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Times-Advocate, 1983-02-16, Page 13• R t Asio 1111 r Ir r (14r 1* i* r r r r ,0 4i 1* .4' SPECIAL RIDES — Kevin and Colleen Shaughnessy are ready to enjoy a sleigh ride with canine propulsion at the Kirkton-Woodham Winter Carnival Sunday afternoon. Sherry Shaughnessy is ready with husky Tahkuk. LA photo 4C►`:" It is only a line in a publici- ty release from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. "The OFA plans to lobby the government for right -to - farm legislation to guarantee farm rights." Nothing else. No explana- tion of just what those rights might be. I have an idea, of course, because I have been an observer of the farm scene for 30 years. I think it means the federation would like the province to pass laws which would•give farmers the right to do almost anything - within reason, of course - which would keep urbanites from taking farmers to court. -The charges could stem from odors, pollution, noise, and a few other so-called nuisances. The federation is working for other things, too, such as setting up a group of experts to help farmers with their finances and long-term affor- dable credit arrangements. This three-point program is commendable but...and it is a 4M,a-. IQp••�_.ME b, Bob 2,o,1.. Id... IW (km,. Om N7/ 2C7 big but...this right -to -farm stuff sticks in my craw. We need a full explanation. I have suggested on numerous occasions that farmers hate lost the respect of the nation. They are low people on the totem pole of ad- miration. The term "dumb farmer" has become synonymous with stupidity. It should not be this way. Farmers need the respect of this entire nation but that respect cannot be legislated into existence. Does the federation suggest that, just because you are a farmer, you have the God- given right to remain on the land forever whether you are a good farmer or not? The whole idea of right -to - farm legislation leaves me cold. • However, the other two points of the program make a lot of sense. A group of farm experts to help the agricultural sector with their financial problems makes a McCann Redi-Mix Inc. DASHWOOD, ONTARIO ALL TYPES OF CONCRETE WORK REDI-MIX CONCRETE & FORMWORK PRECAST PRODUCTS DEALER MANGERS SLATS STEPS CURBS Phone Office 237-3647 Lloyd 236-4819 Jim Snyder Farm i Auto Repairs Operated by Ed Snyder Formerly of Grand send Servke Centre 237.3736 MI oaskweed Hwy. sa 4,4 • shipka s Mtrrea Ne.4 BARN EQUIPMENT Stable cleaner replacement chain for all makes CLAY Silo unloaders, ring drive and dual augers, feeders, stable cleaners, liquid manure pumps, electric feed carts. RALCO Stable cleaners, conveyors, transfer pumps, bedding choppers. BERG Stable cleaners, transfer pumps, cow stalls, etc. BEATTY Replacement parts for silo unloaders, stable cleaners and stalls. WESTEEL ROSCO Grain bins, aeration systems, hopper bins. We also pour the foundations and erect bins. For Further information Contact Brintnell Construction Ltd. Kirkton 229-8244 Service Sales Installation J lot of sense. A couple of banker friends of mine have repeatedly said that many farmers are deplorable managers. They are topnotch farmers but keep the shod- diest set of books in the township. Receipts are dug out of grubby pockets, grub- bier glove compartments and behind desk drawers. They make investments in new machinery simply because that new tractor looks good in the driving shed. They leave a $402000 machine sitting behind the barn all winter because the time didn't seem ripe to bring it inside. A group of farm experts could set a lot of these sloppy managers on the right track. And, certainly, long-term affordable credit - with the emphasis on affordable - is a worthwhile objective. Foreclosures would take place after due process only, the federation suggests, after every possible option has been explored. These same bankers are emphatic when they say they hate foreclosures. "Everybody loses," said the Royal manager in our town. "The bank cannot recoup its losses. The farmer can lose everything. It gives the bank a terrible black eye in the community. As far as I know, foreclosures come on- ly as a very last resort and usually come when the bank has done everything possible to get the farmer to come in for a reckoning. You would be surprised how many of them are still afraid of the bank. ' "We've tried hard to dispel) the idea that we are ogres out to screw the farmer but it still persists." I hate admitting that I owe the bank money, even to my best friends. But farmers need bankers and that rela- tionship can be as important as good weather in the life of a successful farmer. Guelph pick$ Bill Stewart The fourth Chancellor of the University of Guelph will be William A. Stewart, suc- ceeding The Honourable Pauline McGibbon who will complete her official duties as Chancellor at the June Con- vocation ceremonies. The election by the Univer- sity of Guelph Senate was confirmed by President Donald Forster who noted Stewart's distinguished record of public service, par- ticularly as Ontario's Minister of Agriculture and Food. In 1965, while Stewart was Minister, the University of Guelph was created and the operation of its three founding Colleges, the Ontario Agricultural College, the On- tario Veterinary College and the MacDonald Institute, was transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to become the nucleus, of the new University. "Mr. Stewart's interest and support for that move, and his co-operation and asttance in carrying it out greatly facilitated the establishment of the University, and ensured his continuing interestpot on- ly in the traditional disciplines but also in the development of programs new to Guelph," said Pro- fessor Forster. Stewart spent 18 years as a member of the Ontario Legislature, 15 of them as a member of the Cabinet. "All of us look forward to his increased involvement in the affairs of the University of Guelph," said the President. Huron farm and home news Plan swine, soils workshops The Swine Breeding workshop for gilt producers has been changed from February 9 to March 3. Feature speakers are Dr. Gordon Bowman, University of Guelph; Carl Clayton, Hay Bay Farms; Jim Donaldson, G.I.P. Farms; John Howell, O.P.P.M.B.; Cameron Reeds, Quality Swine; and John Woodhouse, Swine A.I. Registration is limited to 40. Sessions will start at 10:00 in the O.M.A.F. Boardroom. Call O.M.A.F. office to pre -register. Soils and fertilizer course This two day course is held March 10 and 11. It will cover soil basics, nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, manure, soil testing, micronutrients and fertilizer impregnation. The enrolment is limited to 35 - first -timers only. Call O.M.A.F. office to pre -register. John Herd, Assistant Agricultural Representative Quackgrass getting worse Your Quackgrass has become more of a problem than when I came to this area. I don't think my arrival has caused this problem. Numerous incidences have combined to make quackgrass a bigger problem now than in the early seventies. In the early seventies, discs were quite common. A disc does a good job of cutting twitch rhizomes. Continuous cash cropping leads to soi! deterioration. This poor soil structure, coupled with larger acres and larger discs, made the disc a soil compaction culprit. While large discs do compact soil, we have lost some twitch grass control by going away from discs. A cultivator does very little to control twitch grass. It. merely spreads it all around the field. The idea of culitivating to control twitch is valid. However, the twitch grass must be cultivated often, a few days apart. The principle is to' cultivate the twitch and when it starts to grow you disturb the roots again. This cultivating, grow- ing, cultivating sequence eventually starves the plant to death. Each time you disturb the plant it initiates new growth buds and uses some of its root reserves to do this. If you do this often enough, eventually the plant has no reserves left. This pro- gram works best in hot dry weather. This method of cultivating is no longer done. The cultivators that you use in the 80's do very little to con- trol twitch grass. They mere- ly spread quackgrass around the field. The second situation that existed in the late 70's was deep ploughing. When you ploughed 8" or 10" deep, you buried some of those rhizomes pretty deep. Some of them would not come up until July. Of course her- bicides you applied before that time were ineffective. I think this last situation is not as bad as 3 or 4 years ago since now many of you are ploughing shallower. Chemical control There is a new generation of herbicides available now for twitch control. One of these is Round -up. Most of you have tried it. In a recent article, Carol Thompson of Monsanto made some com- ments about farm calls she had made. Carol is a field representative for Monsanto, who manufacture Round -up. Part of her job is to- make farm calls to growers who are not .satisfied with her com- pany's products. Carol said that most of her -disatisfied Round -up customers have violated one of the three important factors affecting Round-up's control of quaekgrass. Carol stated thal"Roundup porformance depends on the herbicide being moved throughout the plant. The Speakers The University of Guelph has over 100 speakers willing to talk to the public on topics that range from choosing Good Day Care to Water Pollution, says Ann Mid- dleton, Information Services. A total of 267 topics are listed in the University's new Speakers' Bureau brochure, available from Mrs. Middleton. The Speakers' Bureau is a community service, now in its more actively a plant is grow; ing, the better the Round -up works. Quackgrass, a cool temperature plant, grows most actively under the cool, moist conditions of spring and fall. These times of year are ideal for using Round -up to control quackgrass. Proper stage of growth is also important. At this stage the plantwilll aveenough leaf surface so that Round -up can be absorbed into the leaves and translocated to the roots. By killing the root of a peren- nial, such as quackgrass, regrowth is prevented. For quackgrass the proper stage of growth is 3-4 leaves and 6-8 inches high. The more plants at the four-leaf stage the bet- ter. (Not all plants will be at the same stage of develop- ment at the same time)." The next most frequent reason for Round -up failure is connnected to tillage. Carol said that "Fall plowing or spring tillage prior to applica- tion is not recommended. Tillage breaks up the underground root system,or rhizomes. The result will be delayed and uneven shoot emergence. By spraying with Round -up in this situation you will not likely have all the quackgrass emerged and at available fourth year. Over 250 speakers have given ad- dresses to service clubs, church groups and schools during that period. Subjects like Molecular Biology, Car- bon Dating and Solar Energy Storage have particular relevance for high school science classes and clubs. For further information please contact: Ann Mid- dleton, Information Services, (519)824-4120, Ext. 8708. the proper stage of growth by application time. Fall plowing will also make the field very rough for an ac- curate spray application. Spring tillage to srnooth out a fall -plowed field, followed by a Round -up application will only compound the situation. As well as spreading the quackgrass infestation, it will delay and cause uneven emergence of the quaekgrass shoots." The solution is to spray late summer or early fall or on unplowed land in the spring. Another reason for un- satisfactory twitch control with Round -up is related to tillage after spraying. Carol suggests you should "Wait,5 to 7 days after application. This allows time for the Round -up to translocate to roots. After one week you should begin to see Round -nip symptoms. Quackgrass will turn yellowish -brown. A good place to look and compare for results is along a fencerow. You should see a definite line between the Round -up treated field and the untreated weeds along the fence. Complete browning of quackgrass will take 10-14 days; but it is not necessary to wait this long before working the field. Remember - weather may delay the visible effects of Round -up, but weed control is not affected. Atter 5 to 7 days the Round -up will be in the root system and doing its job. You- can work the field and plant your crop." Round -up is just one of the herbicides registered for use to control twitch grass. Other products include Cytrol and atrazine. For more informa- tion on all these products, check the 1983 Guide to Chemical Weed Control. Pat Lynch, Soils and Crops Specialist THE GOOD OLD FASHIONED WAY -- Joe Robinson pilots a team of horses owned by Harold Burgin in providing s!eigh rides at the Kirkton-Woodham Winter Carnival Sunday afternoon. . Times -Advocate, February 16, 1983 Page 13 Frank Thuss Farm Systems SALES & SERVICE EXETER, ONTARIO Daytime 235-0492 Evenings 294-6152 til \ \1! EAVESTRO UG H „„'"' SIDING Ask About Our SAVINGS • Stelco Shutters • Aluminum Storm Doors & Windows • Aluminum Awnings • the energy window roll shutters system • Renovations Oenerpl Construction FREE ESTIMATES JIM BEAKER CONSTRUCTION DASHWOOD 237-3526 Hensel! DIVISION OF GERBRO INC. Centralia Announcement Cook's Division of Gerbo Inc. is pleased to announce the ap- pointment of John P. (Jock) Urquhart as Manager of the Kirkton Branch, effective March 1st, 1983. Mr. Urquhart was previously Manager of the Canadian Canners Plant in Exeter and brings with him, a solid background in Management and Customer Relations. We encourage all farmers in the Kirkton area to come in and meet Jack. at your convenience. ,,<<EEEEEEEEEE E EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE�EEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE w W IOfroW 0' oh .10 W W Come to our DALTON KINNER 27 years with Ford Licenced Mechanic Now in sales Wednesday, February 23rd 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. HA RY VAN GERWEN 26 years experience. Licenced Mechanic Now in sales We Are Now • •�e Spedla Servil ce on all FRES trucking orders over shop 5200.00• r+'t Contact us todaand save for spring Wait With 10% O{{ on ts and labour par Come and meet us and see what's new Factory Personnel and Films FREE prizes, coffee and donuts 111• ORO I�1 IONE Will 1, row f:7 r 1�i-I� 1117211 1111)))1111$1 )1 • A w .* r r • TF jF BEST IN FARM MACHINERY 242 MAIN ST. NORTH EXETER, ONTARIO (519) 235-1380 -s 1 1ll-1ll1_ ' l-1llll s+ ► > > + + ► ' 4' i* ,r A