Loading...
Times Advocate, 1992-12-30, Page 13Times -Advocate, December 30, 199? Page 13 Avoid spreading flflj. in winter EXETER - Spread- ing manure in winter can lead to serious problems, risking hu- man health as well as environmental health through contamina- tion of our water- courses. Waste con- tainment is the answer. By providing sufficient manure storage, farmers can accomplish two goals; they can conserve valu- able nutrients for feeding the crop next year and, at the same time, protect ditches and natural water- ways from a nutrient overload that can affect aquatic life and even cause scours in livestock and 'blue baby' syndrome in newborn infants. Doug Hocking, Extension Ser- vices Advisor with the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority, recalls two examples of winter ma- nure spreading which had serious consequences. "In the first case, liquid manure was spread on snow, under which the ground was not frozen. It didn't take long for the liquid to come out in the tile drain. An abateri'nt officer was called to investigate, and the farm- er who had spread the manure was at risk of being charged under the Water Resources Act for contami- nating the watercourse. "In the second case, solid ma- nure was spread on snow, which subsequently melted and ran into the adjacent watercourse. The situ- ation called for severe measures: the Ministry of the Environment dammed off the stream and pumped the contaminated water back out and onto the ground." Last winter, the Conservation Authority conducted a test study in which tracer organisms were re- leased into a watercourse. "The bacteria survived 14 days, right into February and through the coldest part of the winter," says Hocking. "We discovered that the bacteria had attached to stream bed sediments. Just because streams are iced over, it doesn't mean that all life stops." For maximum benefit, manure should be spread on fields at times when the nutrients can be absorbed for use by the developing crop. Los- ing nutrients to waterways upsets the balance in ditches and streams, encouraging the growth of algae and jeopardizing the survival of fish and desirable aquatic life. "In addition to providing con- scientious stewardship of our re- sources, it's important to remember the impact on human health, as well," says Hocking. "We have to think about our neighbors down- stream." Increase to initial payment for the 1992 crop LONDON - The initial payment for the 1992 crop of white pea beans has been increased by $4.18 per bag, announces the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board .-,94> r 23,„The..new -initial -iitgfttent anidunt is114.97 per bag. Cheques were mailed out to 1992 crop producers on December 15. With the low yields encountered in 1992, the Ontario Bean Produc- ers' marketing Board felt that an in- crease in the initial payment was justified. Meetings were held with officials in Ottawa to get this ap- proved. The board said they were very pleased with the cooperation received and with the quick approv- al. Under the Agricultural Products Cooperative Marketing Act the board was able to make an initial payment. The initial payment that is approved by the Federal govern- ment and the Ontario Bean Produc- ers' Marketing Board is guaranteed by the Federal government. To make the initial payment, the Board must borrow the money from the bank. New executive of the Ontario Bean Producers' Marketing Board On December 17, the new execu- tive of the Ontario Bean Producers' Marketing Board was elected. The • ot°'cho`CQ' DID YOU ow • There is available high retention oil burners that can be installed on your existing oil furnace to in- crease seasonal efficien- cy to 80%. Pay back pe- riod if you install one of these is about 2 years in r savings. For any of your heating need Please call Dave Moore Fuels Ltd. 315 Main Street North Exeter, Ontario NOM 193 Telephone: (519) 235-0853 1.600-285-2931 'The 4•k S•rvio• Whorl You Need M Ale. `r_ new chairman is Al Futcher, vice- chairman is Murray Dawson and the executive committee of Al Futcher, Murray Dawson, John Walls, Tom Consist were also elected. !One Foot to the .FurroWimandta Resolutions go down the tubes quicker than beer disappears at a frat house New Year's party but agriculture still needs to try a few resolu- tions. The biggest for my money is support of the proposal that will give stable funding to farm organizations. This controversial new bill, pro- posed by Agminister Elmer Buchanan, is now stalled in committee and fast passage will not happen. For those who do not know, the bill will impose a "tax” or a fee on eve- ry legitimate farmer in the province of $150 a year. The money raised will go to support at least three major farm organizations, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, ;the Ontario branch of -the Farmers Union and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. So figure. With about 50,0000 legitimate farms in Ontario, we are talk- ing 47,500,000 to support agriculture. Big bucks and the bulk of it would go to the OFA giving that organiza- non the kind of money needed to promote agriculture. This mandatory fee is rubbing a few people the wrong way and they are lobbying against the bill. They have their reasons and some of them sound good but i have been saying for lo, these 30 years that this most important sector of the economic picture in Canada needs money to battle big business in is country and in North America because that is the play- ing field these days. It is no longer simply a provincial or federal game. With the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a reality, Canadian farmers must play with the big boys and they need money to do it. With this legis- lation a reality in Ontario, the farmers in this province will be one huge step closer to having money to fight multi -national corporations to sec that farmers here get the best deal possible. Well, my friends is the snow-covered fields out there, think positively because you are going to need that power of positive thinking that Nor- man Vincent Peale wrote about 40 years ago. It is a book that never gets dusty in my library. 1 read a little from it at least once a week along with another book that has influenced my life greatly, Around the Year with Emmet Fox, which has a daily discipline. If farmers in Ontario need help in geeing this legislation passed, they could take some lessons from Abe Lincoln. People, he said, are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. You can be happy if you want to be. You can look at the stalling being done in the Legislature on the mandatory fee bill as another nail in the ag- ricultural coffin or you can look at it as a challenge to be met in 1993. Some changes in the original will be made, no doubt, and a referendum may come about. All the more reason for farmers in favor of this legisla- tion to get out and promote it to the hilt. The OFA, the people primarily responsible for this legislation, seem to be afraid that it won't pass if a farm referendum is held. This seems to me to be negative thinking. The last time I looked the OFA had about 20,000 members. Working with them in a positive man- ner could get this legislation into law even if there are some changes made in committee. So, go for it, guys and gals. Think positive. You have the choice now to sit back with glum faces and let it die or you can enthusiastically promote it for the next few months and then be sure that farm organizations will get the sorely needed funds to put agriculture back on top of the economi- cal heap. We Are Open At our New Location Our Services Include: • Investments • R.R.S.P. • R.R.I.F. • Competative rates • Term Deposits • Daily Interest Mortgages: • Residential • Agricultural • Commercial • Personal Loans Come and see why over 11,000 customers from the counties of Huron, Perth, Lambton and Middlesex deal at the Clinton Community Credit Union 24 Hour Cash CLINTON COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION .118 Main St. North, Exeter 235-06140 48 Ontario Street, Clinton 482-3467 OPEN: MON. to THURS. 9:00 4.m.•b:00 p.m. FRI. 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.in. Decide on strategies By Fd Barrie CLINTON - The latest and most difficult crop harvest in living memory is almost finished. Pork producers are now looking at what they have to work with and decid- ing on the best strategies to manage their production. In some areas of western Ontario corn yields are rea- sonable, quality was good and har- vest was completed early. In a broader scope, a large portion of western Ontario produced only im- mature crops, which were much weuer than any corn we have ever harvested before, and resulted in a crop which is proving difficult to dry, handle and store. The later har- vested corn generally had visible levels of mold on the kernels. Faced with this situation, pork . producers must look at the resourc- es available to them. First, all farm grown feeds should be tested for protein levels and mycotoxins. Tests to date indicate reduced pro- tein levels in corn and barley, but corn molds do not appear to have matured to the point where myco- toxins are a major problem, even in moldy corn. Secondly, there appears to be good quantities of very reasonable quality corn available out of south- western Ontario, in addition to sev- eral boat loads of U.S. corn moving into the elevator trade. Western Ca- nadian barley, western feed wheat and Ontario feed wheat are also available in good quantities. Care should be taken to have mycotoxin tests carried out on purchased gram. The management strategy in this situation becomes one of protecting the ability to produce, namely the sow herd. Every care must be taken to ensure that sows are fed ade- quate amounts of well balanced ra- tions free from mycotoxin contami- nation. There are several ways of doing this, including the purchase of complete sow rations from relia- ble feed suppliers. Some producers have chosen this route recognizing that the feed trade in Ontario has the capability to deliver the speci- fied products. Other products are working more closely with their suppliers to de- velop premix packages that supple- ment the grain part of the ration correctly. Animal fats, roasted soy- beans, expelled beans and soybean oil are very important energy items not traditionally used, and requiring additional balancing of amino acids and vitamins. Overall, we are going to have to accept somewhat lower levels of animal performance as we work through this crop. The situation is aggravated by the fact that we arc following the year of the highest yields and best corn Ontario ever produced. So the changes in animal performance may appear extreme. It is a time when careful observa- tion and attention to detail will be critical parts of successful manage- ment. BEST G.I.C. RATES Exeter 235-2420 Gasser-Kneale Grand Bend 238-8464 Lij Il©Lo0AU CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Kime, Mills, Dunlop. Chartered Accountants Daniel B. Daum, B.A., M.Acc.. C.A Manager 412 Main St., P.O. Box 2405 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S7 (519) 235-0345 Fax: (519) 235-3235 John A.M. Norris CHARTERED ACCOUNTAN T 497 Main Street South, Exeter, Ontario NOM IS I Tel: (519) 235-3240 Fax: (519) 235-3246 AUCTIONEERS FiLSON & ROBSON The Experienced Auctioneers that Guarantee You More ES Considering A Sale or Need an Appraisal 666.0833 666.1967 Call Collect Supplying You with 38 yrs. Efficient Service • Mobile office • Immediate Payment 3 Auctioneers rt Is Our Pleasure To Serve You AUCTIONEER NORM WHITING LICENSED AUCTIONEER & APPRAISER Prompt Courteous Efficient ANY TYPt, ANY 1111 ANY WNW We sire complete cele service PRortt sY cxraslEMcr Phone Collect 233.1931 'altWW Bob Heywood Licensed Auctioneer Specializing in household and estate auctions Reasonable rotes Bob 235-0874 Laverne 235-1278/ REPAINTS kip Ilajoades to all makes Free ostlmot.s 90 Day Warranty Exporloncd since 1952 ..w used glove 140 wireltit., Eetrettord Closed Monday Phone 171.9 ‘ti c1 -i 1st. i lerc .11)(I \\ .111'11 Your 40‘1