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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-18, Page 34PAGE 12A--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978 ARM PA cr. to bne foot in the furrow' ., It would seem that this deathless prose is being watched carefully by yourp^friendly Ontario Hydro. Twice in the last four months I have received polite let- ters froln Hydro officials disputing what has been written. Perhaps many readers have already read a letter to the editor sent from H.R. Hawley, manager of property acqui- sition for Ontario Hydro, from the utility's Toronto office. no less. • Mr. Hawley takes me to task for a column -written in March charging that Hydro promised not to "pour an con- crete while land negotiations were still in progress." No such promise was ever made, Mr. Hawley says. Also, he suggests I should not automatically assume what others may say is always correct and that what Hydro says is cloaked in duplicity. "To refuse to accept facts that do not conform to one's preconceived ideas is not a good formu- la for arriving at the truth," he says in his letter. Aw, come on, friend. I have been connected with journa- lism for more years than 1 care to remember. I have been farm writer for almost 20 years. I'm not a neophyte. In those 20 years, I have heard the murmurs of dissatis- faction from farmers grow to a grumble, a growl and a roar. Almost every issue of Farm and Country magazine, the voice of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, bristles with accounts of grumblings by farmers against Hydro. And that is Where the.quotations came from. You're right, Mr. Hawley. I assumed that farm magazine was correct. 13ut'I'm like that old philosopher, Will Rogers — ever heard of him? — who said that all he ever knew he read in the pa- pers. I subscribe to three or four daily newspapers as well as half -a -dozen weekly newspapers and I do not have to do much reading to find that many farmers across Ontario are unhappy with the way Ontario Hydro has treated them in the past. I do know that many improvements have been made; that many farmers have been pleasantly surprised at the fair and honorable treatment received. And I believe this treat- ment will continue to improve through the efforts of con- Letters are appreaated by Bob Trotter Eldale Rd Elmna Oni N3B 2C 7 scientious Hydro officials such as H.R. Hawley who seems determined to right some wrongs. I am skeptical enough to believe, though, that much of this concern has come about because farm writers and farm papers have trumpeted some past inequities to the public. Speaking of disgruntled farmers, Farm and Country maga- zine just last month carried a stinging letter by W.C. Lang- staff of Belleville protesting right-of-way expropriations in the Stirling area. I am quite willing to believe that Hydro has a tough time getting rights--of-way nowadays. It is impossible to please all of the people all of the time. Hawley: "The Expropriations Act clearly gives Hydro the authority and the right to proceed with preliminary con- struction while negotiations are in progress...This is what Hydro is doing, what it clearly and legally is entitled to do." Now ain't that spoken like an official who hues to a rigid routine? It was also suggested in the letter that Hydro has already reached settlements with 152 of the 200 owners affected. That still leaves almost 25 per cent unhappy doesn't it? Oh yes. Mr. Hawley wants to arrange a meeting to discuss the complaints and charges made by farmers when Hydro was arranging for the corridor to Bruce peninsula from Bradley Junction: "I note that you have talked with many farmers...1, of course, accept unhesitatingly your word and your good faith in these matters...I am sure you are a busy man, but if you could take the time to meet me at your con- venience, and let me know'when and where, I should be most grateful. When and where? How about boxing gloves at 50 paces? Or wet noodles at 10 paces in front of the town hall steps at noon on Good Friday? Why meet with me? Why not talk to the farmers who were involved at the time? They may be happy now but they sure weren't at th'e time. Let them tell you. Don't take the word of an untrustworthy old columnist who apologizes for caus- ing you so much concern. FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION Woodas energy A. For sale FROM THE ENERGY CONSERVATION CENTRE LUCKNOW Ever since man began his long odyssey through time, wood has provided him with tools, food, medicine and warmth. For our ancestors in the caves, the wood fire was the communal gathering place. In pre-Chaucerian English, the word hearth was synonymous with home. Wood has . always been a fundamental building material, and until the last few centuries, it has been a dominant fuel for heating and cooking in most of the world. Today one-third of the world's population still depends on wood for heating and cooking. Although wood's importance as an energy source in industrialized countries has declined, the use in paper making has increased. In future, it will be increasingly important in the manufcaturing of chemicals and plastics and as a fuel for electrical generation. However, Canadians and most of the civilized world find themselves in an energy crunch. Reserves of fossil fuels are rapidly dwindling. The Arab embargo merely called attention to the need for alternative sources of energy. As the prices of conventional fuels soar, many are thinking once again of returning to wood as an energy source. In 1952 fifty million cords of wood were used annually for fuel in the United States, 63 million cords were used in 1977 and it is expected that 150 million cords will be used in 1980. Wood is a beautifully versatile resource. Unlike coal and oil, it is virtually sulphur -free and non-polluting. It also does not contribute to possible carbon dioxide pollution, which can lead to possible carbon dioxide pollution, which can lead to adverse changes in climate. Wood is certainly a renewable energy resource, with trees replenishing themselves at 20 to 40 year intervals, In relatively rural areas, with proper woodlot management, many more people could heat their homes with wood without serious pressure on wood resources. However, use of wood fuels far from its source remains impractical beacuse of high transportation costs. Wood is a form of solar energy. It acts as its own collector, as the process of photosynthesis Locks the solar energy in chemical form in the trees. This stored energy is released as heat whether it decays on the forest floor or is burned in a stove. In either case the stored energy ends up in the same form, and the amounts of carbon dioxide and oxygen are not significantly affected. (An increase in CO2 could lead to a trend in global warmings). With wood acting as a collector, one pound of it has 50 times the amount of stored energy than does a pound of hot water in a solar storage tank. There is certainly the aesthetic appeal - the crackle of kindling, the hiss of burning logs, the aroma of wood burning, and the flickering of multi -coloured flames - there's more to wood than just warmth. Many observers feel that this rekindling of our old romance with wood has more subtle ramifications - a reconstruction of a society based on sharing and on decentralized living habits, 'in close harmony with the earth. Tidal, solar, wind, wood - no one energy source is the entire answer for the future. Wood energy however, is the one system that is constant, renewable and compatible with other systems. "Wood is a substance with a soul" - William Penn. Farmers to reduce run. -off The majority of the phosphorus from livestock -operations that enters the Great Lakes water system arises from faulty management, according to a recent study at the University of Guelph. The study found that over half the phosphorus originating in manure carne from livestock operations that were located within -400 feet of an open drainage channel. Another 20 per cent of the load came from spreading manure on frozen ground. The results of the study show that livestock manure may be the source of about 20 per cent of the total phosphorus reaching streams from agricultural activities, an amount which the authors found surprisingly low. A large part of the remainder appears to come from erosion of land surfaces. These observations result from a study conducted the department of environmental biology, University of Guelph by Dennis Draper and Prof. J.B. Robinson. The study shows that im- proved manure management and application practices on Ontario farms could significantly reduce the amount of . phosphorus originating in manure that occurs in annual run-off. The major sources are storm and snow -melt run-off from open feedlots and outdoor manure storage, and the run-off from manure spread too close to water courses in winter. In order to improve the situation around feedlots, the installation of berms, broad grassed water ways, or retention ponds with clean water diversions 'above the lots will be needed, according to Mr. Draper. Where winter spreading of maure cannot be avoided, it should be put on fields where an area of perennial vegetation lies between the spreading area and stream courses, the report states. This will greatly reduce the amount of phosphorus that reaches the stream. Overland flow of run-off water from barn yards and from field spreading reduces the phosphorus load in proportion to distance. This is the reason that feedlots and winter spreading operations should be kept as far as possible from open ditches and water courses. Fruit growers quest Agriculture and Food Minister Bill Newman has announced that an expr.ession of opinion poll of tender and fresh fruit growers will be held June 28, 1978. Producers will be asked to consider a proposal to amalgamate the Ontario Fresh Fruit Growers' Marketing Board with the Tender Fruit Growers' Marketing Board. Peaches, pears, plums and cherries for both processing and fresh market sales will be included under the proposed Ontario tender fruit producers' marketing board. Mr. Newman said he has asked the Farm Products Marketing Board to conduct the poll in the Ministry's field offices throughout the province. Letters will be sent to all producers outlining the details PIONEER. SEED CORN Ray Brown 529-7260 Sharron Brindly 524-8114 NOW, PATORAN®FL LIQUID S AT PRICES COMPETITIVE TO PATORAN W.P. (wettable powder) Contact your local Chipman dealer. Keep the Good Things Growing .. . PATORAN is a registered trademark of Ciba-Geigy Canada Ltd George Wraith Goderich M.J. Smith (Goderich) Ltd. The report also recom- mends further study of the problems resulting from allowing cattle access to streams during the summer. Preliminary estimates in- dicate that there is potential for a substantial amount of phosphorus in streams arising from this cause. In addition, the practice in- creases stream bank erosion, with the result that significant amounts of sediment and associated nutrients are carried away. AGRICULTURAL STEEL ROOFING ANDSIDING • 10 Colours • Galvanized • 30 ga. - 28 ga. - 26 ga. • 3 Different Rib Profiles. • Custom Cut lengths; Buy Exact Length Required • Complete Fascia 8 Soffit Systems • Best Possible Prices • For That Complete Building Call JIM MARTIN CONSTRUCTION _ 129 BRITANNIA RD. EAST, GODERICH 524-9042 1111111111111111111 PATZ manure handling system, excellent condition, paint still on chain. Three years old, 50 foot chute with 220 feet of chain. Laurence Vanden Heuvel, 524-4350.-20- 23 B. Custom work BULLDOZING, Allis- Chalmers No. 650, with six way hydraulic blade. Bill Robinson, RR 2, Auburn, 529- 7857.-16tf C. Wanted 13 FT. TURNCO Packer, 1,000 gallon water tank, on a WANTED ten ton wagon, with 31/2" tap. — pasture for Phone 482-7564.-19,20 three Heifers, approximately 500 lb. Phone 524-4308.-20nc HAY for sale. Phone 526- 7719.-19tfnc D. Livestock H&N "NICK CHICK" leghorns, 20 weeks old, available for spring or summer delivery; also Hubbard Golden Comets (brown egg layers) for early June delivery. Orders now accepted for heavy "roaster" cockerels day-old, .for spring delivery. Call McKinley Farms & Hatchery Ltd., 262- 2837.-10-22ar CLAY — Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment BUTLER — Silo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — Mills Augers, etc. ACORN — Cleaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL -ROSCO Granaries B 8, L - Hog Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS RR 1, Kincardine, Ontario Phone 395-5286 BRED GILTS predominantly York cross Landrace, bred to meat type boar. Large selection with constant supply. Eyrsipelas and Leptospirosis vaccinated. Laurence Vanden Heuvel, Goderich 524-4350.-20-29 E. Farm services FOR RENT, for CASH CROP — 40 acres. Phone 524- 7632.-18tf PIONEER SEED CORN VARIETIES AVAILABLE 3990 (3W) 2600 H.U. .80 DAYS 3977 (3W) 2650 H.U. 82 DAYS 3965 (3W.) .. 2750 H.U. 87 DAYS - 3975A (SC) 2700 H.U. 82 DAYS Also other varieties available JACK MAYHEW RR 3 - CLINTON PHONE 482-3176 Your representative for Goderich Township and Clin- ton Area. *Any former customers of Mr. J. Fischer - please feel free to call me. WATER WELL DRILLING "76 YEARS EXPERIENCE" • FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL • • FRESS ESTIMATES • GUARANTEED WELLS •FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT • 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON WELL DRILLING LIMITED 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills PHONE 357-1960 WINGHAM Collect Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900" Corn crop yield can be increased: A Department of Agriculture e (periment to assess the produc- tivity of various spacings of drainage .tile installations, (established at Oil City in 1970/71) has proved of particular interest to farmers growing corn crops. EFFECT OF TILE DRAIN SPACING ON CORN YIELD DURING 1972-74 Spacing Between Tile Feet 20 30 40 50 60 Av. Corn Yield 15 percent Moist Bu -ac 106.7 92,8 91.2 79.5 81.3 Why not look into increasing your crop yield with Daymond 10W Flexdrain. Consult your local drainage contractor or call Daymond direct. DAVM ND LIMITED Lake Huron Drainage c/o John Maize & Son RR No. 1 Dunganrlton, Ontario (519) 529-7510 240 GRAND AVENUE EAST, CHATHAM, ONTARIO ,N7L 4K1 PHONE (519) 354-5512 G.W. Clarke Drainage Contractors Ltd. 8 Wildon Ave. Arva, Ontario (519) 438-4392 1