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Times Advocate, 1993-05-05, Page 32Aige12 TIAlet eidt0tllNl8.41./4093 ONE FOOT IN THE FU.RR()W By Bob Trotter They are out there this month. You will see the dust swirls behind their tractors as you drive along the highways and biways. No matter how tough it waste year -- and it was one of the worst -wars in this :century for fanners -- ithey Will:be.on:the land with fire iinidtteitraallies and hope in -their 'items. -A-bad y ear likeaast warthogs a lot ...Of :pnoblams into .this year," said any ifacming : friend -:in North Waterloo. "The. after effects linger lvngerthanaity people can figure. "Weare lucking for a good year weather-wise.in 1993 butsbatiis- Antcr of.last year is not over. -.-For tmwance, I milk about 50 cowsafd ildlithatminiastamnmer.bad.athig Affect :on imy:titay..':It'm -.auaimy toveraresmderitilittlemearetattess : because sornethinr is ladkiegAin that hay. "I can't wait to get them on pas- ture." If the hay is lacking in vitamins, then surely the grain was also.af- fected. The corn crop is also under question. I mean, how do you plant on fields where last year's crop is still standing in some plac- es? A couple of fanners I inter- viewed said they can sec a lot more soybeans being planted 'ibis year for several reasons. One, it's easier to plant them in those rav- aged corn crops. In addition the weather was so wet -last fall many farmers were unable to plant win- ter wheat so they will put soybeans on that bare land. If hay and grain were not as nu- tritious as some fanners contend then all livestock will be under stress. Beef farmers, hog farmers and the feathers industry will ,all be hit by stressful condition. So, when you see those people out there on their tractors this month, think about them. They have just come through one of the worst years in living memory and they are at it again this year be- cause hope springs eternal, espe- cially in a farmer's breast. You think this idea of a bad year being con is hogwash? "Not so," said friend. "A lot of us were in the corn fields last fall when we shouldn't have been. We got stress in our livestock but we also got stress in our machin- ery. When you try harvesting in that muck we had last fall, you're bound to invite breakdowns in trac- tors and combines. So we'll have more repairs this spring. "It's a vicious circle, isn't it?" High repair bills mean less profit so here we go again as the circle continues. All this will be compounded tow, because senior govemnnents have said in no uncertain terms that sub- sidies will not be as high in .1993 as they were last year, a record $700 million. It is expected that subsi- dies will be down around $383 mil- lion bemuse neither Ottawa nor Queen's Park has any extra money to throw around. As well as worrying about crops and prices, fanners are also puz- zling about the Ontario proposal to require all of therm to register end pay $ 150 a year to qualify for gov- ernment subsidies and services. Al- though that provision -- about qual- ifying for government grants -- may be dropped, the real reason be- hind the idea is to provide stable funding for the province's three general farm organizations. Although It Looked like a scene from the 1800's, last Tues- day Jim Kerslake's barn on Highway 4 just south of Exeter was dismantled by nearly 40 hardworking Mennonites. In less than eight hours the large barn which Is over 100 years old, was brought down. Ener value of corn crop to be studied otypipH- -vain insustry has honed to tlpenabr a scientific study of the 'fig 1992' Ontario etxn crop. The Ontario Dom Producers' As- sociedon, the Ontario Grain and Feed Association and the Canadian Feed ttittlttetry Aallootatlen are ftmd- ing a reetttirch project by Prof. Steve Leeson, Animaland Poultry Scietttte, to etddy the energy value of the map. Corn is fbd to animals for energy. Its energy value is related to the number of pounds per bushel it ren- ders. As the ears dry naturally on the stalk, the kernels olehtl end Rattlers get nae pound.el at harvest. Many fanners mlx'Nts * r'their animals based on walliratabIished formulas related to srtrltltOtINlMrel weight. But this crop r, there's little drying .Meting Ace ,in the field. Bushel son anddpates "11 ,y lett' t ft o could be at least ' rcent lovas* than normal. To maintain a steady diet for their animals, farmers may have to supplement rations with either extra corn or other energy sources such as wheat. That could cause hard- ships for farmers who sell corn for feed - it will be worth less than nor- mal - as well as fanners who buy it for their animals, because they'll also have to buy supplemental feed. IiLA.T THI HIDE C0S:1 01 - 'WAXER HLI.TIN(- ELEC !' rt1 C• C 1 30. GAL OiL produces 100 gal. hot water per hour 30 GAL GAS preduosI. hot tater put hour It talus $ G8 GAAL. ELECTRIC WATER (EATER topredues 4 goliosto toot,wisteer firth BASED I N A FAMILY OF FOUR Electric $834.00 Propane $439.00 WI $.0Q 0OR MUM. 815 illli.i i.laidor .2a60883 eri4002110500a1 'The Best Service Win You klABd /the" • Ovals* digs' w�iwAaNi Intik If you think it's hot now, wait lii you -see your A t'b Allis dealer. Not only will you discover a hot line of high-performance tractors, but you'll get a FREE AGCO Allis thermometer just for taking a test drive.* So you'll always know how hot it is. See the full line of AGCO Allis tractors. Plus, see the optional Mulching/Leaf Shredding attachment that eliminates raking and bagging while nourishing your lawn...only at your AGCO Allis deafer. AGCO AI.LiSI 1 f n�nmmro rli�orinr on�tir i -p; flrnpn: * Limited time otter HYDE BROTFIERS FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED Jct. Old Hwy H7 & Mitchell Road 81 Wellington St Rannoch 229-5700 Hensail 262.2605 This spring come to Thompsons for your complete crop system.... FE EFFIIENT - Our Agronomic/Marketing service will helpyoulilanyour strategy. BEAWARE - of the ingredients -you -need to ensure high elds - Micro -nutrients, Fertil er;crop Protection Products and soil testing are all available at Thompsons SES NFIIYENT - Hyland BrandCertified Seed has been tested throughout North America and Europe to ensure high yields, standabilityiproper maturity and reliable grain quality. A full line of corn,aoybeans, white beans, wheat, barley, oats and forages etre available from Hyland. BEREAILDY -cuuretime by using our Custom Application service. We have Tru -spread, air flow or liquid spreaders. Our Weed and Feed program is available for pre -plant or post plant application. Have your herbicides and nitrogen applied in one trip over the field. Also we have 5 and 8 tonne dry spreaders, split applicators and delivery equipment for rent. { Crop "'sips 'Tinting the Key to Good Pesticide Performance. Re -Publication 75 Time of herbicide Treatment in Crop Areas ..r The susceptibility of both crops and weeds to herbicides is related to the time of application. Therefore, it is important to use the chemical at a time when the crop is at its maximum xviiiesFe and the weeds are ,at their maximossapeseeptikeiliiy. This time 1. Identify pest early 2.1s it a problem or may it become a problem 3. identify allajternatives 4. VOssie tAll4lt+ .ppt 1,04 will vary depending on the crop involved and the herbicide being used. +r This statement is in fact true for most pesti- cides. Along with crop tolerance one must also pay attention to pre -harvest interval, when con- sidering insecticides and/or fungicides. •r Proper timing of application depends on many things - a.few are listed below. 5. What are the costs of treating 6. Identify alternative which provides best val- ;',Availability of treatment if necessary i0 Apply -according to label. . 1l our tkr,+ h,tvf ,i .G, Thompyl'n:4d &ivAM. r r,r+;- rirn,r+ Sasforth tioncall Mitchell ,Ails -9qint9n Pt, Albert -345.2545 262.2627 3484843.3 .2934222 21309 #28-7581