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Times-Advocate, 1985-05-01, Page 12Page 12 Times -Advocate, May 1 , 1985 RENEWING' ACQUAINTANCE, - Hilda and MeineBr- Eizenga are greeted by PC candidate-yan-Smit at a get-together at the South Huron rec centre. Eizenga, a former Lucan resident, recalled -that years ago he gave Smith a ride on his Massey Harris tractor. Corn growers advised to slow planting speed Corn growers may find benefits in planter's wheels. so they're likely to planting one year's crop takes that much lime. "Planting is a one-shot proposi- tion." Sagriff concludes. -If you (1011'1 do it right the first time you may end up with p(or stands and poor yields. or even replanting. It costs less. in time and money. it your planter is properly maintained and operated at the recommended speed " their favour if they dont break the speed limit in their fields at planting time, a spokesman for a leading seed company says. Morris Sagriff, agronomist for Pioneer Hi -Bred Limited in Chatham, Ontario, says there are several ad- vantages to keeping planting speeds within reasonable limits. Inaccurate placement of insecticides and starter fertilizer and uneven stands can arise from planting at high speeds, resulting in potential yield loss at harvest time. "Corn growers are anxious to get their seed in the ground in a timely manner, as they should be," Sagriff says. "In some cases, farmers have increased the number of acres they plant, but not the capacity of the machinery they use to get the seed in the ground. Before you know it, they're traveling too fast to plant as accurately as they'd like." Modern corn planters are no dif- ferent than any other piece of machinery, the Pioneer agronomist h says=-There's-a--definite-range-gtptan ting speeds where optimum perfor- mance can be found. "We've been on service calls and observed people ,planting at 7 to 8 miles per . hour," Sagriff notes. ' "Planters can't handle that kind of speed. With any amount of wear on the brushes of plateless planters, the chance for doubles and triples in- creases markedly. -"When planting at higher rates with speeds of over 5 mph, up to 10 percent more seeds per acre may be drop- ped," he adds. "This causes poor spacing of seeds and uneven depth control." Plate -type planters won't drop enough seed when driven too fast. he notes, resulting in final populations far below the target level. A combination of the correct plan- ting speed, proper planter maintenance, tire inflation and seed population setting offers the best chance for excellent economic returns. Sagriff suggests this formula for determining optimum planting speed: "Determine the kernel spacing for your planting population and row width, then multiply that by 0.6 for maximum speed," he says. "For ex- ample. if you are planting at a rate of 28,000 kernels per acre in 30 -inch rows, kernels should be spaced 7.5 in- ches apart. Multiply 7.5 by 0.6. and you come up with a speed of 414 miles per hour." Information on kernel spacings can be found in planter manuals or literature from Pioneer and other seed companies, he adds. Seed drop isn't the only planting function affected by excessive speed. Most starter fertilizer and insecticide applicators are driven by the Most farmers love animals. They would not be farmers if they did not love animals. Even cash crop fariners -- those who grow corn. tobacco. wheat, barley. oats or hay -- have an affinity for animals. Most of them. at one time or another in their careers. had animals on their farms. • It is difficult to understand. then, NEW PRECISION Trailer Sprayers TO FIT YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS Ask About These Models Now LS 1410 T TM - 365 U.S. gal. 28' - 52' boom LS 1910 T - 510 U.S. gal. 28' - 52' boom Choke of: 7 pumping systems Manual or electric controls Fixed or auto stabilizing booms Adjustable single or tandem axle Featuring: Polyethelene tank - 5 year warranty Easy access platform 5" sump for complete tank drainage Adjustable sparge tube agitation Y.L. Becker & Sons Ltd. C II' West 111 Dashwood, Ontario 53 years of Sales and Service 519-237-3242 519-237-3673 Spying Special on <BUTL.ER Grain Bins 15% off 1984 Prises Prices extended until May 10th Limited quantity available at these prices so order now to avoid disappointment .�e (AtmAR) GRAin SYSTEMS LTD. ffiHlJfl1 263 Main St. N., P.O. Box 530, Exeter, NOM ISO (519) 235-1919 Groin Bins • Feed Tanks • Dryers • Augers • Elevators • Aerot,on Floors & Fans why people involved in the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) or the Animal Rights Militia (ARM) are making things rough for some farmers. They claim they have been "forced to turn to violence" to make their case in front of the public. As mentioned, concern for animal welfare is admirable and almost every farmer in the land -- in the world -- would agree with the prin- ciples espoused by these groups. But the means does not justify the end. These people have broken into research laboratories in Canada, the V.S. and Britain. By forcefully enter- ing these labs. they have destroyed property, More serious even is the fact that these break -ills have stopped or delayed important research. I grew up in a time when polio was a serious disease among children Every year, one or two kids in our community were struck with this dread crippler. We were taught the tests -- Can you drop your head to your chest without feeling any pain? -- whenever we had the slightest sum- mer cold or headache. One of my best childhood friends is still on crutches with one leg in a brace because of polio. But few people today get polio. Why? Because of a vaccine developed as a result of research with animals. -These animal liberation groups are dedicated to stop all medical research involving animals. They have threatened to kill children in England with poisoned chocolate bars because a candy company was using monkeys to study tooth decay in children. These fanatics out to save the monkeys said they would poison the chocolate bars and they scared hell out of thousands of parents in England. These animal lovers exploded a bomb in Prime Minister Thatcher's office. injuring an aide. Recently. they have announced that raising animals for human consump- tion and then slaughtering them is the "ultimate cruelty". Such a lot of balderdash. E have no objection to people becoming vegetarians. My daughter and her daughter never eat meat. But they do not try to force an ail - vegetable diel down my throat as these kooky animal welfare people are quite willing to poison children to save a fevk :nonkeys. They eagerly resort to illegal and destructive tac- tics to make a point. Shades of the KM: or !filler's storm troopers. They cannot succeed in the lo,tg run. but they can make things ex- teremely difficult. I suggest they should be prepared to accept the con- sequences of their actions. If they are going to act -like criminals. they should be treated like criminals If farmers send a Toad of buckshot up a few posteriors. the farnwrs should be lauded by the courts It hasn't come to that yet but if these nuts continue in their clan crusades. it will happen. CAMADO-ONTARIO Crop Insurance AEI suffer the same problems as the planter if the equipment is being operated too fast Before planting begins. the planter box itself deserves special attention. Sagriff notes. "Many people forget about what 's inside the planter," he says. "On plateless planters, for example. the tension on the finger mechanism which delivers seed to the seed drop tube should be tested and adjusted. it necessary. Worn brushes also con- tribute to uneven planting rates. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the brushes in a plateless planter every 100 hours. On the average farm. WE'RE iv STRONG Strong on Parts •Strong on Service Strong on Value There is more to being a, New Idea dealer than selling the best farm equipment around. •- Our parts inventory includes thousands of New Idea parts. 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