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The Rural Voice, 1979-05, Page 8PROF. TERRY GILLESPIE farms. This can be done by setting up maximum and minimum thermometers and keeping weather records for three or four years. This information can then be compared with longterm data from nearby weather stations. Pamphlets are available from local OMAF offices showing farmers how to calculate the available heat units on their farm, particularly important in growing corn. The meteorologist is a firm believer in using past weather information as well as forecasts on what lies ahead, in crop planning. For example, spray programs can be managed in a sensible way when you know what weather conditions are likely to result in what diseases. Also, by studying climatological con- ditions and the farm's soil type, farmers can weigh the time needed to plant their crop and decide what kind of equipment would be best. Prof. Gillespie said there's no doubt, "weather observations can be very helpful for farm management." One cash cropper who's taken the advice of agricultural meteorologists to heart about keeping weather records on his farm, is Hugh Scott, who farms near Cromarty in Perth County, with his two brothers. Call For Completely FLEXib1e SWINE MARKETING CALL vtl 527-0514 BILL STRONG 527-0876 TOM PAPPLE 527-0940 Video tape livestock sale every Thursday at Rathwell's Auction Centre, Main St. Seaforth PG. 6 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1979 Mr. Scott's first interest was in knowing the rainfall on his farm in rather a precise way. Environment Canada was persuaded to give the farmer a rain guage and he started keeping records of the precipitation A year later Mr. Scott asked the same department for a weather monitoring station with maximum and minimum thermometers, and this has been on his brother's farm ever since. Mr. Scott said he modified the formula for calculating heat units to his own purposes. For example, Mr. Scott doesn't start calculating until the first day they start planting corn. He said that may be May 1, when there is a mean temperature of 55°F, necessary for corn, but one year, the brothers couldn't start their planting until May 18. KILLING FROST Under the heat unit formula developed by Dr. Murray Brown of OAC, Sept. 30 seemed about the average killing frost date in Mr. Scott's area. Under the Brown formula, one year out of 10, a growe. should expect a killing frost on a certain date. Mr. Scott again modified his calculation using Sept. 21 as the cutoff date for the killing frost, and he stops calculating heat units on that day. H. GERRITS BARN EQUIPMENT LTD. Manufacturers -- Dealers Specializing in Complete Hog and Dairy Equipment the simple solution to manure agitation problems. Just drop the big 22 propellor into the congested pit or lagoon start It up and you're on your way to turning a lagoon Into a store of valuable nutrients. adger NEW BADGER SOUPER SLURRY MIXER •TNF,ti�ti c Badger makes things move R.R. 5 Clinton 519-482-7296 "Practical confining system for less" (I) cr re,1 00 lir Mk 0 C 527-0514 BILL STRONG 527-0876 TOM PAPPLE 527-0940 Video tape livestock sale every Thursday at Rathwell's Auction Centre, Main St. Seaforth PG. 6 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1979 Mr. Scott's first interest was in knowing the rainfall on his farm in rather a precise way. Environment Canada was persuaded to give the farmer a rain guage and he started keeping records of the precipitation A year later Mr. Scott asked the same department for a weather monitoring station with maximum and minimum thermometers, and this has been on his brother's farm ever since. Mr. Scott said he modified the formula for calculating heat units to his own purposes. For example, Mr. Scott doesn't start calculating until the first day they start planting corn. He said that may be May 1, when there is a mean temperature of 55°F, necessary for corn, but one year, the brothers couldn't start their planting until May 18. KILLING FROST Under the heat unit formula developed by Dr. Murray Brown of OAC, Sept. 30 seemed about the average killing frost date in Mr. Scott's area. Under the Brown formula, one year out of 10, a growe. should expect a killing frost on a certain date. Mr. Scott again modified his calculation using Sept. 21 as the cutoff date for the killing frost, and he stops calculating heat units on that day. H. GERRITS BARN EQUIPMENT LTD. Manufacturers -- Dealers Specializing in Complete Hog and Dairy Equipment the simple solution to manure agitation problems. Just drop the big 22 propellor into the congested pit or lagoon start It up and you're on your way to turning a lagoon Into a store of valuable nutrients. adger NEW BADGER SOUPER SLURRY MIXER •TNF,ti�ti c Badger makes things move R.R. 5 Clinton 519-482-7296 "Practical confining system for less"