HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-09-20, Page 12PAGE 12
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1973
Huron farmers reject
government plans
lluron county farmers expres-
sed dissatisfaction last Thursday
night with the govenment's
plans to ease the high cost of
foods as they attended the Sept-
ember meeting of the Huron
County Federation of Agricult-
ure, Clinton.
The government moved last
week to give new subsidies on
milk and wheat to keep costs
of milk and bread down. Farm-
ers saw the moves as a virtual
freeze on farm prices since the
subsidies on milk, for instance,
were available only to provin-
cial marketing boards that prom'
ised to hold down the cost, of
milk to its present level for at
least a year,
"If we're going to work on
a supply and demand situation
how can you tinker with it all
the time" said Mervin Smith,
a Walton -area farmer. Mr.
Smith had attended the opening
of the new United Co-operatives
of Ontario headquarters in West-
ong the same clay, said he had
been talking to some big farm
•operators at the event who lust
weren't going to put in any
cattle for feeding this year. Ile
said there would also be hog
barns going empty this year
because of the high costs of
producing meat. He warned it
Silage gas can be a killer
Wheat, oats, barley, and
other small grain crops are often
used as summer silage by Ont-
ario livestock farmers until late
summer or early fall silage
crops are harvested.
"A danger in ensiling small
grain crops, as with corn sil-
ages, is that the nitrates they
contain can quickly form sil-
age gas, resulting in partial
paralysis or even death if expos-
ure to this gas is extensive, "
warns Don Brown, public relat-
ions co-ordinator for the Farm
Safety Association.
Silage gas can begin to form
a few hours after a crop bas been
stored in a silo. Being heavier
than air, the gas tends to form
concentrations on top of the
silage. Scientifically known as
nitrogen dioxide, the gas is
normally yellowish -brown in
its lethal phase and smells
rather like laundry bleach.
The most serious threat from
silage gas occurs during the
first 12 to 60 hours after the silo
has been filled, A silo blower
will not disperse the gas and
should riot be regarded as a
safety measure. Although silage
gas reaches its most potent
levels a few hours after a crop
has been ensiled, caution
should be exercised for at least
10 days after a silo has been
filled, says Mr. Brown.
If exposed to silage gas, a
doctor should be contacted
immediately even if there are
no symptoms. The symptoms
of exposure are a noticeable
irritation of the nose and throat,
and sneezing.
No one should ever enter a
silo along. If you must go into
the silo, be sure to have some-
one standing by in case of an
accident.
Signs should be posted on silo
doors or in feed rooms warning
others of possible dangers from
silage gas. If a sharp bleach -
like odour, or yellowish -brown
gases are observed, the area
should be vacated immediately.
Silo doors should be put in
place only as fast as the silo is
filled in order to allow gases to
escape. Carry an oxygen supply
if it is necessary to climb a
silo and silo doors are open at
silage level.
It is impossible to predict
whether silage gas will be creat-
ed from any given silage. It is
always wise to take appropriate
precautions to avoid possible
serious injury, whether the gas
is actually observed or not,
advises Mr. Brown,
0
Garden hints
With the month of September
conies the beginning of fall
gardening chores, says R.F.
Gomme, Mr. Gonne, a hort-
icultural specialist with the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food, offers these timely
tips for fall gardeners.
Keep you lawn mower blades
sharp for even and clean cutting
action. Lawn mowers also use
less power and last longer if the
blades are sharpened often.
This can be done easily with a
household file. While you're
working on your mower, clean
out the air filter. Dirt and piece
of grass caught inside reduce
the mower's efficiency. During
the period of rapid growth in
autumn, mower blades should
be adjusted to a lower curring
height.
Plant lilies now. Most var-
ieties should be planted about
5 inches deep, except madonna
lilies, which should be covered
by about 2 inches of soil. Most
lilies grow best in full sunshine.
The garden soil should be well -
drained and aerated. If given a
good start in proper soil condit-
ions, these bulbs will bloom for
many years.
Night temperatures start to
drop in September. This means
it's time to bring house plants
indoors before frost. If they
have outgrown their containers,
repot into a larger size and
fertilize before bringing them
indoors. Take cuttings from ger-
aniums and impatiens to provide
bedding plants next spring.
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would mean higher food costs,
"Other people get a raise in
pay" said Vince Austin of Durr-
gannon, "but as soon as we get
one they take it away from us."
Mason Bailey of Blyth, pres-
ident of the Huron County Fed-
eration of Agriculture said the
freeze is a guarantee to proces-
sors that they are going to get
their goods at a fixed rate but
there are no controls on the ret-
ail level to make sure the con-
sumer does not have to pay
higher prices,
Although one farmer in att-
endance suggested the group
should raije "a hell of a ruckus"
over the government action, no
direct solution to the problem
came from the meeting.
Fall Sale
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Powerful hunting Toads with non-
corrosive primer, Sizes 2, 4, 5, 6 and
7%, for.waterfow.l,. birds and small
game. Box of 25.
Powerfu I,i l ightweight
search-lightwith
unbreakable lens,
waterproof case.
Battery included.
Take down model,
chambered for 2%"
shells. Special wood
stock. Automatic
ejector, 30" barrel,
full choke.
3 -Section alloy cleaning
rod, adapters for rifle,
pistol and shotgun; gun
oil, grease, cleaning
patches, solvent.
Complete with carrying
case.
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