Times Advocate, 1998-10-14, Page 31Weutneetdas October 14 , 199K
Business
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By Kate Monk
I1\1i AUV(HATI STA1't
-HENSALL _ Th w important is farming • t
the Canadian rconomy?.
"The whole .Canadian economy starts with
agriculture, explained- Dale Good of W.G
Thompson & Sons .Ltd in Hensttll. "If farmers -
are doing we11., them`; the whole econom* dot's
well.' .
Good said farmers are "the. greatest ones tit
keeping the inoney-in circulation."
Revenue is returned: to the econoiny in crop
inputs; other farm -related products such as
equipment and vehicles as well as household
and lifestyle good and services.
Healthy yields, high quality–er-ops and; gucrtl
commodity prices are essential for the Hensall
and_Huron.Countc economy.
The village is Canada's largest" 'inland grain
terminal and .boasts three' major agricul:ural
companies: Hensalf District Co-op. Cook's
Division of Parrish, and Heitnbeckerand
Thc'mpson & Sons ;
Exporting -and value ,ridded products allow
tilt. corn' eanit!s to koe.0 virtual) all Their
employees on staff thruughou: the year. While
all three companies have: other locations in
southwestern ()ntarie . the Hensall sites for the
three companies employ more than 160'people_on a year-round,basis.
Farming's success is based on'goud management and`good weather.
In a year of unprecedented'weather: it ' also been a year ol'uncertainty.
'El Nine started the spring planting season in record .time with farmers or their
field_~ in early April. With ample heat units predicied..produrer were anticipating
record yields.
The heat units.,came through as anticipated with 3,291. recorded at Centralia up tt,
Sept. -27 — the-30=year normal amount is 2,903 heat daft-.
But rainfall was scattered and light with areas north of`Hensall receiving the least
amount of ram. -
The growing season was two to three. weeks attend of schedule throughout the
year resulting in an early harvest.
Last week in Hensall, the grain corn harvest was more than 50 percent. completed.
"If this weather stays: the wa it is, we'll certainly be done.' Halloween)." Good
. predicted,
Good said yields are better than anticipatedbut are diewn 15-20 percent from '97.
'The quality is excellent," Guud said.
The tnoisture is 17 percent right out of the field and the .weight is 60-61 pounds
per bushel. A normal year has 57 lb/bu.
"Anytime you get dry corn like that, it,stand' for good Good reflected.
Ben \;andenakker of HDC aitd` fiob'f tvlor of Cook''. are also very pleased with the
quality ;acorn.
At top:Agricultural skyline. Hensall's horizon
is dominated by three agricultural companies,
'From left: Hensall-District Co-op, Cook's and
W.G.Thompson. .
Above: Corn by the truckload.A transport
truck unloads at Cook's. -