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The Citizen-Agriculture 98, 1998-03-18, Page 28• CABLE • ROPE • CHAIN ainit P us e R Cf4 OMP XI your- ideal Ply ,-Vrocr„_,s757Firs, -77 ,27,A=s, ,r--31 rpm 1=1- v.-. J11=1,11_4=4 • kimmigg ti=.1.3=11— im — 11=113,-.91l=1=1111111=h0=W=11.1=1l X1=JIL=J10=JAMI I 7_u I • • "Make a Clean Sweep" fi I • E • CI LI4 • I ▪ I -III! Ii ••au • • a [1:3 .11. Ei_;1 Ft • 641 (1_11 1.1111. kt_U orr r r Welding and Machine Shop •;--3 • a EJ T_ RR # 2 Auburn 519-529-7212 Fax 519-529-3277 sill. MalaEIRTTjal q-JLiTJigSjE ETint T R I A66 2S2T tr T iaaPrit C k TC- ja' 1 I L with CUSTOM BUILT EQUIPMENT TAG-ALONG SWEEPER * 18" x 44" brushes * Engine drive - 4 1/2 H.P. Honda for small lawn tractors or ATV's • Fixed Angle SMYTH 3 P.H. SWEEPER * 18" x 5' or 6' & 24" x 6' • PTO drive • AdJ. caster wheels • Spring loaded 3 P.H. rear mount or can be front mounted with kit. TAG-ALONG SWEEPER * 18" x 44" brushes • Engine drive - 4 1/2 H.P. Honda for small lawn tractors or ATV's * Collecting bin attached NI* rr • I • 3 I I r • p PAGE A-8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1998. Agriculture '98 Blanket of trash keeps ground wet, cold longer More widely spread More evenly spread residue from the combine was essential to the Glanvilles as they looked into improvements for their no-till operation. CONTINUED FROM A-7 ty of the soil. "Something had to be done." So in 1991, a portion of the farm went no-till. "We were told to start small, but we put 300 acres in no-till beans," said Dean. By year two, the Glanvilles had 850 acres in beans and corn. Going to no-till, the Glanvilles realized that the even spreading of residue was very important for the next season's crop. Conventional spreaders on the back of a combine might drop the trash in a four-foot-wide row, leav- ing heavy cover in the spring. OATI offers spring programs OATI (the Ontario Agricultural Training Institute) is offering two new programs this spring, "How to Make Money from Wheat" and "Renewable Energy on the Farm." Both are pilot programs developed in co-operation with organizations. The registration fee is $50 for each course. "How to Make Money from Wheat", is an introduction to risk management for wheat producers, developed in conjunction with the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board. Bob Huckle is the facilitator for this two day course, held on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clinton OMAFRA office. Lunch is provided. The program will focus on the basics of marketing as it relates specifically to wheat. Understand price risk and learn how to effectively use market alternatives in conjunction with the Ontario Wheat Board to improve returns. The delivery of this course is made possible by the Ontario CONTINUED ON A-9 That blanket of trash would keep the ground wetter and colder longer into the season, thereby delaying germination of seeds. This was particularly evident with corn trash. By adapting the double spreader/ spinner on their combine, the Glanvilles were able to catch all the bean and corn residue and spread it more evenly over a 20-foot expanse. The corn trash of the straw walker off the sieve is also spread. Others which were mounted far- ther ahead could not catch all the residue, said Lorne. The density of the corn residue is still somewhat of a problem, says Ken, though strip cultivation is an option being considered by the threesome. With this method, narrow strips of land are turned over in the fall, exposing the dark topsoil. In the CABLE Paint Supplier! • Galvanized Aircraft Cable 1/16' to 3/8' • Wire Rope 3/8' to 3/4' • Stainless Steel Cable 1116' -1/4' • PVC & Clear Coated Cable 1/8' - 3/1 ROPE • Polypropylene - 1/4' to 1/2' • Nylon 1/4', 1/2', 5/8', 1' • Hemp 1/2', 3/4', 7/8', 1' CHAIN Grade 30, 3/16' to 1/2' Wide range of thimbles, shackles, cable damps. etc Above are stock items Other sizes and grades available by order 519-524-9671 Fax: (519) 524-6962 53 Victoria St., South Goderich, Ontario N7A 3H6 spring, the dirt not only absorbs the sun's heat more quickly to warm the soil but dries out faster. In making the conversion to no- till, the Glanvilles looked at much of the equipment already on the,. market and adapted their conven- tional corn planter. "We had to add extra coulters and row cleaners to move the residue out of the way," said Dean. The model has not remained stat- ic. Three major changes have occurred in the six years of opera tion. "I think we now have the design that works best," he said. Over the six years of no-till, Dean said they have seen an incred- ible improvement in the soil condi- tion. "It has a lot more earthworms now and the texture is better." By practising this type of farm- ing, the Glanvilles have seen other factors which have contributed to the soil improvement. "One pass does all the planting, both seed and fertilizer," said Dean. "It avoids compaction, which is particularly important with no-till." Minimal or no tillage also con- tributes to less erosion of the land. Less hours on a tractor means less fuel being burned which helps the environment, added Ken. The fact that huge equipment is not needed, nor is an abundance of different pieces, the Glanvilles say there is a savings in the cost of machinery and maintenance costs for upkeep. "One tractor with 130 hp is enough," said Lorne. Previously he used three tractors. Though operating only one-half his farm as no-till for one year, Lorne said he now puts about 100 hours on the tractor compared to 200 hours with conventional farm- ing. This is where savings can be found, said Lorne, and not usually in the actual crop inputs as spraying costs can be higher. "Burn down" is also a concern. Less than a decade ago, all the fields along McKillop Twp. Conc. 10, were plowed. Now there is just one, said Dean. No-till is slowly changing farming methods. Though relatively new to the technology, others in Huron Coun- ty have been involved for more than 20 years. The best tip they offer regarding the no-till option is to look at what is available, talk to people already doing it and read industry magazines and articles. ID P c_PLPLP c_FIn r Pro `3 D, NESBITT CONSTRUCTION INC. Ai _ irli;, e ffITIP d I I ir:5 lli ___,.=.-.E-'w /: ..._. m . IV Backhoe • Bulldozing N r Sand & Gtavel Septic Tanks Farm Drainage Serving the area since 1977 523-4378 Londesboro 'D c, an Eici