The Rural Voice, 1991-08, Page 22(nLmnR;
PLAN TO ATTEND
"CONSERVATION DAY"
on
August 20, 1991
at
Hayter's Turkey Farms
Located 1/4 mile west of Dashwood on Hwy. 83.
THEME - INNOVATIONS IN CONSERVATION
See the latest in conservation technology for agriculture
Lunchtime Speakers On:
• Variable Rate Nitrogen
Application
• No -till White Beans
• No -till Row Crop Culitvation
Sponsored by:
Tours of:
• No -till Variety Trials
• Equipment Displays
• Tillage and Planter
Demonstrations
FREE ADMISSION
LUNCH PROVIDED FOR $5.00
THE HURON SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT (H.S.C.I.A.)
(K) KONGSKILDU
• Cushionair 300
800-1100 bu./hr.'
GRAIN VACS
AND
GRAIN
CLEANERS
• Cushionair 500
1400-1800 bulhr.'
FEED BINS
• ALL GALVANIZED CONSTRUCTION
• WEATHERTIGHT
• ECONOMICAL
FLEX-FLO AUGERS
• 5 SIZES: 2" - 5"
• BELT OR DIRECT DRIVE
• COMPLETE LINE OF ACCESSORIES
GRAIN _ BINS
GRAIN SYSTEMS LTD.
244 WELLINGTON ST., EXETER, ONTARIO NOM 1S2
519-235-1919 or call Brad Marsden, evenings 519-235-2018
18 THE RURAL VOICE
acres. A few years ago, he decided to cut
back the operation to a point where he
could handle the job better with just the
family. Now the family owns 570 acres
and rents the remaining 380.
He was one of the original eight
members of the pioneering Huron Soil and
Water Conservation District in 1982, and
over the years gradually converted the
whole farm until it was all in no -till.
The savings in dollar terms are
impressive. Where he used $8,000 worth' -
of fuel three years ago, he only needed
$2,000 this year, or about 700 gallons on
on the 950,acres, compared to an average
of four to six gallons per acre on
conventionally tiled land.
All that lack of work is good for his
equipment as he only puts 200 hours a year
on his tractor. "I expect it will last nearly
a lifetime," he jokes.
He's alto trimmed the fertilizer bill
considerably by using liquid hog manure
on 450 acres this spring through agree-
ments he has with neighbouring hog
producers. As well, the alfalfa is sold to
another nearby dairy farmer. While some
of the corn received a 6-26-30 fertilizer in
a band two inches beside and two inches
deep at a rate up to 160 pounds an acre at
planting time, followed by up to 90 pounds
of anhydrous nitrogen, 120 of the corn
acres didn't receive any fertilizer at all.
"We haven't bought starter in eight years
for the home farm," Shillinglaw says.
As well, he's cut his herbicide bill in
half. In the spring he uses 1/4 liter of
Roundup per acre pre -plant as a burn -off
for weeds, followed by a 10 inch band
spray of Dual at planting time at 1/3 the
recommended rate. "It costs us about $6
per acre instead of $18 for spray," he says.
After the crop is up, he walks the fields to
check for weed escapes, using Banvel at
the full rate, post -emergent, if needed.
Shillinglaw uses some of those hours
he saved not riding around in the tractor to
check the fields on foot. "Under no -till,
you spend a lot of time walking your
fields," he says with his pleasant smile.
His savings really show up through a
comparison study of costs, yields and net
return through the Huron Perth study
group by the Soil and Crop Improvement
Association. He had the lowest input cost
per bushel of $1.35 (without land cost) and
a yield of 176 bushels per acre, compared
to the average of $2.02 on 136 bushels.
His net return per acre of $197 was the
highest of the dozen in the group with an
average of $135.
Shillinglaw says he's constantly
working out kinks in the system. For
instance, he's working with Dr. Hugh
Hope of Agriculture Canada in Ottawa to