The Rural Voice, 1978-11, Page 30Agriculture Canada's research station at
Mclfort. Sask.. has - taken over the
development of the haytower which was
originally constructed in 1971 by station
staff working closely with engineers from
the Engineering and Statistical Research
Institute of Ottawa. Studies to date have
proven the feasibility as well as value of the
system.
"Its big ad vantage is that the forage
can have a high moisture content. up to 40
or 50 per cent." the researcher says. "This
means better quality hay at feeding time
because there is less Icaf loss in thc field
and Tess weathering loss during storage."
The unit. which resembles a typical
western grain storage bin. was constructed
with equipment and parts that arc readily
available in Canada. and a few shop -made
components. Its estimated cost is $20.000.
ahhough work is continuing to reduce this
amount.
The system works like this: Hay is cut
and allowed to remain in the field until its
moisture content is about 40 per cent. A
forage harvester then picks up the swath.
chops the hay and blows it into a
self -unloading wagon.
The hay is then blown into the tower with
a toragc blower. During tilling. a distri-
butor and auger spread the hay evenly
inside the tower.
"We have found that a filling rate of
about six tons per day is ideal." the
scientist says. Capacity of the tower --with
25 foot diameter --is 63 tons of dry matter.
The drying is done with a two -speed fan
that forces. unheated air through the tower,
and is usually complete two or three weeks
after the tower is Tilled.
Unloading as simple as unloading sila
lion a silo. with an auger moving thc hay
to a convenor in a bottom duct which leads
to a wagon or mechanized feeder.
already grown in North America, these are
spring varieties, which haven't proved too
successful in Ontario.
Triticale, which still has a limited market
for human consumption, is used mainly in
MnMariotype of cookie being marketed in
ario and in commercial bread and
pancake mixes in the United States.
Mr. Reinbergs said if winter triticale
could be grown in the province, it would be
used largely as animal feed.
The triticale was being tested under
winter conditions to prove it can be brown
in countries like Peru and Chile which had
high altitudes. The plant breeder said if the
triticale proves beneficial for Ontario. this
will simply be a side benefit of the testing
program for underdeveloped countries.
The breeder said since there still isn't a
great demand for the new program, he
expects he will have to approach the
provincial and federal governments to back
development of Ontario triticale.
Rye -wheat blend
may out grow
winter wheat
Triticale, a new hybrid of rye and wheat.
may prove a boon in our Ontario winters.
The hybrid was originally developed to
help Third World countries where the
climate made it difficult to grow wheat.
Now Ernie Reinbergs. a plant breeder
with the University of Guelph. is predicting
that triticale would do better than ordinary
winter wheat in parts of our own province.
Winter wheat and triticale are both
planted in the late fall. lie dormant over the
winter and mature in the early summer.
While several strains of triticale are
Rotation
can prevent rootworm
"Corn rootworm nntestatrons almost
always have been in corn following corn."
sans University of Minnesota extension
entomologist John Lofgren. "Rotation still
is the most important thing to consider
when deciding whether to treat for
You are invited
to come to the factory
and see the quality
for yourself.
FACTORY OPEN FOR INSPECTION
WEEKDAYS 8:30-11:30 a.m., 1-3 p.m.
OR BY APPOINTMENT.
•
NORTHLANDER
A complete line of 12
and 14 wides now available.
Now also building
Commercial /Industrial Units.
An alternate form of
farm housing, custom
designed and built to
your requirements.
-Canada's t)innt
Manufactured
in Canada by
Custom Trailers Ltd.,
165 Thames Rd. E.
Exeter, Ontario [Box 190]
[519]235-1530 Telex 064-5815
PC. 30 THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1978