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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-08-09, Page 23FARM P, GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 , 1979—PAGE 11A Sugar beets could help solve any future gasoline shortage University of Western Ontario plant scientist Wilbert McKeen says sugar beets could help Canada avoid gasoline shortages. Gasohol -- a mixture of ethyl alcohol and gasoline -- can be made from the alcohol distilled from sugar beet. Dr. McKeen is con- vinced that Canada should start growing sugar beets on a large scale right away both as a hedge - against fuel shortages and as in- surance against sugar shortages. He explains that our main sources of table sugar, Brazil and Cuba, will soon be using their own sugar cane, cassava and manioac plants -- plants which are also used to produce table sugar -- to produce gasohol. This could mean that Canada will have to pay. much higher prices for sugar in the near future. The sugar beet itself is made up of 20 percent sugar. By using energy from the sun, the beet produces sugar. Carbon dioxide and water are also needed. The carbon dioxide and water form a CH2O compound which is glucose or sucrose. Alcohol is partially oxidized sucrose: Red beets, the kind we commonly see in the supermarket, produce a very low percentage of sugar. "There is no difficulty in producing alcohol from plants it can be produced from straw, potatoes, and corn," Dr. McKeen says. "Sugar beets are more efficient than these crops but not as efficient as sugar cane for fuel," Since we can't grow sugar cane in south- western Ontario, sugar beets are next in line as the product of tomorrow, Dr. McKeen says. Once the sugar beet crop has been processed, the remaining biomass can be used to make molasses and animal feed. "If we don't want our standard of living to go down, we better start producing sugar beets," he says. The government's attitude is crucial, Dr. McKeen says. There can be no sugar beet industry unless a large company or the government is in the fields of Michigan willing to sponsor . it. and Qhio. Someone would have to As a fuel, alcohol is build a sugar refinery much cleaner than since there isn't one at gasoline. No hydrocar- the moment in south- bons are produced, 50 western Ontario. percent less carbon Processing plants near monoxide is produced Chatham a n d and 50 percent less oxides Wallaceburg were closed of nitrogen. down 20 years ago. An acre of beets would • At that time there was produce 400 gallons of a sugar beet industry in ethyl alcohol that- would Southwestern Ontario, be mixed with gasoline but it wasn't profitable and , sold from a regular and so it declinded. gas pump. Existing car However, when sugar engines wouldn't have' to can't be imported from be modified unless more Latin America 'anymore than 20 percent of the fuel and when gas prices was ethyl alcohol. skyrocket, then the economic picture for sugar beets will change he says. "A farmer can't start by himself to grow sugar beets: Be would have to be given a guarantee by the government that his crop would have a market." Dr. McKeen says a large percentage of Dr. McKeen, a plant cropland in' Canada is pathologist, sayswe don't suitable for growing the need more research on sugar beets, which look producing fuel from like large, white par- sugar beets. What we do snips. Some sugar beets need is a change in public are now grown in Alberta opinion so that the and Quebec and in the U. government will take S. the crop can be found . another look at the idea. Two small cars could operate for one year on the fuel produced by one. acre of sugar beets. Alcohol can also be used for the production of other chemicals, just as oil is now the basis of the plastics industry. Alochol could replace oil in this area too: FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION B. Custom work CUSTOM SWATHING, phone Hank Reinink, Londesboro, 523-9202 or 482-9948.-32,33,34 BOOK YOUR CUSTOM COMBINING NOW! Low rates and long hours to get the job done. Grain, beans- and corn. Phone 524-4700.-28tfnc BULLDOZING, Allis- Chalmers No. 650, with six way hydraulic blade. Bill Robinson, RR2 Auburn, 529-7857.-13tf CUSTOM combining of oats, wheat, barley, and corn. Swathing also available. Phone Philip Stec,kle 565-5324 or Arnold Steckle 565-5329:=29TF D. Livestock FOR SALE: Hampshire, Yorkshire, and York cross Landrace boars. Serviceable age. Bob ' Robinson, R.R.4 Walton, Ont. 345-2317,-32;33 • F. For rent WANTED TO RENT - barn in Goderich or Benmiller area. Must have running water and hydro. Please phone 524- 4466 ask for John. -31-32 ARGET EVERY TIME At the outset, I admit my bias. I love farmers. I love agriculture, I am keenly in- terested in the entire social and political structure connected with farming in Ontario and in Canada: I find it one of the most interesting and challenging industries in• existence. I have been a farm writer for more than 15 years and have tried to 'keep up-to-date although this is difficult because of the great changes in agriculture that have taken place in the last 20 years. • Therefore, I am biased when it comes to farmers and farming. Understanding that, let's just throw out a few im- portant facts, not biases, about farming. Agriculture is the most important industry in Canada. It generates more than 43 per cent of the gross national product and more than holds its own in helping to cut down the national debt and the tremendous trade imbalances. Therefore, it is puzzling to me why so many weekly and daily newspapers do such a lousy job of reporting agricultural news. This tirade was sparked after spending four days at the annual convention- of• - the Canadian Community Newspapers Association` in Toronto last month. Ted Crandon, editor of the Delhi,News Record, prompted a discussion about agriculture during an editors' round- table discussion in which I was 'privileged to par- ticipate. Ted Was able to make the statement that most papers ignore agriculture because his paper does an excellent job for his area. Some of the editors present agreed with him. Others gave me the impression that they didn't give a damn about agricultural news. I have had some euperience in trying to convince editors that they are missing the most important in- dustry in the country when they put no emphasis on farm coverage. Many of them feel that the annual 4-1-1 presentations constitute farm reporting. I do not want to cast aspersions against 4-H clubs but club members will agree there .is a heck of a lot more, to farming than winning a blue ribbon. Many other paPers are content to carry the in- nocuous releases from local, provincial and federal agricultural rep"r`esentatives. There's nothing wrong., with these releases, either, except that they have little, or nothing to do with the social and political changes on the farm. As a freelance farm writer of this column, I have WATER WELL DRILLING "79 YEARS EXPERIENCE" • FARM a SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL • • FREE ESTIMATES • GUARANTEED WELLS '• FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT • 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON WELL DRILLING LIMITED 11 1s •r, 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills PHONE 357-1960 WINGHAM Collect Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900'1 Letters are apprec,ated by Bob Trona EIdaie So Eimnd Ont N38 2C 7 been trying to persuade editors in Ontario to carry it for almost 10 years. In that time, fewer than 20 weekly papers and only one daily paper have thought enough of their agricultural subscribers to use the column. It's a frustrating thing when you figure there are more than 300 weekly newspapers in Ontario alone. I salute the editors with enough foresight to use it. I know of one editor who cancelled it for a time and got enough letters and phone calls to convince him that it was, indeed, a useful exercise. I am not suggesting that every paper in Ontario should subscribe to Bob Trotter's weekly One Foot in the Furrow. It is surely not the best farm column in the country. But it does present a farm viewpoint as I see it. 1 amsuggesting bloat Ted Crandon was correct when he said too many papers almost ignore the great -things that are happening on the farm front. In his words: "They do a lousy job when it comes to agriculture." It's time farmers got together and demanded better coverage in local papers. If you don't get it, threaten to cancel your subscription. That's the only way to get some people off their butts. Hit them in the pocket- book. And to those editors who do carry this column, God bless you, my friends. It was a distinct privilege to participate in your annual convention in Tranna. LARGEST STOCK IN THE COUNTY WORK BOOTS —Industrial —Farm —Factory Plain or safety toe PUNCTURE PROOF SOLES Open all day Wednesday ROSS HOE SHOP 142 the Square Godorlch, Ont. Harry Chisholm is right proud of this 75 -day field corn growing on his farm at RR 6 Goderich. Harry -had just finished measuring this corn and from base to tip it was 10 feet tall. He thinks that's pretty good in a year when corn in general isn't all that great in Huron County. Sowed on June 1 by his neighbor and share- cropping associate Dennis Connelly, the corn is cobbing out nicely and should make some of the best insilage in the area. (photo by Jeff Seddon) Huron Soil and Crop Association needs your corn for information We know it is hard for you to choose the best hybrid for your farm. There are so many. Approximately 200 hybrids are being sold in Huron county. These are sold by over 20 companies with an unknown number of dealer's. Often a dealer asks you to "just buy one or two units of his corn." If you chose just one unit from each company you would have enough seed to plant' over 60 acres. There must be a way to evaluate all these hybrids. The Huron Soil and Crop Improvement directors think so., They are trying to make a summary of farm corn trials conducted in Huron County. If you have a corn trial on your Established 1876 McKILLOP MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY HEAD OFFICE: 10 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. Mrs. Margaret Sharp. Scc..Treas. Ph. 527-0400 FULL COVERAGE Farm and Urban Properties Fire, Windstorm, Liability, Thelt Various Floater Coverages • Homeowner's, Tenant's Package, Composite Dwelling DIRECTORS AND ADJUSTERS Ken Garnochan, R.R.#4, Seaforth Lavern Codkin, R.R.41, Walton Ross Leonhardl, R.R.tt1, Bornoholm ' John McEwing, R.R.#1, Blyth Stanley Mctlwain, R.R.M2, Goderich bonald McKercher, P.R./11, Dublth John A. Taylor, R.R.s1, Brucefleld J.N.Trewartha, Box 661, Clinton Stuart Wilson, R.R.t1, Brucefield AGENTS E. F. 'Bill' Ourst, R. R. N4, Seaforth James Keys, R.R.01, Seaforth ' Wm.telper, R.R.101,Londesboro 482-3354 527-1877 345-2234 523-9390 524-7051 527-1837 482-7527 482-7593 527-0687 527-1455 527-0467 523-4257 CALL AN AGENT OR THE OFFICE ti. farm, they would ap- preciate receiving the results. They would like to know now where your trial is located. This will allow them to see the. plots before they are harvested. After you harvest the plots, they will collect the yield information from your trial. If you are not satisfied with the results and do not wish to submit thertl, that's okay. Once the results are submitted, the directors will summarize the results. A summary will be sent to each co- operator who submitted results from his' farm. The summary will in- clude how each hybrid yielded in .the Ontario Corn Performance 'Trials. The average yield from each farm will be based at 100 bu. per acre. This will remove yield fluctuations caused by differences in fertility,_ moisture, We would appreciate having your trial yields. If you will let the Soil and, Crop CLAY — Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hdg Equipment BUTLER — Silo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — Mills Augers, etc. ACORN — Cleaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL-ROSCO Granaries B't1 L - Hdg Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS RR 1, Kiniardlno, Ont. , Phonb 395-5206 Improvement use your results, contact one of the directors or the Ag office. • Financial assistance * Management counselling (CASE) • Management training • Information on government programs for business Can we help you? See our Representative RANDY BROWN/ BOB FURTNEY at: The Bedford Hotel Goderich, Ontario O/7; EVERY TUESDAY (Next Visit: Tues., Aug. 14th) Ff, FEDERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK (Branch Office Address) For prior Information call 271-5650 (collect) or write 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford, Ontario. Fast Unloading Trucks Available . - Premiums for Top Grades Receiving Hours: Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m• Sunday by appointment kg r— }C=>tl4:=H#C K� ?t fIC HIC= Ripley 395-5167 Lueknow 528-3203 0 •