HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-03-18, Page 33ARRA . Over 25,000 head of cattle grazed
by Corinne Boyle '
BRUCE TOWNSBIP—Since 1966, when the
Bruce Community' Pasture first began
.operations. approximately '25;000 head of
beef cattle have been grazed on 1.400 acres
of land 'Of. the 10. similar pastures in 'On-
tario. the Bruce Community Pasture, also
known •-as ARDA r Agricultural Rural
Development Arrangement I, handles the
largest number of cattle per season.
Therinciple behind the operation' is that
any beef farmer in Bruce'County,'can apply
througlh the Ontario _Ministry of Agriculture
and Food 1 OMAF to graze a maximum of
20 heac of cattle on -the land for the summer.
An-. Rverage of 75 applications are_ ac-
cepted, each year -allowing cattlemen tb
graze t
until: th
Glen' %
check
regula
We11says that statistically., farmers can-
not- graze their cattle as cheaply on their
own laid as on the community pasture if -all
re considered.
land is located on Concession 6 of
BruceTownship, one -mile from the Bruce
Nuclear Power Development. Cattle are
grazed on a per pound basis and fees to the
farmer include 25- cents per pound plus a $3
per head entry fee to cover veterinary and
loss expenses.
The 'application period is from February
until March 20 and a committee reviews ap-
plications for acceptance. The local com-
mittee that manages the farm includes a
representative from the Soils .and Crop Im-
proveinent Association, the Bruce County
Federation of Agriculture, Bruce County
Council, Bruce County Cattlemen's Associa-
tion, OMAF staff and one member at large
is applointed by the committee. Applications
. are available through OMAF. -
At One time when beef production was at
its peak in the county, there were twice as
eir cattle from the first week of May
e first week of October. Itis. the -job of
Sells, manager; and Ted Parker to
the. cattle daily and perform the
duties required on any farm.
costs
The
many applications as were accepted. Wells
says the number of applications. in recent
years has been more in line with theaniount
of room available because of the decline in
:beef production. -
Cattle .being put onto the pasture in May
must have been wormed at least two weeks
before going to_pasture and must have been
treated for black leg. and any other illness.
The cattle are branded with the farm's own
brand and ears are tagged so each farmer's
cattle .can be identified. Cattle can be given
growth implantsr; at the farmes request."
"Any cattle that don't meet regulation
health standards are immediately sent back
.home," says Wells.
Salt . and mineral are • supplied by the
pasture farm, and water, which comes from
one central well, is pumped throughout the
farm by way of underground plastic pipe.
The land is fenced into 100cre lots with a
maximuo_m f 300 head in ea lot. Though
most of the cattle are left on the pasture un-
til October, about 350 are sent home in July.
These "short-term cattle" are brought in to
maintain pasture by helping eat the excess
growth that comes in May and June.
-Wells says the Bruce Community Pasture
tried. this process first about 10 years ago
and now most of the other 10 community
pasture farms in Ontario do this as well, as
do a lot of individual farmers. -
Studies and tests are a big part of what.
goes on at the pasture during the summer
months. Over the - past three years there
have been a lot of studies done on grass,
grass consumption and grass production in
connection with the University of Guelph.
Wells says the pasture farm is currently
involved in tests to rejuvenate old pasture.
stands without plowing them up. Tests are
underway with five different methods being
examined. These tests will be ongoing for
the next couple of years:
Over the last two years, tests of nitrogen
• Turn to page 16 -a
E�
Page 15
THE OLD FASHiONElt WAY --Glen Wells, manager of the !: bore Community
Pasture in Bruce Township, spends a lot of his summer on karseback. Port
of his daily duty on the pasture farm is checking the cattle daily, and
because there are about 1,400 acres to cover, it takes between five and
six hours. (Boyle photo)
.,UR HOME" 3 NOrth Street at
FARMS OF ALL KINDS & PLACES
WEST WAWANOSH CONC. 7 - 299 ACRES. Registered Jersey herd with cream and milts quotas Good
buildings with Surge pipeline Many options available. can be bought as ongd:ng operation or without quota
and.herd or reduced acres Call Les for particulars - -
WEST WAWANOSH- CONC. 2 & 3 - 181 ACRES. Holstein grade herd with milk quotagood buildings with
SIB pipeline.. property available without quota or nerd Call Murray or Bruce.
COLBORNE TWP. CONC. 9 200 ACRES. May be sold as two 100 acre tots one with older buildings. one
no buildings. good soil mostly drained. try your offer Call Murray
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FARM IT TO OWN IT! This Colborne Twp acreage on County Road -25 is only minutes
tolGoderich or Clinton It boasts an excellent raised rancher with loads of space. double garage. elevated
- d4ck, delightful landscaped yard, contract or rent the balance of -147 acres and you're smiling: find out why'
CaIl Murray today- -
STANLEY TWP. ON HIGHWAY #21 - right to•Lake bank 95 acres workable plus 10 acres Lakefront develop-
ment. Good buildings on highway frontage. get all the details. call Gordon Hill
McKILLOP TWP. CONC. 5 - 98 ACRES - Buildings tor hog operation. good mortgage tar qualified buyer
Call Gordon Hill,
ESTATE ACRES FOR THE LADY? or Gentleman farmer. We offer a 49 acre plot with a y ntage hardwood
bush and a vista of Colborne Township and the Maitland River that is unci sled today. A ,are offering- lull
details by calling Les •
-
STANLEY TWP. BAYFIELD CONC. - 102 ACRES.- Good buildings in a woody retreat setting. edge of town.
get the particulars - call Gordon Hill-
WEST WAWANOSH, CONC. 2 - PARCEL 1 - 100 ACRES with excellent buildings and top grade soil
PARCEL 2 - 100 ACRES - 90 workable - good house. fair barn. better than average sod -
FtARCEL 3 - 50 ACRES • no buildings. excellent level loamy soil. controlled access to fishing creek' For more
details on these fine,propedies call Murray.
GODERICH TW®. COUNTY ROAD 31 - near Hodmesvdle 69 acres Zoned Extractive Resource (ERI) right
between two good producing gravel pits. need ince say more? Call Gordon Hill
WANT TO SELL A FARM? CALL A SPE IALIST!
OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Satu'rday 9:00 -.-5:00
CALL 524-2667 or AFTER .Hot) - s CALL:
Willens 524-8451 :Bruce 524-7762
R, an if
Hill 482-3307 Murray iRourke 524-2569
OUR PLEDGE'TO -YO .
FRIENDLY SERVICE - .PROFES_�IONALISM
AND INTEGRITYI•
Les
Gord
dairy an could have hivented
Such perfect feeding syste
Research on multi feeding shows a milk production
advantage to the dairyman of 2-5 lbs. of milk/day.
5
gist Farm S
R.R.#5, -Lucknow
p''�y
395-2851