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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-05-02, Page 20°THE HURON EXPOSITOR, MAY 2, 1984 LJse. management practices to' -keep Iawn green BY BRIAN HALL Farm Management Specialist To -the homeowner, there is nothing more pletOsing to the eye in the spring than the appearance of a thick green lawn. With the warm spring weather, we quickly shed our winter coat, and head for the storage area to reach out our rakes, lawn roller, fertilizer spreader, and seeders to get the lawn in Shape. '- With a number of simple management practices, a thick green lawn early enjoyed all summer. Most homeowners will have already applied the first application of fertilizer required, in late April. Lawns require a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied several tines during the growing season. The nitrogen in the first application of fertilizer promotes rapid top growth to grass. We've come to recognize this when we have to mow the lawn fregently afterwards. The lawn also requireshosphorous and potassium in the fertilizer for good turfgrass ';growth and to build a strong deep toot system. Lawn fertilizer often contain nitro- gen, phosphorous and potash in a 4:1:2 ratio (such as 20-5-10 or 16-4-$) although other ratios of 10:6:4 and 7:7:7 are common and are acceptable fertilizer. Application of excessive nitrogen fertilizer to , a lawn will cause excessive top growth and a shallow root system. This should be avoided. Fertilizeris usually applied at three or four times during the growing season depending on the thickness and color of lawn desired, late April, late May, early July, and early September. After several years of this program the April application of fertilizer can be elimi- nated to avoid excessive spring growth. If slow release fertilizers are used, less frequent fertilizer application ,will be re- quired. A soil test is the best way to determine the amount and type of fertilizer required. Soil tests are available through the Ministry of Agriculture & Food at a cost of $1 per, sample. Soil samples are tested at the University of Guelphand a fertilizer recommendation is sent to the owner. Soil sample testing kits may be picked up at the OMAF office in Clinton. Samples may be taken at any time, but are best submitted during the summer or fall to ensure results are received early for next year's fertilizer program. A general recommendation for fertilizer if a soil test has not been taken is to apply sufficient fertilizer through the summer to provide 0.5 kg. or nitrogen per 100 square meters (or t Ib. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.) A 7:7:7 fertilizer applied three times during the season at a rate of 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. each application would be adequate. Another combination,that some homeown- ers prefer is an early spring application of 10:6:4 fertilizer, followed by an early July and early September application of 7:7:7. Rates for this program would be 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. of 10:6:4, 3 lbs. of 7:7:7 in early July and 4 lbs. in September per 1,000 sq. ft. NO DAMAGE-Seaforth firemen were called to a grass fire at 5:20 Friday afternoon. The fire threatened a nearby barn owned by Joe Verberne of lot 21, concession seven, McKillop township. There was damage and firemen were only on the scene for half an hour. no { Mr. Farmer: This spring let Thompson's supply your 1984 Crop Inputs Expert advice by a qualified staff to assist you in your planning. Backed by 60 years of serving the agriculture Sector We offer: Compute ized Soil Reports - Micro Nutrrients Distributor for all major farm chemicals "Export" malting barley contracts "Export" Nattawa soybean contracts that pay $5.00 bu. premium for cleaned seed over board price Forward Grain Contracting Grain Marketing through our own Brokerage Department. PLANT THOMPSON HYLAND BRAND SEEDS Hyland Seeds Forage seeds, soybean seed, seed corn, cereal seeds "Nitragin" soybean innoculant Highest Rhizobia count for maximum nitrogen fixation. BOOK IT NOW 12 Floater Units to serve you with liquid or granular nitrogen products for your custom application Phone us collect at 4 locations to serve you. Pt. Albert 529-7901 Mitchell 348-8433, Horsfall 262-2527, Grantee, 225-2360 Farmer needs marketing plan • BY JOHN MACDONALI) Farm Business Advisor Once the manager has used an objective method of selecting a production plan for his farm, his next task is to develop a marketing plan which will give him the maximum returns. Two financial considerations are impor- tant in developing a market plan. The first consideration is the price per unit needed to cover cash expenditures. The second is the price per unit needed to maintain net worth. In the table below we have calculated total cash expenditures for a 400 acre farm, 200 acres of corn and 200 acres of soybeans. Note that total cash expenditures include intermediate debt repayment (interest and principal) and payment for land which would include interest, principal, rent and property taxes. Also included is total family living and income taxes payable. As you can see from the table, the breakeven market price per bushel is $3.77 for corn and $8.37 for soybeans. This is the price the farmer must receive to cover cash, expenditures. If the farmer sells his drain or soybeans for this breakdown price, cash inflow will equal cash outflow. When the selling price exceeds this level, cash inflow will exceed cash outflow and the excess can be used to increase cash reserves, retire existing debt, expand the operation or increase living expenditures. When the selling price is below this level, . cash outflow will exceed cash inflow and the cash deficit will be covered by reducing cash reserves, increas- ing indebtedness, decreasing family living expenditures or selling productive assets. The table also reveals that the breakeven price per bushel necessary to maintain net worth is $3.95 for corn and $9.03 for soybeans. This level must be large enough to cover cash expenditures except principal payments plus the non-cash cost of depreciation. When grain and soybeans are sold at a price above these levels, earned net worth will increase. When grain and soybeans are sold for a price below these levels, earned net worth will decline. In addition to using this exercise in developing a market plan it can also be used to determine the viability of a farm business and as a tool to examine profitability after adjustments have been made to the business. PRICES NEEDED TO COVER CASH EXPENDITURES AND MAINTAIN NET WORTH, Corn Total Per Acre per Bu. Per Acre Per Bu. $41,800 5209.00 $2.43 522,400 5112.00 $4.14 510,800 27.00 .31 27.00 ' 1.00 523,892 59.73 .69 59.73 2.21 $12,000 30.00 .34 30.00 1.11 $325.73 53.77 $228.73 58.46 Production Expenses Corn Soybeans Machinery Payment Land Expenditure Family Living & Taxes *Total Cash Expenditure Soybeans Depreciation $15.0( 0 $ 37.50 $ .43 $ 37.50 51.39 Principal Payment (58,830.) (22.07) (.25) (22.07) (.82) Total Net Worth .5341.16 $3,95 '$244.16 S9.03 Calculations based on 200 acres grain corn yielding 86 bushels and 200 acres soybeans yielding 27 bushels. !Layout of money, disbursement, SEIG SHOES 2N0FLOOR WAREHOUSE FEATURES LADIES' SHOES THOUSANDS OF PAIRS! DISCONTINUED LINES ... SECONDS SURPLUS LINES .,, ETC. $4.14: 330 CLARENCE AT YORK IN DOWNTOWN LONDON is.5.1:111/8. 3 PR. '18. A REGULAR ADVERTISING FEATURE ...from Nell Matheson of MUSIC 40 Ontario St., Stratford Spring calves are to the fields, the buds ore popping, the daffodils are in bloom and scores of Sylves- ters are already spinning in Shakes- peare. It's now time to pion your garden. For help, I always go to Sebringville Garden Centre where Horstis neat & tidy greenhouses just burst with the finest, lushest things at prices so low they're Judi• crous. All this great weather hos brought the 'Walkmons' out en masse. At Music we hove a- new AM/FM Cassette combo for just $89. plus a great selection from Pioneer, Teac b Aiwa. We olso hove headphones for your walkman . . . lots of models including Nagaoka's 'stick it in your ear' version for 'UV S29. Music stocks the entire range of Elyria - charge Rechargeable Batteries with the famous 5 year guarantee It's the only way to got Helen's off to London England for o busmen's holiday, she had to take an extra bog to hold the lists of shops she'll be checking out stay tuned to hear about oil the latest fashion rages & all the trey sures she'll be bringing back to The Green Room. Right now The Green Room is bulging with gowns & tuxedos for the upcoming prom season 8. don't forget Mothers' Day Sunday May • 13, The Green Room is featuring musical Mothers' Day cords) Women are the greatest shoppers . . . all week 'I've watched them proceeding undaunted between the huge machines, over the grovel & through the cement to finish their errands. Music's Mothers' Day shipment of cookbooks has just arrived os well as o line of beautifully finished pens & pencils from West Germany . nicely designed treats from $6 to $43. Only 6 of Teae's V-400 cassette decks loft at the low, low price of $288. This is probably the best cassette deck deal I II offer this year so get moving, or, as Elbert advited: "Don't sit down in the meadow. & wait for the cow to back up & be milked ... go after the cow'. Cattle trade steady in Brussels The market at Brussels Stockyards traded steady to the week's decline on a heavy supply of steers and heifers. Pigs sold steady. There were 1485 cattle and 1224 pigs on offer. Choice Steers -85.00 to 89.00 with sales to 94.00. Good Steers -82.00 to 85.00. A steer consigned by J.P. Connell and Sons of R.R. 3, Palmerston weighing 1260 lbs. sold for 94.00 witiatheir.lot of 20 steers averaging 1190 lbs. selling for 87.80. Three steers consigned by Hodgins Bros. of R.R. 8, Parkhill averaging 1210 lbs. sold for 90.00 with sales to 90.50 with their lot of 15 steers averaging 1175 lbs. selling for an overall price of 88.38. ' A steer consigned by Maple Emblem Farms of Dungannon weighing 1310 lbs. sold for 91.00 with their load of 42 steers averaging 1175 lbs. selling for an overall price of 87,42. Three steers consigned by Fred McClure of Walton averaging 1130 lbs. sold for an overall price of 87.60 with sales to 88.50. Ten steers consigned by Murray Forbes of R.R. 2. Clinton averaging 1188 lbs. sold for 87.50. Six steers consigned by Howard Martin of R.R. 3. Brussels averaging 1146 lbs. sold for 88.00 with his offering of 20 steers averaging 1 103 lbs. selling for an overall price of 87.28. Three steers consigned by Ed Michaels of R.R. 1. Sebringville averaging 1270 Ibs. sold for 89.00 with his offering of 38 steers averaging 112.0 lbs. selling for an overall price of 87.20. Three steers consigned by J & M Ranch of Brussels averaging 1183 lbs. sold for 90.10 with their lot of 27 steers averaging1176 lbs. selling for the overall price of 8.65. Six steers consigned by Harvey and Kevin Murray of R.R. 1. Chepstow averaging 1128 lbs. sold for an overall price of 89.08. Five steers consigned by Duncan Mc- Naughton of St. Marys averaging 1070 lbs. sold for an overall price of 87.21 with sales to 89.25. Choice Exotic Heifers •84 00 to 88.00 with sales to 93.50 Choice Hereford Heifers -80.00 to 84.00 A heifer consigned by Allister McIntosh of R.R. ' . St Marys weighing 1150 lbs. sold for 93.50 with his 13 choice heifers averaging 1042 lbs. selling for an overall price of 84 '0 A heifer consigned by Graham Eydt of R.R. 1. Millbank weighing 1110 lbs sold for 93.00 with his lot of 12 heifers averaging 1096 lbs. selling for an overall price of 8' 95 Seven heifers consigned by Ron McGill averaging 956 lbs. sold for 87.90 with his package of 14 heifers averaging 1005 lbs selling for 86.65. Two fancy light heifers consigned by Lawrence " Scott of R R 2. Dashwood averaging 900 lbs. sold for an average price of 90.50. Seventeen heifers consigned by Cliff Cook of R.R. 3. Grantor averaging 1030 lbs. sold for an overall price of 86.54 with sales to 92.75. Two heifers consigned by L & B Farms of Wallenstein averaging 1170 lbs sold for 89.75. Thirty-seven mixed heifers consigned by Wayne King of R.R. 1. Gorrie averaging 1063 lbs. sold for an overall price of 86.88 with sales to '90.25. Twenty-eight mixed heifers consigned by J.P. Connell & Sons of R.R. 3. Palmerston averaging 966 lbs. sold for an overall price of 84.00. Two fancy heifers consigned by Wilbert McFadden of R.R. 1, Millbank averaging 1160 lbs. sold for 88.50 with his lot of 14 heifers averaging 1 128 lbs. selling for 84.80. Choice Cows -56.00 to 60.00 with sales to 64.50. Good Cows -52.00 to 56.00. Canners & Cutters -48.00 to 52.00. Heavy Bulls traded to a high of 69.50. 20 to 30 Ib. pigs traded to a high of 32.00. 30 to 40 Ib. pigs to a high of 38.00. 40 to 50 ib. pigs to a high off 47:50. 50 to 60 Ib. pigs to a high of 49.50. 60 to 70 Ib. pigs to a high of 54.00. 70 to 80 Ib. pigs to a high of 60.25.