HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-16, Page 53Y
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20 = Fa Edition, Week a M b 169 1963
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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
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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