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Times-Advocate, 1983-08-24, Page 18Poge 2A August 24, 1983 Bullocks hold picnic On July 31,1983 the Bullock Reunion was held in the Ailsa Craig Park with 63 ir. atten- dance. In the morning a band of showers passed through the area leaving us with dampen- ed grounds for our picnic. The games and sports were started by Connie Trevithick and Valerie Marshall. They had a variety of races and games for everyone to enjoy. Races won were: under five years, Carla Leyton; six to eight years, Lisa Sabot; 10 to 11 years, Brian Leyton; 13 and up, Jeff Sedlak. The shoe kick was another exciting event. The winners were: under five, Cheryl Trevithick; five to eight years, Bryan Steeper; .10 to 12 years, Brian Leyton; 13 and up, Richard Marshall. The clothes pin contest pro- ved to be an exciting event for the gentlemen as well as the ladies. Richard Marshall won for the men. A tie resulted between Noreen Bullock and Marlene Harris. In the nail hammering contest Garry Steeper proved to be the best. The sac races were lots of fun for all. Sarah Bullock was the winner for the five year olds and under. Lisa Sabot won the race for the six to eight year olds. In the ladies sack race Valerie Marshall was the winner with Jim Bullock winning among the men. There were two guess- ing games - the peppermint guess won by Ann Walker and .the jelly bean guess won by Garry Harris. After an enjoyable picnic supper the business was discussed. It was decided that next year the picnic would be held at the Ailsa Craig Park but on the Sunday after the Civic Holiday (August 12. 1984). The executive: president. Garry .Steeper; secretary. Betty J. Steeper; sports and games. Connie Trevithick and Valerie Marshall. Hope to see you all next year' SWITCH POSTS BEEFING SLICERS — Don McFarlane, most of the beef gobbled up by some barbecue at Poplar Hill sponsored by Two members of the On- tario Provinical Police have swapped positions in Exeter and Brantford. Constable Rick Ellins left last week to join the Brant- ford detachment, while his place has been filled by Con- stable Ralph Christmas, who was previously in Brantford. Teo Vari Steeg and John Thomas sliced up 6,000 hungry appetites at Thursday's beef the Middlesex Cattlemen's Association. T -A photo. -'one loot in the lurrow' byai p _.. `a ..r.DVle....e. G. Bw ..m4• (.E.4 M U..+... Om N]! lel My ..great-grandfather, an Irishman to the core, would kick the cover off his coffin if he heard me praising a British prime minister but observers of agriculture just have to admit that, Margaret Thatcher could give a few lessons to urban politicans in this country. Too many in Canada have backgrounds that do not in- clude manure. Bill Davis had to appoint a non -farmer to the agminister's post. During the election cam- paign in Britain. the Iron Lady said farmers were the salt of the earth and were en- titled to an increase in their incomes. With the exception of Eugene Whelan at the federal level, who else has come out four-square for farmers? And Eugene's voice, as powerful as it once was, seems to be crying in the Liberal wilderness these days. Mrs. Thatcher told the elecorate that farmers were far more efficient than most of the industries in her coun- try and deserved an increase. She even boldly suggested that the trade union move- ment should strive for the same efficiency that farmers have been able to create. Naturally, the big -city daily newspapers took her to task for suggesting that farmers deserve every penny they get. The papers called the in- crease in farm income disgraceful and immoral, just as the big -city papers in Canada would if Canadian farmers started making a reasonable return on their labor and investment. The big papers won't favor agriculture, you see, because most of their income depends on big business. If farm income increased 45 percent in Canada -- as it did in Britain -- the hue and cry here would be awesome to behold. There would be a de- mand for an investigation, a Royal Commission and the consumers association would see that .ill marketing boards ' were scrapped. Probably the Reader's Digest would get in- to the act and commisssion a scathing lead story full of in- nuendo against orderly marketing and quotas. But Mrs. Thatcher was brilliant enough to know that when the farm community is healthy. the rest of the BREAKFAST IS SERVED — The South Huron Junior Farmers staged their annual pancake and sausage breakfast at Thames Road United Church, Sunday. Working on the grills to ready the delicacies for patrons were Tracey Coward, Jeff Borland, Catherine Johns, Mara Pavkeje and Craig Alexander. . Erosion from recent rain shows prevention need for Recent heavy rains have the soil from movement by 1. r Better management of resulted in mass movement of binding soil particles together pesticide programs are re - soil in corn, bean and fallow as well as increasing water quired under reduced tillage. farm fields. Often these losses infiltration into the soil. A pro- 2.1 Soils cannot be worked of soil from summer storms tective cover is provided with chisel plows or mulch are uncontrollable. However, against rainfall iinpac t and tillers under the same wet exercising some form of con- runoff scour soil. The rough. conditions that can be work• servation tillage will' cloddy effect of conservation ed by the conventional significantly reduce both tillage also hold soil particles moldboard plow. wind and water induced soil against the erosive effects of 3. i Yields can be lower on particle movement under winds. In today's economic . heavier textured soils where spring runoff conditions, and clim(ite of narrow profit conservation tillage is used. can extend protection margins for fanners. any 4.i Additional residue cover throughout the growing change in tillage practices can present difficulties in season. must undergo a close cost- establishing crops on a The conservation tillage benefit analysis. rougher seedbed. However. system varies from zero Recent Tillage studies modern planting equipment tillage where a crop is planted undertaken by the Thames can be adapted to this system. into a seedbed with no prior River implementation Com- For the farmer considering tillage, to reduced forms of mittee clearly reveal that the the use of a chisel plow, soil primary and secondary major benefit of conservation saver or mulch tiller there are tillage. These reduced forms tillage systems is a significant now dealers in the area will of tillage can include chisel reduction of soil removal ing to rent or lease equipment plowing, mulch tillage, soil from farm fields and the lo farmers for trial use. saving, and on level soils ridg- ultimate clogging of drainage A list of these dealers are ing. in most of these reduced networks. In the long term. available at U.T.lt.C.A.. it tillage operations the prime loss of valuable topsoil results you are interested in this ren - objective is to leave the soil in lower crop productivity. Cal program. Please contact ridged while only incor- Less fuel. time and Paul Fish at 451-2800 for fur- porating a minimum of the machinery arc required for ther information. Costs will previous crops residues. conservation tillage because range from $6.00 to $8.00 per As water moves across con- frequently one pass across a acre• plus a $25.00 per diem servation tilled ground the field is sufficient for an ade- service charge. ridges slow down its velocity quate seedbed. This is copse- Conservation tillage is a causing suspended soil par- quently revealed in lower relatively modern concept, ticles to become deposited in costs. and one in which the savings the hollows between ridges. Conservation tillage in soil erosion far outweigh The additional crop residues systemsalso have the costs and minor disadvan- (stalks, stubble) also protect limitations. Cages of the system. 1 economy is healthy The big- ger agricultural income dollar is spent immediately and the whole economy benefits. The prosperity spins off, right back to the cities. Maybe that is what Canada needs next: a hard-nosed lady as leader of one of the political parties instead of an aging playboy like Pierre E.T. ora competent but tired Ed B. The Tories are already stuck with the jut -jawed Irishman. The Grits will, undoubtedly, dump Pierre before the next election. Broadbent still has the confidence of his caucus and Mulroney has yet to be tested in the House of Com mons. Now, if the Grits are smart they will go for a lady leader; one who will stand for no nonsense in the Cabinet and come up smelling like roses in the crunch as Margaret That- cher did. May we humbly suggest Ayatollah -- whoops, I mean, lona -- Campagnolo? (I don't think I can spell her name right yet but I could learn in a hurry). And she's a lot purtier than Maggie, too. Kin elect president Bill Legge of Sydney, N.S., was elected the 63rd president of the Association of Kinsmen Clubs at the organization's annual convention in Monc- ton, N.B., where it was an- nounced that during the past year the more than 1,100 Kinsmen and Kinette clubs across Canada donated $23,517,267 in service funds. This year the Association again donated over $1 million to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as supporting many other organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Associa- tion and the March of Dimes. In addition to - providing support for numerous com- munity projects ranging from constructing swimming pools and arenas to purchasing equipment for hospitals. Kinsmen and Kinette clubs this year contributed over $45.000 to help construct a school for the physically disabled in Mombasa. Kenya. As well, the Association issued two $10,000 grants from its National Disaster Fund. Bishop Falls, Nfld., received a grant to help cover clean up costs resulting from a spring flood that did an estimated $1.5 million in property damage. A grant was also given to Lambton- County which suffered heavy damage from a tornado that struck Recces Corners. Ontario, last May. Huron home and farm news Expert lisps reasons why yields aren't increasing It's generally accepted that Their yields are good and get - new crop varieties, greater ting better. Progress in the use of fertilizers and better future will require more flex - pest controls are improving ibility and imagination than crop yields. I have some ever before - a blend of the records for the past ten years science and art of crop that don't support that idea. management. In fact, crop yields are almost Soil testing unchanged. Some crops are There are two local sum - even yielding less than ten mer students who are soil year ago. testing for a fee. If you want What's wrong? Why aren't your soil tested, given us a average yields increasing? I call and we will get you in have a few ideas about what's touch. Last year they did close to 6,000 acres. This year happening. See what you think. they have only done about Farms are more 4,000 acres. specialized Crop notes Perth County has more Recent sales of white beans dairy cattle, but on fewer in Michigan have been around farms than ten years ago. $26. (U.S.) per cwt. (That's There are also more pigs, but $31. (Canadian) .per cwt. on fewer farms. There are Keep your fingers crossed. more farms just growing cash Harvest delivery contract crops. prices for corn and soybeans To me this means that an have also been quite attrac increasing acreage is devoted tive. As I write, harvest to a smaller number of crops. delivered corn can be con An increasing number of tracted for $3.75 and soybeans farms have no use for hay or for $9.25 per bushel. pasture. Some land that There is an old saying that should be in hay or pasture is people who gaze into crystal now trying to grow row crops. balls often have to eat glass. We're being challenged to I will suggest that people have diversify crop rotations. We done worse things than sell a also need more creative ideas bit of crop at those prices. on ways to get hay and Corn heat units • pasture back on more of our As you may have guessed, land. The Forage Exchange we did gain some lost ground and trading of crop acres are in July. We started July with steps in that direction. about 150 CHU less than nor - I think plowdown crops and mal. As of August 9th, at Cen winter crops such as winter lralia, we had 1976 CHU as wheat, winter triticale and compared with 2025 at the winter canola may also help. same date last year and 1944 More complex weed for the 6 year average. problems The gain in heat units great - Ten years ago, many pro-ty improves prospects for the ducers thought in terms of corn and soybean crops. "one shot" weed control. Just Fertilizer prices spray on some produce or Phosphate and potash have mixture and you're done for the season. Some producers still think that way, but it's usually impossible. Our weed problems are getting more complex and many producers are looking at three or more steps to get good weed control. A few weed escapes can be subtle crop thieves that will hold fields well below their potential. For example, a cou- ple of grass plants per foot of corn row may look quite inno- cent when the crop is small. They even' disappear from view when the corn gets big- ger. But they're still in there growing - competing with the crop. Those two little plants per foot of row may cost five bushels per acre or more. Most problems can be handled, but the first step is planning. We need more peo- ple walking fields and taking notes. Next year's program depends a lot on what you can find now. Lay out a plan that gives you flexibility and back- up procedures to handle possible weed escapes. Nutrients wasted Fertilizer tonnage and manure applications have in- creased considerably over the past ten years. For the same period, however, the average soil test values for phosphate and potash are unchanged. Where did the nutrients go? Part of the problem is deep plowing. Big plows set too deep have pulled up a lot of subsoil. The subsoil is both low in nutrient content and organic matter that can hold nutrients. The subsoil is also more prone to compaction and erosion. We've been diluting good topsoil with subsoil. Soil compaction Tractors have grown con- siderably in the past ten years. We're running over the ground with bigger egttip- ment under worse field condi- tions in both spring and fall. We're still learning how to cope with this problem. Part of it is just human nature. We want to get things done quick- ly and we may often be jum- ping -the gun. We are finding better ways to do things, such as applying manure to avoid packing the fields when they're wet. improving our potential I don't want to leave you with the impression that no progress is being made in terms of crop yields. The pro- blems that i've outlined are growing pains of an industry that is changing. I'm encouraged by the pro- gress that some individuals are making. They've been able to cope with most of the problems that i've outlined. 1 /Ha` OPEN Hyulds/ land HOUSE Hyland Seeds Tues., Aug. 30 from 2 - 8 p.m. 1/2 mile south of Hensall. Refreshments will be served. (Everyone welcome 4 both had significant price drops.in recent days. Triple super - phosphate (0-46-0) dropped about $40. per tonne and muriate of potash (0-0.60) is down about $20. per tonne. It may be a good time to stock up or bulk spread and plowdown some of next year's nutrient requirements. If grain prices stay up there is a good chance that more crop acres will come into pro- duction in the U.S. next year. It could cause tighter supplies and higher fertilizer prices. Taking ,oil samples If you're thinking of fertiliz- ing you certainly want to think about soil sampling. Reliable results depend on the sampling method. We generally won't give a recom- mendation if there is only one sample representing over 20 acres. There isn't much point - we can'tput a lot of faith in one sample representing a big area. I'd suggest three or four cores per acre. Thoroughly mix the cores and send in roughly one sample for every ten acres. The results will give you a better picture of the range in fertility. You can have a lot more confidence in basing your fertility program on those results. • If you don't have time If time is something you haven't any extra of, the students we. mentioned earlier have been trained and will do an excellent job of soil sampling. The cost is often negotiable, but generally around 50 cents per acre. It isn't uncommon to have a fertilizer bill over $50. per PONIES 01. PARADING — Lindy Dillon and Leanne Stewart with their favorite ponies took part in Satur- day's Crediton Summerfest parade. T -A photo acre for corn. For 1 percent of one year's fertilizer bill you can have your soil checked. It'll help you buy the nutrients you need with the confidence that you'll be meeting your crop's requirements. For most people in this area, soil ' should be rechecked every two or three years. It's still the best deal in town. If soil testing is a job you have trou- ble getting done yourself, give us a call. Art Lawson, Farm Management Specialist for Perth Countv Wanted: 4-11 leaders Everyone wants to look.ter- rific and feel fantastic 4and that's just what this new 4-11 project is all about. Looking Great, Feeling Great stresses the importance of a well- groomed appearance, a balanceddiet and regular ex- ercise. The project will also help you to become a smarter consumer as you purchase grooming aids and purchase or make grooming products. Six excellent topic areas await all 4-H'ers: 1 - "You and the Market Place" - helps you to think about why you choose certain grooming products when you're, on a shopping trip. 2 - "Body Energizers" - combines information on ex- ercise chows, whys and when► with nutrition facts. 3 - "Using Your Head" - looks at the inside - how to be a smart shopper and the in- side - how to achieve clean healthy hair. 4 - "The Outer Layer" - that's your skin! 5 - "What's in a Smile" - helps to get your best face forward ! 6 - "Protect Yourself" - Do you know how to complain ef- fectively? What are your rights as a consumer? You will have the oppor- tunity to experiment with some new grooming products. Have you ever made your own cucumber toner? Now's your chance! Comparison shopping is important. Here we look at unit aricing, infor- mation on labels, warranties - and more as we shop around for the best product. This all adds up to an exciting new project. "Looking Great, Feeling Great". If you as a 4-H leader haven't registered yet for the fall workshops, please do so immediately. Workshops are planned for: August 29 and 30 (Monday and Tuesday) daytime, East Wawanosh; August 29 and 30 (Monday and Tuesday) even- ing, Public School, Belgrave; August 31, September 1 (Wednesday and Thursday) daytime, Seaforth, (Hall to be announced) ; September 7 and 8 ( Wednesday and Thursday) daytime, Hensall; September 7 and 8 (Wednesday and Thursday) evening, United Church. For more informa- tion contact: Jane Muegge, Rural Organizations and Ser- vices Specialist (Home Economics ) 1t is planned'' People plan for their future, but it's often the unplanned events that have the most im- pact on the success of your financial future. We need to sit down and assess your per- sonal financial needs and for- mulate a plan of action to en- sure your financial security. Do you know your net worth? .Do you keep personal and family records'? Do you know what coverage you have in insurance? Is it adequate? Have you a will? How are you at tax planning? Have you thought of open- ing an R.R.S.P. program ora R.H.O.S.P.?' Do you have questions in these areas? Then why not get them answered at the "Wise Money Management" workshop September 14th and 15th at Goderich Township Hall, Holmesville. Preregistration is necessary as is the $5 00 fee for the course. Books will be supplied. Each day runs from 9:30 to 3:30. All are welcome. To register or obtain more information contact: Jane Muegge Rural Organizations and Services Specialist for Huron County Telephone - 482-3428 or for long distance Zenith 7-3040 FARMERS Book Now To have your seed wheat custom cleaned on your farm. We clean, treat, bag or bulk and we offer ger- mination tests. Call: Canadian Mobile Seed Cleaning Ltd. (agent) 519-289-5602 NOTICE TO ONTARIO CATTLE OWNERS An expression of opinion poll will be held on September 14, 15 and 16, 1983 on whether the Ontario Cattlemen's Association check -off* should be made non-refundable. The question will be "Are you in favor of making licence fees (check -off) under the Beef Cattle Marketing Act non-refundable?" You are eligible to vote if you owned cattle between June 15, 1981 and June 15, 1983. Before receiving a ballot, voters will be required to complete a Certificate of Qualification (available at polling stations) attesting to eligibility. Polling stations will be located at all OMAF County and District Agricultural Representative offices" Polling hours will be Wednesday, September 14, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 9 a.m. -9 p.m. Friday. September 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. • one-fifth of one per cent of the value of cattle sold to a slaughtering plant or sold for beef production purposes at an established public auction sale And also in the following communities: Bruce Station(Algoma), Cochrane (Cochrane). Eganville (Renfrew), Engleharf(Timiskaming). Tara (Bruce) Check your local OMAF office for details. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Dennis Timbrell, Minister William Davis. Premier Ontario 1