The Rural Voice, 1989-10, Page 36Brush and spray,
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KAYLON Agri -Vet Supplies Ltd.
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KAYLON Agri -Vet Supplies Ltd.
P.O. Box 861, Stn. C
Kitchener, Ont.
N2G 4C5
519-570-1410
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34 THE RURAL VOICE
farms is also smaller than might be
expected. "We don't have very large
machinery for the acreage we're run-
ning" Don says. None of the tractors
is over 100 horsepower. "We don't
have a shortage of labour and we can
run three smaller units more efficient-
ly than two large ones."
Farmers tend to mechanize to com-
pensate for labour shortages and costs,
he adds. "You either pay for it in
labour or pay for it in interest. Some-
times with labour you can lay the help
off. You can't lay the interest off."
Don has adopted a middle of the
road approach to chemical weed con-
trol. He has taken courses on chemi-
cal storage, handling, and application
and has purchased sprayers with added
safety features.
"I haven't been convinced that I
have to be totally dependent on chem-
icals. I use the best of both and still
provide society with a cheap source of
food and make a return doing it."
While he still uses atrazine to
control mustard, Don is reducing his
dependency on the chemical by using
Roundup extensively to control twitch
grass, and burn -down for fall plow -
down.
It would not bother him if there
were a total ban on chemicals, he says.
"Just make sure they're banned in the
U.S. and other countries. Put me on
an even footing with the rest of the
world. I could handle half as much
crop and make twice as much money."
But the scenario is unlikely and would
soon create food shortages, he adds.
An Egremont Township councillor
for six years, Don retired last year to
join the Advanced Agricultural
Leadership Program. He is now a
third of the way through the two-year
program, which will end with a trip to
China. People should get involved in
their community and keep increasing
their knowledge, Don says, although
he has cut back on the 12 organiza-
tions he has been involved in.
The same theory applies to the
farming operation. The Lewis family
became licensed grain dealers this
year in an attempt to diversify their
operation further. "You can't stand
still. In business, there's only two
ways to go. You either go up, or out."
And the Lewis family is doing a good
job of demonstrating the former.°