The Rural Voice, 2005-08, Page 47BARN
RENOVATIONS
• Renovations to farm
buildings
• Concrete Work
• Manure Tanks
• Using a Bobcat Skid Steer
w/hydraulic hammer,
bucket, six -way blade &
backhoe
BEUERMANN
CONSTRUCTION
R.R. #5 BRUSSELS
519-887-9598
or 519-887-8447
SCHMIDT'S
FARM DRAINAGE
1990 LTD.
• FARM DRAINAGE
• EROSION CONTROL
• BACKHOEING & EXCAVATIONS
• GPS MAPPING
Frank Fischer, Harriston
519-338-3484
"We install
drainage tubing."
44 THE RURAL VOICE
AgriTech
Corn: a crop with a historg and a future
Janice
Becker is a
computer
enthusiast
and
journalist
living ?ear
Walton, ON.
On a mid-July trip south to Elgin
County. on the north shore of Lake
Erie, the vast differences faced by
farmers in Southwestern Ontario was
reaffirmed.
Having lived in Huron County for
13 years. I have become accustomed
to the timing of the crops in this
somewhat more northerly clime than
that of my native southern Middlesex
County. The old saying -for corn still
applied — "knee high by the 4th of
July". but the advantages seen in
fields two hours south were very
apparent this year.
While suffering through
excessively hot June and July
temperatures (great for heat units),
but with little to no moisture. the com
crops in my area still appeared to
average about four feet in height.
However, our farming friends to the
south were already boasting stalks in
excess of seven feet, in some regions.
It got me thinking about this crop,
which has been a staple of agriculture
in Ontario since before European
settlers began to arrive; used to feed
both people and livestock and now
becoming a more sought-after source
of renewable energy.
My search for what's new in the
corn industry began with the Ontario
Corn Producers' Association (DCPA)
at www.ontariocorn.org.
The website is laid out simply, in a
straightforward manner, which is
easy to use.
Under the General Information
Zink, surfers are led to topics on soil
fertility and testing, nutrient
management, residue and tillage with
information produced by
organizations such as OMAF and
institutions like the University of
Nebraska.
Other reports cover topics ranging
from seed protection and the use of
frozen and immature corn to
environmental and biotechnological
concerns.
The website is loaded with
material on all aspects of corn,
covering its history and its future.
While detailing the knowledge
required to produce a successful crop,
it also deals with the impact of corn
on our environment and life, with
information derived from a wide
variety of sources.
Unfortunately, I did have
problems connecting to some of the
links, but it may have just been
timing.
The links to reports produced at
American universities and institutions
may provide an alternative view on a
crop that is important in both
countries.
For more southern perspective,
check at the National Corn Growers
Association, www.ncga.com., based
in St. Louis, Mo. and Washington,
D.C. The top story currently,
produced July 19, debates the net
energy balance of ethanol. The site
provides a ttemendous amount of
information and is worth a look.
Another site which may be
interesting to corn producers can be
found at www.gocorn.net/, Growing
Ontario's Corn.
The site, maintained by the DCPA.
is said to focus on "emerging
technologies" and keeping producers
abreast of research results.
More current than the OCPA site, the
2004 trial results are available, as is
data from the previous two years.
The site is even equipped with a
nitrogen calculator to help with a
little figuring.
As with any website associated
with a particular crop or product, it is
meant to support and promote that
industry. There are always other
opinions with regards to information
provided.
***
You may be a farmer if...you
know the difference between field
corn and sweet corn when they are
still on the stalk. (prairielinks.com)
Contact me at jlbecker@wightman.ca
or through The Rural Voice office,
with feedback or topic suggestions.0