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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-08, Page 37a GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1979—PAGE 15A Huron County farm news BY MIKE MILLER ASSOCIATE AG. REP. At last week's fertilizer update meeting, U.C.O. Specialist, Jim Hodgins pointed out why bulk blend analyses are at- tracting an increasing number of farmers. A ton of 10-10-10 fer- tilizer iupplies 200 pounds of actual nitrogen, 200 pounds. of actual phosphorous and 200 pounds of actual 'potash. These nutrients can be supplied by mixing 455 pounds of 18-46-0, 275 pounds of 46-0-0 and 340 pounds of 0-0-60. This mix of 1,060 pounds has the same nutrient content as 2,000 pounds of 10-10-10. The difference in weight is a limestone filler which really adds little nutritive value. The smaller amount of material results in lower spreading costs, lower nutrient costs and faster service from the dealer's standpoint. There is also the added advantage of being able to prepare a special mix that isn't available as a standard analysis. principles of the soil test. Fertility trials are carried out regularly on farms and research stations in Ontario. The results of these trials are used to calculate the nutrients that must be added to the nutrients in the soil in order to produce the most economic yield. In theory, more nutrients might produce a greater yield but the cost of the extra fertilizer would be greater than the value of the extra crop. Any discussion on soil The soil is tested for fertility begins with the phosphorus and potash. Crystal ball for future A crystal ball for Southwestern Ontario's agricultural future? Ridgetown College students will try their hand at predicting agriculture's directions into the 1980s at the college's annual Review Day on March 8. Displays and exhibits will cover the next ten years for farming in areas as diverse as engineering and livestock, soil science and agribusiness. Dr. Clare Rennie, Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, will open the ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. Highlight of the day is the show ring where students will demon- strate skilled showmanship with sheep, dairy goats, beef and • dairy calves, and swine. ,Judging opens at 8 a.m. with top ranking honours beginning at 2 p.m. Trophies and awards will be presented to the champions. Simultaneously, crop samples from home farms will be on public view in other campus buildings. Competitive divisions include tobacco, cereals, forages., silage,_ and field beans, with awards for the top three placings. Three buildings will house student projects reflecting the theme of. School to present progress. report Lambert Otten, School of Engineering, Ontario, Agricultural College, will present a progress report on low-temperature drying research at the University of Guelph. The conference, sponsored by the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and. Food, is open to farmers, industry and extension personnel, 'and other interested people. Registration fee for the conference, which will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion, Colonel John McCrae Memorial Branch, is $10. To preregister, write. Dr. W.S. Young, Coor- dinator of Agricultural Extension, Ontario Agricultural College, University 'of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG2W1. • CLAY Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment.,..— BUTLER — ' Silo Unloadors Fenders Conveyors FARMATIC — Mills Augers, etc. ACORN — Cleanors Heated Waterers WESTEEL-ROSCO Granaries L L - Hog Panelling' LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS Mil, IKlntardlne„Ont. Phone 35S-S2UU 6 agriculture's future. Topics which will interest specialists, producers, and consumers 'range with;in horticulture, engineering, economics, soils, crops, animal sciences, laboratory and business programs. Preparing the way for the big day is the Special Events program, covering a variety of fun activities such as bale throwing and wheelbarrow races. An evening of pleasure for those caught up in the romance of the spring season is the annual Review Ball. All Review Day events are scheduled on the Ridgetown College campus, three miles east of Highway 401 on High- way 21. Lunch is available with ample free parking for the full day's agenda. Each year phosphorus and potash are released from the soil particles and can be used for crop production. The soil test measures these nutrients. The soil is also tested for PH or lime content and magnesium. Most Huron soils do not need lime and magnesium values are also high even though it appears that high soil values of magnesium do not insure adequate values in crops. - The soil is not tested for nitrogen because the test is expensive and time consuming and the nitrogen content of a soil changes over winter. Nitrogen is recom- mended according to the crop to be grown. For a crop like corn, the farmer has the option of in- creasing the nitrogen recommendation if his experience indicates that his land will produce more than 100 busheIS;per acre? One hundred pounds of actual N could be con- sidered sufficient for a 100 bushel crop but one would apply an extra 10 pounds of N if his ex- perience indicated that his yield potential was 110 bus. The "N” recom- mendation would be increased up to another 30 pounds if the nitrogen was broadcast before planting in early May as there are greater losses with early application. The test result corning back from the lab is -3-bne foot in the furrow'»2 The thorny question of quotas will have to be settled by farmers or the government will step in and so1Ve it for them. If that happens, all ,the hard work over the years done by dozens of farmers on marketing boards could be lost. So says Gordon Hill, past -president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. As one of the_sPeakers__at_the,14th_annual .marr-.keting seminar sponsored by the Rural Learning Association, Gordon._told_the delegates bluntly, that a solution to the quota problem must be found and farmers themselves must find the solution. "If we don't, adverse consumerv.reaction could be so severe that governments will curb marketing powers held by the boards. In fact, it could be the rock on whichmarketing boards flounder," he said. I'm with you, Gordon. Quotas are given to farmers by marketing boards. Without a quota, a farmer cannot produce. Those quotas, are bound to become a sought-after com- modity. Because they are in demand, they could become expensive. That expense eventually will be included in the price of the product. Marketing boards using a quota system swear that quota price is not included in the cost of production and, therefore, not passed on to the consumer. Let's be specific here. To ' many consumers, marketing boards automatically mean quotas. This is a fallacy. It is simply untrue. Of the 21 marketing boards in Ontario, only six are on a quota system and one of those boards does not sell food. It sells tobacco. The other five are milk, cream, turkeys, eggs and chickens. All other boards sell on a different basis. And even those six boards administer quotas dif- ferently. Don't misunderstand me. I am not against a quota system. I'm saying that farmers had better come to grips with this ticklish situation before those costs are reflected in what the consumer pays. Quotas should not be considered part of production costs. They should not be borne by the consumer. If Letters are aoprec,ated by Boo Trotter Eidale fid EIr,'ra Om N3B 2C7 A this is, ever proven, then consumers have a right to shout long and loud. When they do, politicians will listen. . When they listen, they could upset the marketing applecart in Ontario and Canada. "I am, in my own mind, least able to justify quota systems," Hill told the 150 delegates at the conference, "yet I am a staunch advocate of supply management." -- - The present course on which some boards are on will cause the system to break down he maintains: Until a method is found to contain quota prices, the job of orderly marketing by farmers is only half done. • Gordon is not God. His word is not sacred and he would be the first one to laugh at such a suggestion. But he has been around a long time, first as an ac- tive member of the old Ontario Farmers Union -- now the National Farmers Union -- and as president of the federation in Ontario. He was a member of the special committee on, farm income remember the SCOFI report and Bill Stewart? -- which was one of the most comprehensive reports on farming ever tabled in this province, He is presently living quietly in Varna, not doing too much of anything but fishing he say.;, along with a hog operation and growing white beans. His words must be heeded. Collectively there is no doubt in my mind that the rural community has the brains to solve the prickly problem of quotas, quota values and quota. transfers. The people are there. But too many marketing board members are content to sit -back and let the rest of the world go by because they are doing all right, thank you., Don't rock the boat, they -say. Leave us alone, they say. Don't worry about quotas, they say. Well, people are worrying about them and it's time those who are happy with the status quo got ofj' their collective duffs and tackled the problem. I don't have a solution but I'm not a farmer. If farmers don't come up with the answers, someone else will solve it for them. They'll be left out in the back forty wondering what in tarnation happened to their orderly marketing system. ATTENTION MR. FARMER IT'S TIME TO THINK SPRING Proper farming methods and the right use of AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS IChaihnm will mean a better harvest in Autumn This being the off season, we have lots of time to help you plan and to choose lust the right chemicals for your corn, beans, grain, or whatever your crop. We have M excellent selection of �Yl all your farm chemical supplies. Come see us today. "Buy with Confidence" We will not knowingly be , undersold SMIT Geflerit•hl ...._.... .. WANTED TO BUY DRY CORN • TOP PRICES PAID • QUICK SETTLEMENT • FAST SERVICE LTd. .• SF;EI) • (;RAIN • BEANS HWY. NO. 21 JUSTNO..., PORT ALBERT "ALL PHONE! 329-7135 or 529-7700 FOUR FACILITIES ARE TO SERVE YOU BETTER" it adjusted to take into consideration plowed sod or manure applied to the field. A good half legume sod can supply the 100 pounds of nitrogen required to grow a corn crop. Two tons per acre of poultry manure is equivalent to nine tons per acre of hog manure. These amounts of manure have a nitrogen rating of 25 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre when applied in the fall and winter. The figure increases to 50 pounds with spring application and to 60 if the manure is applied in the spring and im- mediately covered with soil. Cattle manure is similar in nitrogen and phosphorus content but has three times (80 pounds per acre) the potash content of hog and poultry manure. The nutrients contained in manure or sod can replace nutrients that would otherwise have to be supplied by . com- mercial fertilizer. These adjustments are made automatically on the soil report. The soil test recom: rnendation • can be inaccurate if incorrect information is supplied by the farmer., or if 'the sample is • not representative of the field. It's vital to indicate what manure is to be applied, whether or not sod has preceded the crop and to state clearly the crop to be grown. When sampling, it's important that several samples be taken for large fields. It's been demonstrated that a field sampled in its en- tirety may need nutrients. Largs .fields. sampled in just a few places may not be representative of the field. The soil test can be used to determine the extent that the soil is storing phosphorus and Turn to page 17A FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION A. For sale LFI.FARM SUPPLIES Weber Cultivators, one 18 • foot in stock, dump trailers, Farrows, Bauman hog equipment, stabling, special on cattle oilers, heated waterers, in-line water medicators, spray sickle sprayer, Lucknow snowblowers, Martin wagons, haylage and hay preservatives, liquid supplements, minerals and pre -mixes. Phone 482-3159.-10,11 A. For sale 1:000, BALES of alfalfa' timothy hay. Phone 482- 9103.-10, STRAW, mixed grain, first cut hay (no rain). Phone 482-3520 after 6 p.m. -10 Anti ATTENTION MR. FARMER IT'S TIME TO THINK SPRING •EXTRA QUALITY •EXTRA YIELD •EXTRA PROFITS ANDERSONS FERTILIZER W ANTED TO BUY DRY CORN • TOP PRICES PAID • QUICK SETTLEMENT • FAST SERVICE 6-24.24. 5-32-16, 45% UREA, Whatever your requirements. we carry a large selection In both -Bogs and Bulk of ail your fertilizer needs. Order now at Pre -Spring prices and take delivery later. "Buy.with Confldencel" We will not knowingly be undersold. lt:huthain (-:udrrich I HWY. NO. 21 JUST NORTH OP PORT ALBERT "ALL OF OUR FACILITIES ARE TO SERVE YOU BETTER" ATTENTION FARMERS: NOW I5 THE TIME TO GET YOUR SPECIAL PRICES IN EFFECT TILL MARCH 24th GET YOUR SUPPLY OF GRADE 5 BOLTS • ;, NIPPLE 4. DRINKERS REG. '7.10 ONLY• 39 HIGH PRESSURE WASHERS ONLY $439°5 REG. '481.95 Be ready forspring, place your orders now for: CULTIVATOR TEETH, DISC BLADES, PLOW POINTS, ETC.... Watch for other In-store Specials,. UBURN HARDWARE Y 526-7786 Agents for Echo Chain Saws and Murray, Bolens LaWn & Garden Equipment