HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-03-20, Page 37ire Farm F idou, week of March 20. 1885 - 5
Ashfield farmers employ conservation practices 'CO save money
By Shamir Dietz
Three Ashfield lbwnship fanners, who are
employing soil conservation practices on their
fames to control soil erosion and save money,
were honoured with an award Or their work
in promoting conservation by the Huron Soils
Crop Improvement Association this year.
Ray, Francis and Lawrence Hogan received
The Norm Alexander Award, which recogniz-
es farmers in -Huron County who have
implemented conservation practices on their
farms and worked to promote conservation
practices within the county, at the associa-
tion's annual banquet in January.
The Hogans held a demonstration day June
28 last year to inform Ashfield Township and "
other area fammers about the soil conservation
practices they employ on their farms. A tour
of three of their farms included reduced
tillage practices and water management
structures to control soil erosion.
Ray Hogan has a no -till wm crop last
summer which he believes was 'a better crop
of corn than he has ever grown. The soil was
neither fall nor spring plowed, although
Hogan did remove every two rows of wm
stalks out of every four the previous fall and
shallow disoed oncein the spring.
The field varies from sand loam in the high
spots to clay in the low lying areas and the
crap is uniform throughout the field. Trash
whippers on Hogan's corn planter which has
been equipped with several devices for no -till
seeding, push the residue from last year's
crop aside, and part the rows allowing the soil
to warm up and dry, promoting germination
and emergence of the seedlings.
Hogan estimates the variations to his
planter have cost about $2,000 but this money
is saved because he has done no fall plowing
and less tillage in the spring before planting.
Buse he has no fall plowing to do, Hogan
finds he can grow full season on most of his
acreage. He can harvest more crop and leave
it in the field longer until it becomes drier
since he can harvest later.
Ray used conservation disc furrowers to
move residue from the seed bed area.
Emergence in the no -till area was as good
or better than the disoed trial. Early grontth
was also better in the no -till area with no
killed out areas where water lay after the farm
received three inches of rain on May 22 and 2
- 3 inches on May 25. Ray now feels even one
spring discing causes compaction which
reduces infiltration and increased water
trnoff and erosion.
Erosion occurred in the no -till area also,
especially in the two rows where corn stalks
had been fall harvested. In the areas where
all• the residue remained, Ray feels there was
less erosion. Ray says he will pasture cows on
nom stover as they harvest it more evenly,
and reduce the number of stover bales he
removes and use more wheat straw corn
fodder.
Ray observed the first year no -till had
better ennergences than the second year trial,
but this was caused mainly by small ridges'
which had been formed by scuffling the
previous year. The small ridges gave him dry
soil to move with the disc furrowers while .
planting. Even rows which were driven on by
the combine tires maintained enough of a
ridge to allow easier movement of soil and
residue without planting into a trench.
The second year no -till which had not been
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scuffled was more difficult to plant as it has
harder to rermve residue without moving too
much soil, particularly where the combine
tires had compacted the soil and residue.
Rainfall throughout June and mid, July was
adequate. Three-quarters of an indi of rain
fell between July 15 and the end of August
and Ray believes he lost yield becatise of this.
Ray plans to nay a cultivator to form low
ridges in a high residue situation Effective
management of residue protects the soil from
wind and water erosion and improves crop
yield according to Robert Traut, conservation
agronomist with the Huron Soil and Water
Conservation District. Trout describes the
advantages of no -till, ridge. planting of crops
and water erosion 'control structures.
Trash whippers mounted in front of the
gauge wheel on a planter Move the residue
aside leaving a dear area to plant the seed. If
the residue is permitted to remain up around
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