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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-16, Page 53Y r 20 = Fa Edition, Week a M b 169 1963 eor°i. ' aaniz During his speech at -the London Western Farm Show March 3, William Doyle, assistant deputy minister of marketing and development with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, dis- cussed the reorganization of the ministry since Dennis Tnnbrell became minister of agriculture for the province. Doyle believes the reor- ganization has streamlined the ministry in a way that will strengthen the planning and. decision making capabilities of the department. Doyle outlined a few of the main points. Research and development activities are being expanded and the ministry is suggesting to the tion strea private sector that they get involved through dollar matching projects. The head of the Technol- ogy and Field Services De- partment is currently in New Zealand where the ministry is participating in a seed breeding and multiplication program. New Zealand was chosen as the site for a winter nursery forthis pro- gram, based on the climatic similarities of New Zealand and Ontario. By being able to benefit from two summer growing periods in one year, seed development of barley, oats, soybeans, corn, canola, field beans, peanuts and alfalfa is speeded up consid- erably. "It is ambitious and inno- vative research projects such as these which help increase the productivity, quality and efficiency of our industry," commented Doyle. "Farmers in this province continue to do what they know best -- and that is to produce some of the world's best agricultural produce. It is my responsibility under the reorganization to see that this produce is marketed efficiently," said Doyle. The expansion of the Foodland Ontario Program, increased activity in the export arena and the creation of a food processing branch are mark- eting initiatives which will benefit the whole of Ontario. es rieultur The ministry's quality as- surance programs -- live- stock, dairy, fruit and vege- table inspection -- have been strengthened to improve on the already high quality produce ntario farmers pro- vide. The prese and im- provement of Ontario food - lands is receiving special at- tention in order to protect and further enhance Ont- ario's 11 million acres of crop and pasture land for future generations. The ministry is offering renewed support to our rural organizations so they may continue their work of im- proving the quality of rural Tough act to beat. Save On IH Tillage Check out our Super Low Prices on Cultivator Shovels, Lucknow Plow Shares, Disk Blades Pre -Season Discounts in effect TILL MARCH 31,1983 Buy Now St Save C. A. Becker Equipment Limited 5294993 111 life and encouraging the de- velopment of future leaders. A Rural Organizations and Services Branch which ser- ves some 60 rural organiza- tions and volunteer activities throughout the province has been established. These in- clude agricultural and horti- cultural societies, Women's Institutes, 4-H youth and home economics clubs, jun- ior farmer groups and others. These activities were group- ed to avoid unnecessary du- plication and to improve communication between closely related departments. The entire office was moved to Guelph which will put the ministry even more in touch i�try� with the rural community it serves. Technical advisory servic- es in soil management, pest management and animal health are being enriched., including the necessary back up laboratory testing and analysis services. Clear- ly, these past few months have seen great changes at the Ministry, Doyle stated. "This re -organization will allow us to deliver Ministry programs and services in more efficient and effective ways." And in Doyle's op- inion farmers will be better served because "afterall, service is what this Ministry is all about." Association urges manure gas safety Manure gas produced in liquid manure systems can kill humans and livestock. While agitating and pumping liquid manure sys- tems this spring, Ontario farmers are urged to work in pairs and wear self-contained breathing apparatus, says Larry Swinn, farm safety association public relations co-ordinator. Farmers should bar every- one from the barn area, and if possible, move livestock away from the area too, he says. The gas, lethal at only two per cent per volume of air, is particularly hazardous be- cause it paralyzes the nose's ability to smell. "In large concentrations, the gas's 'rotten egg' smell can't be detected. Eventu- ally, the gas arrests the entire respiratory system." Trouble with manure gas often occurs in older barns where the liquid manure system is housed under- neath. "When tanks become too full, the lethal gas layered on the surface of the liquid manure is forced above the floor slats where livestock become the first victims." Swinn says this can be avoided by constructing a new liquid manure system outside the barn area, with storage tanks large enough to hold the liquid manure over the winter months. "And farmers should nev- er enter pumpout ports or spreader tanks, unless they're wearing breathing apparatus." Detailed information on manure gas safety is avail- able by contacting the Farm Safety Association, 340 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, Ontario N1H 719. Drainage pays off with beer soil structure Good drainage prevents unnecessary soil damage such as compaction, smearing and crusting. Working wet fields with heavy soils causes reduced yields and damage to soil structure which may take years to reverse. Also, equipment which becomes bogged down means costly. time-consuming delays and often expensive damage to the machinery. (roth drainage LIMITED FARM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS DAVID ROTH Ripley, Ontario 519-395-58'38