The Rural Voice, 1978-04, Page 13Erosion, he said, is a rapidly growing problem in southern
Ontario and said that on a recent airplane trip over Huron County
he could see where the snow had turned brown because of wind
erosion. He blamed modern cropping practices for many erosion
problems and said government has been as much to blame as
anyone in urging farmers "to grow corn, corn, corn." He said in
Wellington county he has seen many farms that were very good
before they went into corn that now have tremendous erosion
problems from corn being planted year after year on side hills.
Most of the erosion losses, he said, are in a two to four week
period in the spring during run-off. During the rest of the year
there is crop cover. The first' year corn is planted on land the
erosion may not be great because there is a good soil structure
but as corn crop after corn crop is planted, the amount of
vegetable matter in the soil decreases making it easier to wash
away in heavy run off.
Although erosion is a major problem in itself, it also increases
v:ater pollution by carrying fertilizer residues in these soils into
the water system. The problem of most concern to the
International Joint Commission is phosphorus which promotes
plant growth in the water and changes the chemical balance,
killing off fish crops such as trout in favour of poorer quality fish
like carp and smelt which can thrive in the new water conditions.
In connection with phosphorus, he said. studies showed that
farmers v. ere, on average. putting on two and a half times as
much phosphorus as needed for the growth of their crops and in
some cases it showed up to 17 times the amount of phosphorus
recommended by the soil test was applied to crops. He told
farmers that they are throwing their money away putting on
fertilizers they don't need. "I get the impression that in some
areas there are a lot of gullible farmers" who are being sold
fertilizer) by fast -talking salesmen. he said.
Still. he said. the amount of soil from erosion getting into the
Groat Lakes System from erosion isn't as big a problem for the
'. ater system as it is for the farmers. He warned farmers that we
We Are In The Market For
Ont. mixed grain
& barley
In order to have the variety of
SEED GRAIN of your choice
ORDER NOW
For the horse man we have
a stock of
RECLEANED OATS
OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
'Phone 527-1910
Seaforth
HAMPSHIRE HAPPENINGS
AT
VISTA VILLA
FARMS
Lewis' 2nd boar class 5 sired by HA
Invoice 33-1 sold for 55,250 to Robert J.
Robinson.
7th boar class 1 [Willie 25-2 x Boxcar]
sold for $1,100 to Bob Robinson.
These herd boars are two of the most recent genetic 'pieces'
in our Hampshires breeding programme. They stand as
examples of our continuing efforts to improve our
Hampshires - longer. leaner and larger framed.
"We think we are on the right track"
HERE'S WHY:
The ROP results for 1977 are in, showing these facts:
100 boars tested at 12.4 m.m. (.49 inches) back fat. In 159
days they went to 90 kg. (approximately 200 lbs.)
Note * 12.4 m.m. was the leanest figure for those testing
100 or more boars.
AND
Our 1977 average index was 107.0 on 864 market hogs.
Give us a call or visit.
We have boars priced right for the serious hogman.
. W ',.1\ ton
Stifles
igvaa
.sea
sovttl
No. 8 highwav
•Bcodbagen
Bornholm
'Mitchell
ROBERT J. ROBINSON
RR 4, WALTON, ONT.
345-2317
THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1978. PG. 13.