCan., a co- operative Canadian seed ---dlitii5utor in 1977. Last summer it was distributed to seed growers. "There will be plenty of Bruce barley available to growers next year," says D'r. Reinbergs. "However, to ensure your supply, order early." For more information about Bruce .pud.,,„oth r barley varieties,,,,constilt Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Publication, 296, Field Crop Recoirnrpm:1a ioi s. This publicatfbn is available from the Information Branch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food To the electors of HULLETT, McKILLOP & SEAFORTH Your support in the November 13th election was greatly appreciated. I wiil continue to work on the Board of Educ.: ion in the best interests of all the children and the taxpayers. JOHN HENDERSON Best Interest 1 01/4 % SEMI-ANNUAL OR QUARTERLY We represent many Trust Companies. We are often able to arrange for the highest interest being offered on Guaranteed Investment Certificates. *Subject to change Gaiser- Kneale Insurance Agency Inc. re, 14 Isaac St., Clinton, Ont. Phone 482-9747 t '.11- DO YOU HAVE ��� TO WASH CLOTHES AGAIN! ANOTHER DAY SHOT! why fight that old. washer waste time and money•plus keep the P.U.C. in the black with your wash s Switch! Don't Fight! Come on over to Switch! Don't Fight Come on over to 13 RATTENBURY ST. EAST -Clinton FREE SOAP THE MONTH OF. NOVEMBER Where you can...in only one,hour...wash and dry your clothes PROFESSIONALLY "SUPER CLEAN” and in soft water, tool While you wait, have a coffee on us...and relax in clean, pleasant surroundings! mti .4••,y • 1,+•, S•.1•. hlM1v�•'Ib•:S: tiLf•:.. iY:liil �.;. ,;•;. r{.',.Y},�;.:;.;,:.}?.ti4.;{:yti •.S.l.}•. ; � ?:: k .ti :•�};\�:4k.:: �;:?•:r+��'r}•n.{.}+2vX? j;i :...v. IN TIME POR CHRISTMAS 1st: 15 Ib. Butterball Turkey 2nd: Glass Turkey 3rd: Case of Canada Dry Ginger Ale 2 CON501ATION PRIZES. bf 1lllintario Ticket* Drop this Frei Ticket off next time you're in...you could win these prkul NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE Draw to be held In the Laundromat, Doc 1 • • •