The Rural Voice, 1981-08, Page 27■ADVICE ON FARMING
Manure analysis for
good management
Manure means money in today's
economic situation. A normal application
of cattle manure is worth $30-$40 an acre
to a farmer at this spring's fertilizer
prices.
Farmers need manure analysis to get
full value from the manure they spread on
their fields, says Professor Tom Bat<< of
the Soil Testing Labratory at the Univer-
sity of Guelph.
The popularity of manure analysis is
growing rapidly in the face of rising
fertilizer costs and greater awareness of
the value of using manure wisely. says
Professor Bates.
A big increase came in April. 1980.
when fertilizer prices skyrocketed. That
year. the ,lab analysed 376 samples
compared to 115 in 1978-79. In 1980-81.
the lab analysed 486 samples -
The lab tests manure tor nitrogen.
phosphorous. potassium, calcium. and
dry matter content. Using this informat-
ion, farmers can adjust fertilizer applicat-
ions to complete the soils requirements.
The basic lab tests costs $13 and the
lab will analyse the sample for trace
minerals -boron, copper, magnesium and
zinc - for another $3.
Bookkeeping help
A program little known among far-
mers is the Small Business Consuliing
Service of the Ontario Ministry of
Industry and Tourism.
It is so little known that even the people
in the regional offices are not familiar
with its availability to farmers. Both the
Owen Sound and the London offices of
the ministry said it was not available to
farmers. but the people who do the
consulting work at the universities of
Western Ontario and Waterloo said it is
available to all small businesses. includ-
ing farmers.
This was confirmed in a letter from the
Queen's Park office which stated some
universities had farm business exper-
tise.
Susan Anglin. speaking for Sir Wilfred
Laurier University in Waterloo. said a
team of consultants would be ready to
help farmers set up bookkeeping so they
can then find the weak spots in their
operations.
The cost is $3.25 an hour tor the
Laurier team and $40 a day for Western
Ontario.
MAILBOX OF THE MONTH7
.�.
Owner of this mailbox is Jimmy Richards,
-R. R. 5 Stratford. (Photo by Donna Thiel)
BERG HYDRO•MAN,
1
MANURE PUMP
Stores manure away from the barn
• Pumps liquids, solids and bedding
• Reduces odor and fly problems
Retains nitrogen and potassium
Easy to install—easy to operate
• Fits any barn cleaning operation
• Ample manure storage at low cost
�\ ik • Manure is ready when you want it
Mail the coupon for full details
WILL MAKE YOUR MANURE•
I
HANDLING
MUCH EASIER '" sir;
1
1
1
1
1
HYDRO-MAN
111111
MANUAL
For more information contact:
KEITH SIEMON FARM SYSTEMS
R.R. 4, WALTON
345-2734
THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1981 PG. 25