The Rural Voice, 1979-01, Page 31safety factor ranging from 10 to 5,000,
depending on the toxicity of the product.
The resulting figure is called the accept-
able daily intake. It is the amount of
chemical which, if consumed for a life time,
would appear to be without appreciable
risk.
The level of residue which may be
permitted in foods varies from zero to
several parts per/million.
Health Protection Branch officials also
conduct routine monitoring for pesticide
residues.
The role of Fisheries and Environment
Canada is to examine how long it takes for
the chemical to break down in various
media such as soil and water. The
evaluation considers the effects on fish and
aquatic life, birds and mammals and how
unused pesticides and empty containers
should be disposed.
Pesticides on the market are routinely
re-evaluated in consultation with other
federal and provincial authorities.
Lean to may cut
swine farm costs
Paul Bayer, president of Quality Swine
Co-operative, is trying a number of
innovative techniques to cut costs on his
farm.
First, he already has pigs heating part of
barn with their own body heat. The next
thing he plans to try is feeding back pig
manure in the food ration.
In the United States, swine producers
are already feeding manure back in a 50-50
ration with grain. When the moisture is
removed from the manure, it is high in
nutrients and is as much as 40 per cent
protein.
But the biggest change on the Wood-
stock area farm will take place next year
when Mr. Bayer will build outdoor lean-to
enclosures to house his pigs.
The insulated floor and ceiling of the
enclosures means pigs will provide their
own heat for most of the winter months.
Mr. Bayer hopes the money he will save
will make him competitive with American
hog producers.
The farmer has found energy costs for
his more traditional hog operation have
doubled in the past two years and he
expects energy costs to climb further.
The outdoor, lean-to system may mean
farmers can house market hogs outside for
nine months of the year. Similar operations
are already running year round in some of
the northern U.S. states.
Mr. Bayer hopes his lower overhead will
allow him to survive even the lower hog
prices he expects lie ahead.
Drill for legumes
saves time, money
Farmers no longer have to reseed
pastures completely to restore legumes.
There is an easier method.
Legumes, such as alfalfa and bird's -foot
trefoil, tend to be short-lived compared to
grasses, says Alex Skepast, head of the
Agronomy Section at New Liskeard College
of Agricultural Technology.
Traditionally, replacing legumes re-
quired plowing, disking, and reseeding the
entire pasture. The new method uses a
grassland drill to introduce legumes into
the pasture without disturbing existing
grasses.
"This method eliminates several costly
steps for farmers," says Mr. Skepast. "It
not only saves time and labor, but provides
'instant' pasture."
Mr. Skepast explains that with the
traditional method, grazing is impossible
until the year after seeding. With the new
method, cattle can graze the pasture the
same year.
The direct -seeding method also reduces
soil erosion. The land is not broken up and
HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN
SIRES
"Bulb that
stand...al the
strength
ot their
deuglhre.. "
Mot
14.111 breeders inc.
AR 5,Guelph,OMarq,Canada Tel (5191821-2150
NITED
0 breeders inc.
TSB�c
•MFMBFa Or \ CANADA
NITED
SEEC 4BthL
Our new catalogue format
makes it easy, by
grouping the proof in-
formation with plain
language comments.
TO: UNITED BREEDERS INC.
R.R. #5, GUELPH, N1H 6J2
Please send a 1979 Holstein book.
Name
Address
THE RURAL VOICE/JANUARY 1979 PG. 31