The Rural Voice, 1983-03, Page 42RESEARCH PROJECT:
CORN FOR THE NORTH
Growing corn for silage in the more
northerly regions of Ontario would help
farmers develop and maintain economic
livestock operations. Unfortunately,
corn is not yet a reliable crop in these
areas where the heat units are below
2400. The success of a limited number
of farmers in the Districts of Rainy
River, Thunder Bay, Algoma, Manitou-
lin, Sudbury, and Nipissing, however,
has been great enough to justify addi-
tional research on the subject. In other
areas of Canada, corn is grown where
the heat units range from 2400 to 1900;
in Europe, corn for silage grows in even
cooler areas.
This project will complement research
done at the Elora Research Station and
at New Liskeard College of Agricultural
Technology on early -maturing hybrids
licensed in Canada and on some un-
licensed, but promising, ones from
Europe which are high -yielding and
mature early. Tests will be carried out
in six locations in Northern Ontario,
and will involve measurement of early
vigour, silking date, silage yield and
percent dry matter, and percent lodg-
ing. There will also be comparisons
made of two plant densities, 60 and 90
thousand plants per hectare, on yield.
The tests will be used to evaluate the
success of early -maturing corn hybrids
in Northern Ontario, to provide informa-
tion for assessing the need for perfor-
mance and licensing trials on the
hybrids selected, and to draw up a
tentative list of recommended hybrids.
EXPANDING
HAY PRODUCTION
To study expanding the potential of
hay as a cash crop in Ontario, Roger A.
Thompson, extension executive, has
FARM ADVICE
been appointed to a special assignment
with the technology and field services
division of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food.
The former associate director of the
extension branch will study the feasibi-
lity of expanding the production, mar-
keting and processing of Ontario hay as
a cash crop and, if it proves feasible,
will develop an action plan to bring this
about.
In this two-year project, Thompson
will study the establishment of quality
standards or grades of hay and look at
its packaging and transportation includ-
ing development of equipment to make
this easier, such as hay compactors, as
well as examine the marketing system
for hay.
Detailing the reasons for this study,
Rennie explained that there are regions
of the province where additional cash
crops are needed to augment farm
incomes.
WACKY WEATHER
The Canadian Climate Centre con-
firms this country's weather was a wee
bit wacky last year.
The division of the federal environ-
ment department says in a recent news
release, that southern Ontario experi-
enced its coldest summer since 1929,
and record high temperatures last De-
cember. There were record high tem-
peratures to go along with Record
hours of sunshine in north central
British Columbia in June, while back on
the ranch. areas of Alberta and Saskat-
chewan experienced their driest June in
20 years. Not to be outdone, June of
1982 was the wettest since the 1960s in
eastern Canada and the coldest on
record in some locations. But as every
cloud has its silver lining, the generally
cool and wet weather did have one
positive effect: it kept forest fires to a
minimum in eastern Canada, Manitoba
and Saskatchewan.
This year's weather will probably also
break records with its mild January; it
remains to be seen if we pay for it later.
Silo group offers
free booklet
The Ontario Silo Association's
recently -published booklet 'Fire in
Silos', explains how silo fires start and
provides detailed information on
fighting a silo fire. The publication
also outlines procedures for ex-
tinguishing fires in oxygen -limiting
silos.
Copies of the booklet are available
from the Ontario Silo Association,
P.O. Box 8125, Kitchener, Ontario
N2K 2B6, or from the Farm Safety
Association. ■
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Centralia College of Agricultural Technology
THE RURAL VOICE. MARCH 1983 PG 43