The Rural Voice, 1993-05, Page 49Advice
Soybeans after
soybeans?
With the wet weather last fall, this
spring some producers are looking at
soybean fields on which they were
unable to plant winter wheat.
What options are available for
1993?
For some growers, the best choice
is to follow with corn. For farms
where corn is not an option, the
choices may be less attractive.
Some producers are considering
spring grain but this option remains
dependent on both weather and weed
control requirements. Spring cereals
always respond to early planting to
take advantage of cool moist
conditions, but Mother Nature must
co-operate. If weeds such as
twitchgrass are a problem, this puts a
further delay on planting as the twitch
must be actively growing for
effective control with Roundup.
Three leaves of growth coupled with
a minimum three days between
spraying and cultivation are
necessary for effective chemical
control.
Balancing the need for early
planting of cereals and twitchgrass
control is always a challenge. For
light or spotty infestations of twitch
where conventional tillage practices
are used, it is suggested planting be
done as soon as conditions permit.
Early cereal growth coupled with
the setback of cultivation will reduce
the competition of the twitchgrass,
which can then be effectively
controlled after harvest.
If we are dealt a late planting
season, the next cash crop alternative
may be soybeans again. While it is
recognized that beans after beans
usually results in a yield reduction,
this still may be the best choice for
1993. Given the 1992 growing
season, a yield increase may be
expected with more moderate
growing conditions this summer.
While we have put the 1992
growing season behind us, the
carryover impact on crop rotation
decisions remains.
Rick Jefferson
Farm Management Specialist
Water Matters
Septic systems — a hidden polluter
Well, spring has sprung, the
grass has riz, do you know where
your septic system is?
Sounds funny, however did you
know that most people, when asked,
are not sure of the age, size or
location of their septic system?
This is a problem since systems
need proper care and maintenance
in order to function for their
expected lifetime of 20-30 years.
Septic systems should have two
key components, a receiving tank
for solid separation, and a leaching
tile bed which, if functioning
properly, will remove most disease
causing organisms. All wastes ie.
laundry, toilets, sinks, etc., from
households should be directed to the
septic tank.
Malfunctioning septic systems
are regarded as pollution sources to
rivers, streams and lakes. Their
effluent, if not properly treated,
contains vast amounts of bacteria,
nutrients and viruses that can cause
dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid and
beaver fever. If systems are not
properly sited or maintained, these
health risks and others can stem
from contamination of surface and
groundwater resources. Nutrients
such as phosphorus and nitrogen
also cause excessive algae and
aquatic weed growth. This leads to
oxygen depletion in the aquatic
system which harms fish
populations.
Signs of septic system failure
are:
• slow drainage
• unpleasant odours around dwelling.
• lush green patches or lines on
lawn
• smelly, ponded areas close to
dwelling
The transportation of the effluent
— the liquid portion that flows from
the tank — to water resources can
occur in a number of ways. The
waste, if ponding or allowed to exit
overland, can travel, with the help
of precipitation and sloping land, to
receiving streams. You may not
think that ponding is a problem if it
is not getting to a water source, yet
if family pets, livestock, and
especially children have access to
the location, health risks are
imminent.
As well, these pollutants, if on
sandy -type soils, may leach through
the soil profile and reach ground-
water supplies. This is a real con-
cern considering drinking supplies
in rural communities are wells.
Some septic systems do not have a
tile bed but a direct connection to a
field tile which usually exits into
drainage ditches or streams.
Unacceptable septic systems arc
known to be responsible for 30 to
70 per cent of bacterial pollution
reaching the Lake Huron shoreline.
Unlike other pollutants which are
occasionally discharged into Lakc
Huron, such as sewage treatment
bypasses, septic systems discharge
regularly. Given the dependence on
wells for drinking water and water
resources such as Lake Huron for
swimming, improper use and failure
of septic systems should not he
taken lightly.
The life of your present system
can be prolonged if the tank is
pumped every 3-5 years and the tile
bed protected from vehicular traffic.
For more information on septic
systems, call your local Health Unit.
For CURB Program grant informa-
tion, call your local Conservation
Authority.°
This is another in a series of articles
by Janette Smiderle of the Saugeen
Valley Conservation Authority,
highlighting information on water
quality in the rural environment.
THE WRITE STUFF?
Wanted: People with an
agricultural orientation who
can write features or cover
news stories, or simply send
in reports of local meetings
or community activities.
Write: The Rural Voice
10A The Square, Box 37
Goderich, Ontario
N7A 3Y5
MAY 1993 45