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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-11-21, Page 28l it a 11,A Ci 111TQN liEW15-RECORD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER21,1084 Onth�!u C�mputers save hours and hours of work By James Friel VARNA - Just as the computer is revolu- tionizing other aspects of our day to day lives at home and at work, farming, too, has started to feel the influence of the microchip. Greg Armstrong is busy at his grain elevator this time of year helping to process the tons of grain harvested by area farmers. Chaff swirls in the eddies of air created by the wind bending around the spires and tur- rets of the elevator, located just southwest of Varna, as he discusses the addition of a computer to his operation. Greg incorporated a computer into his operation about a year and a half ago when he purchased an Apple computer. However, "I ran into a lot of problems. Availability of software was the biggest problem," he said. Consequently, he recently traded the Ap- ple for an IBM Personal Colputer (PC) with a Lotus program. He now develops his own programs with Dick Moffat, a friend near London. "We're developing all our own software and not relying on anyone else's program. "The program called Lotus is all any operation will need. If it is within the capabilities of Lotus then you can tailor it right to your needs," he said enthusiastical- ly. When you buy custom software they kind of generalize it, they don't perfect it." This lack of completeness means the program just does a�ot fulfill enough oi.an operation's needs or some facets of the program aren't suitable in different operations. "Farm computers have a long way to go. Much of the software is junk," said Greg. "I bought an elevator program and felt ripped off." But now he has the PC, "about $7,000 with some fancy frills which aren't necessary," the winter will be spent developing more programs. The elevator program Greg and Dick Mof- fat developed can handle a million bushels per disk. "If you went to a hard disk drive, you could probably go to 10 million bushels." The two hope to market the program, the best elevator program Greg has seen, in the 1169 2700 HEAT UNITS r/ /Lies . • Profit from Our New Numbers 1169 produces consistently high yields across a wide range of maturities and soil conditions, 1983 PERFORMANCE DATA 1169 PIONEER EAVERAGE OF ALL OTHER VARIETIES 1910 'eV AVERAGE °. BROKEN STALKS TIOISIURE E ACRE SOURCES OF DATA 1983 Onlano Performance Taal; 1983 PrPer lnrmar ce 0310 1983 Compeglwe Plot Books Based on corn ov 53 SO MI CORN -FORAGES -.SOYBEANS GEORGE THOMPSON - CLINTON BOYD TAYLOR - WALTON JOHN GROOT - ZURICH future. Greg is presently working on a program tp assist him with his sow operation. When it S. complete, it will tell him which sows are to farrow, which pigs should be weaned and a host of other functions. He said a dairy farmer near Zurich uses a computer for his operation and it feeds each cow according to its nutritional re- quirements, predicts mating times and keeps an individual record on every cow detailing its production. Although an operation can be fully automated and completely monitored by a computer, a farmer can, "still have an ele- ment of human error. If a sow isn't entered the computer can't watch her." This move to increased reliance on the computer has another benefit. According to Greg, "We can't get people to work for us, so we have to get this stuff. You can't rely on people anymore." He said the lack of responsibile labor is one of the reasons the dairy farmer men- tioned earlier has fully automated his farm. "And it can save hours and hours and hours of work." L & A SOUTHWEST SATELLITE Sales And Service SATELLITE SYSTEM SPECIAL 10' Fiberglass Dish 5 Year Warranty Polar mount Uniden 1000 receiver 100 degree LNA Polarotor x2399?IB delivered or... 56900 month for 48 months •Monthly Leasing Available On All Systems •Home Demonstrations Available •Stainless Steel Also Available (10 year warranty) LARRY FISHER 524-9595 "CALL DAY ORNIGHT* PECK APPLIANCES "IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VARNA" • I •FILTER QUEEN SALES & SERVICE •VACUUM CLEANERS - (Sales & Servlet to Moat Make al •FM COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS (For Farm & business) •WHIRLPOOL APPLIANCES •WOODS FREEZERS •CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS •INSECT a FLY KILLING UNITS (For Indoor 4 Outdoor flee) •GIFTS & MANY MORE ITEMS VARNA, ONT. 482-7103 83 .. %,,, 41 tv Tr, ..§:. lk ii y'�� �`r�' 2 �Fa � 4 ILA 7 ‘di 7410 sti cir 0 1° A. 4 fp? / (c. , '941, 11„Z" I c•- ibim At ,41_41- .k 0 ‘11:44:3, 144;9% ri kV, C/ftw 04 Oket 47?/01/ 'fk‘re+ GI 11# g %%tee GN.A .13.,)1°4eiz Zi GER R 44- VI�F'' , 7\,-`Gy‘,60:5C lit0044 v- /1 T'SYOURBIGIDEA? MLD r rn1=61ONTARIOS Yout 3\TTARIO pOgTUNITIFS sect Sacrelanat Do you have an idea you'd like to tum into a reality? An idea you'd ke to turn into your very own small business? If you're between 18 and 24, not attending school full time, or between 25 and 29, and a recent post- secondary graduate, maybe we can help. through the Youth if you qualify, Ontario Yl e Venture Capital program can provide you with a 12 month interest-free loan of up to $5,000, to help get you started. Think about it. You could be your own boss, get valuable experience $ecretariat for Social and give that idea of yours an opportunity to grow in the marketplace. Development For more information, phone the Youth Hotline tri F800E26&77ThGoOn rdon Dean, Provincial Secretary William Davis, Premier Greg Armstrong finds that a computer really helps on his farm. In fact, he believes it cuts down hours and hours of work. (James Friel photo) Computer course introduced Young people in Ontario are being trained through various programs to become ac- customed to using computers for home, business and farm use. The local Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) office in Clinton has introduced a computer course through 4-H clubs designed to ac- quaint those involved with the various func- tions of computers and the knowledge of how to buy one. About 120 young people between the ages of 12 and 21 are .participating in the project which started in September and ends in ear- ly December. According to Karen Rodman of the OMAF's office, each of the clubs following the computer project are different. However, all are learning the basics of com- puters, some of the additional hardware available to a user and what to look for when buying a unit. Most of the clubs get handson experience, either through the local school, which have been very cooperative, or• with leaders possessing r a computer. Tours of local businesses with computers are also con- ducted. The 4-H clubs don't emphasize any special aspect, such as farm use, but try to impart a general knowledge of computers. Beef producers assisted bycour se Computer use is becoming commonplace. The computer run, beef finishing program is available through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food at the University of Guelph. Many beef producers test corn silage and grains. for protein., calcium and .phosphorous, but don't participate in the beef finishing program. What can you get out of the program? The usual reports give ' a printout on mineral mix formula, grain mix, batch weight, financial analysis, cost analysis of feeds, feed requirement analysis and inven- tories. Breakeven selling price is included in the financial analysis. Inputs needed are feed test results of home grown feeds, age, sex, weight, type of cattle, purchase weight, selling weight, ex petted death loss and implants and growth hormones to be used. For financial analysis, information on purchase and selling prices, discounts. • anticipated, vet, medicine, marketing, trucking. costs and overhead costs are required. By using figures from his own feeding operation, a meaningful report is returned to the producer. What bet- ter way is thereto help make those decisions on cattle purchases and feeding programs? The first computer run is $45.00, plus $20.00 for additional runs within the same feeding year. We are pleased to assist beef producers in completing the input form, feed sampling and interpretation of the results. If interested, please contact your Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food of- fice. • Applications for program available The Ontario Corn Producers' Association has announced that application forms for the Advance Payment Program for corn for 1984-85 are now available at most elevators, feed mills and OMAF offices 'across Ontario. Application forms and other details are also available from' the Association office at 292 Speedvale Avenue West, Guelph, N1H 1C4 (519-837-1660) .. All Ontario corn producers are eligible for the 1984-85 program which covers shelled corn, high moisture corn or crib corn stored for sale, either on the farm or in licensed storage facilities off the farm. According to OCPA President, Ed Kalita of West Lorne, Ontario, the AdVance Pay- ment Program involves interest-free money made available to corn.. producers by Agriculture ,Canada through the Associa- tion, which enables growers to store corn for . sale after harvest while receiving part pay- ment in advance. Payment is advanced at the rate of $70 per tonne of dry grain corn or its equivalent. Deadline for receipt. of ap- plications is December 31, 1984. NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF UNITED CO-OPERATIVES OF ONTARIO AND OTHERS TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the direction of the Supreme Court of Ontario, United Co-operatives of Ontario'(UCO) has called a series of meetings of various classes of Creditors for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, .approving the Plan •of Arrangement asmore particularly described in the Information Circular dated NdVember 5, 1984, prepared by UCO. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the said meetings of Creditors will be held on. Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30, 1984, as follows: Class of Creditors Date . Time Location Holders of Member 10:00 a.m. Skyline Hotel Debentures & Member 6.55 Dixon Road Capital Investment Re.x•d.ale, Ontario Certificates Ballrooms A,B,C. Thursday, 2:00 p.m. Skyline Hotel Nov. 29, 655 Dixon Road 1984 Rexdale, Ontario Elgin Room Thursday, 3:30 p.m. Skyline Hotel Nov. 29, 655 Dixon Road 1984 Rexdale, Ontario Elgin Room Skyline Hotel 655 Dixon Road Rexdale, Ontario Ballrooms A,B,C. Institutional Lendors Friday, 2:00 p.m. Skyline Hotel Nov. 30, 655 Dixon Road 1984 Rexdale, Ontario Elgin Roorn DATED at Toronto, this 7th day of November, 1984. United Co-operatives of Ontario 151' City Centre Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5A 3A4 Forfurther information 1-800-387-9332 please telephone... 1-800-387-9336 Thursday, Nov. 29,, 1984 Windsor Grain Terminal Bondholder's Residual Creditors Depositholders, Holders Friday, of Promissory Notes . Nov. 30, and Trade Creditors 1984 10:00 a.m.