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The Rural Voice, 2000-06, Page 8Don't let the grass get ahead of you! Finishing Mowers 5'. 6' & 7' • Bush Hog • Farm King • Douglas Rotary Cutters 5', 6' & 7' • Bush Hog • Lucknow • Agro Tend • Walco • Farm King Used Mowers 2 - Seaforth 6' finishing mowers from S750. 1 - Farm King (Demo) 5' finishing mower $1,000. 1- Woods 4' finishing mower .. $700. 1 - BMB 6' rotary cutter wislip clutch $600. 1- John Deere 5' rotary cutter $960. 1- UFT 5' rotary cutter.... S950. 1- Lucknow 6' rotary cutter . Coming 1 - BMB 5' rotary cutter .... Coming 1 - Mott 6' rotary cutter $1,000. 6 - 1998's & 1999's Simplicity riding mowers at blow out prices McGavin Farm Equipment Ltd. WALTON (519) 887-6365 or (519) 527-0245 email: mcgavins©wcl.on.ca web page: http://www.mcgavinequip.com Fax: (519) 887-6381 4 THE RURAL VOICE 1 Keith Roulston Aflood of evidence arrives The recent vicious storm that dumped three or four inches of rain on our area in two hours provided a living demonstration of the value of conservation tillage at our place. Our country place is in a valley at the bottom of a half -mile long hill. In the days before no -till was adopted by our neighbours who farm that hill, we'd had as much as four inches of mud deposited on our property after a cloud -burst if there was a row crop like beans planted there. This time around the flood- ing waters carried down large quantities of old corn stalks from the corn crop two years ago, leaving a layer about six inches deep in some places on our land where the water pooled. There wasn't much mud, however — maybe a half-inch or so but nothing like in days past. Just as interesting was seeing where the erosion had taken place. The field in general had held firm. The only erosion was along the rows of newly -emerging corn, where the no -till drill had disturbed the surface. There the soil had been washed out to about the level the coulter would hava opened the soil. As we here at The Rural Voice celebrate our 25th anniversary this month, it's easy to begin reflecting on what's changed in a quarter century, what's deteriorated, what's improved. One thing that has definitely improved is farmers' environmental awareness, particularly in the way of soil conservation. One of my most vivid memories over 25 years was of a meeting in Clinton where soil conservation pioneer Norman Alexander broached the subject of soil erosion to a large group of assembled farmers. Alexander, who flew his own airplane, had aerial photographs showing the erosion from wind and water on farms in the region. Despite Storm proves value of no -till to conservation the photographic evidence, many present were skeptical. It was a era of growing corn after corn after corn and many couldn't see the economics of changing if it meant growing the valuable crop less often. It took years for Alexander and others to get the message across, that your soil was the most valuable asset you have and if you lose it, you • won't be able to grow any crop at all. Preaching that message coincided with the research that showed the value of crop rotation in improving yields and reducing pest pressures. The new philosophy was also helped along by pioneering work by some innovative, environmentally concerned farmers who began to explore conservation tillage. Some of these farmers heard about exper- iments in the U.S., and went to see what was happening. Others began creating their own adaptations to existing equipment for no -till or ridge -till because there was no commercial equipment available. Eventually, as interest grew, the little machinery companies began building equipment and when it looked like the trend would continue, the big companies also got involved. It's an example of another remarkable trend over the years: the pioneering work of individuals or small groups of like-minded farmers whose ideas eventually spread. Yes there's a lot of research done at government research farms, at the University of Guelph and Ridgetown and by the commercial companies, but some of the most interesting experimentation has come from farmers themselves. Word of that research has been spread by the network of OMAFRA specialists starting at the county office or by staff of conservation authorities. I'm fairly confident those curious, inventive farmers will keep doing their research but with cutbacks at OMAFRA and the conservation authorities, will word of their work spread as quickly as in times past? If not, agriculture will lose.° Keith Roulston is editor and publisher of The Rural Voice. He lives near Blyth, ON.