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Times Advocate, 1984-08-29, Page 19Hail proves most formidable foe While several cropping pro- blems were outlined for the farmers attending the annual Crops Update at Centralia College of Agriculture Technology on Wednesday, none was as bad as one exam- ple brought along by John Schleifaun, field crops 'specialist for Middlesex and Lambton. He had stopped enroute at a farm north of London hit by the recent hail storm and had samples of a stripped bean plant. "1 think the ball game is over for those particular fields." he said, adding that some of the damaged corn may still produce a partial crop. Schleifaun was on hand to detail the current soybean ex- periments at the College, noting that there are 56 varieties being tested. Twenty-two of those are from the current recommended list, 19 are first year entries and the other 15 are second and• third year varieties. He said several of the new varieties look promising and farmers should look for the recommendations in Publica- tion 296. The crops specialist said he was of the opinion that solid seeded beans were best, ad- ding that seven-inch rows were "pretty superior" and that in anything over 14 in- ches, the producer is losing a lot of yield potential. Huron -Perth crop specialist Pat Lynch was on hand to outline some of the insect and disease problems being ex- perienced in his area. The tour groups were told that corn root worm was a problem this year due in part fto the early planting and a cold May. He said there was no pro- blem with one-year corn and said by the late '80s farmers should have all first-year corn. Until that can be ac- complished, he said the second -year corn, where the major problems are ex- perienced, should be left to the last so insecticides don't break down as .ouch and therefore producers can get more out of the insecticide. Lynch said he wasn't sure why this has been a bad year for bacterial blight on beans,• noting it wasn't expected in dry years. Some varieties are more susceptible than others and he urged farmers not to keep their own seed, but added that there is no such thing as disease-free seed in the world. "We have to live with some level and just try to keep it as low as possible, " he com- mented, advising that the disease comes on the seed and is spread by wind and ram. Farmers were advised to order next year's seed re- quirements now or as early as possible. in reference to corn seed maggot, Lynch said a lot of fields have been reduced by it and in 1985, producers should take a long look at treating with B3, which he said is cheap and good. He said wheat has ex- perienced a lot of rust and other problems this year, but record yields have been recorded. "Maybe we need more diseases," he mused over the unusual situation. Bob Forrest, CCAT, spoke on canola, again noting it was best in area's of 2600 or 2700 heat units or less. Spring canola should be planted before May 10 "or forget it". He said winter canola is "another kettle of fish" and no varieties had yet been licenced in Canada but the yield on some European varieties was twice as high as that of many spring varieties. However, Forrest said he was quite concerned about the root problem being ex- perienced. Roots were found In the tiles of four of the five farms which planted canola this year " and the fifth didn't have any tile". future, but right now it was a He said he thought the root concern, especially on wetter problem could be licked in the soils. DISCUSS CANOLA — Bob Forrest, right, of the CCAT staff, was on hand at Crops Update to discuss canola with the visiting farmers. cr• i Canada could have a third agminister in three months after next week's election. Which is not to indicate that Ralph Ferguson, the soft- spoken cash -crop -beef farmer in the Lambton-Middlesex riding, will lose his seat. He has, undoubtedly, got a stiff fight on his hands. In the last election, he beat Sid Fraleigh by only 807 votes. In this election, well-known Allen Wilford, the former president of the Canadian Farm Survival Association, is the New Democratic choice to run against Ferguson and Fraleigh. It is not likely that Wilford will get elected even though he has a larger -than - life profile. He will probably take some of those Liberal votes and Fraleigh might just slip in the back door. I have met Ralph Ferguson only once, many years ago, when he was active in farm organizations. He was a PROBLEM AREAS -- Huron and Perth crop specialist Pat lynch outlines some of the insect and disease problems being experienced by farmers this year at one of the stops on the annual Crops Update tour at Centralia College, Wednesday. 1 'ane foot in the furrow'•w� �.,,.•. n..prl0.4a or Soo 7,011., We* IIA 7,m.♦ &.i M)S IC 7 highly -respected member of the National Farm Products Marketing Council in the 1970s. Other members of that council had a great deal of respect for him. Ile has never been as flamobyant as Eugene Whelan. His manner is more subdued but he cannot be acc- cused of being a pussy -footer. His support of farm marketing boards goes back many years. He tried to get a private member's bill through the Commons on farm foreclosures. He wanted it broadened to include fishermen, too, which in- dicates he has more interests than just the land farmers. The bill would have amended the Bankruptcy Act to reduce the power of banks in foreclosures. He worked hard to get the Canagrex bill through parlia- ment and he has been a staunch advocate to provide adequate farm financing at affordable interest rates. Should he and his party win the election, he is on record as favoring more capital for the Farm Credit Corp. He favors agribonds, as well, a system whereby lenders would get tax concessions for providing money for agriculture. . Speaking recently about his friend Whelan, he said: "I've known Gene very well for years ... but I guess we got a different approach. I want to get the job done first." Sid Fraleigh, his chief oppo- nent in the election, needs no introduction to farmers across Ontario, especially pork producers. He is not the orator Whelan is but he is a much better public speaker than Ferguson. t haven t spoken with Sid Agents For Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board We Are Capable 01.11 1 ,1)1.1,(, 1.0111 *White Pea Beans *St as *Cern Fast Efficient Service 3 Pits - Modern I:el7l'11i \1 ii 101'1? 111 ..57.VI:.S.S IS (,R.1 TINT 1.1. }' l'l'Rl: (.1 1E11). !). 11 11111 .STRI f'1; T() 11. 1.171117.1; 101 'R Rill 'R,\' I.S 11 1: 11,1 17:' I.\' 1711. (519) 232-4449 (519) 232-4447 24 HOURS SERVICE The Great Canadian Bean Company Inc. R R 1, Ailsa Craig Ontario, Canada NOM 1A0 for about 10 years but there is no doubt about his position on farm marketing boards: he's right there, pusing for them. Should he win this election, along with his party, the Pro- gressive Conservatives, he may be considered for the agriculture portfolio although it will probably go to a westerner. This has been a traditional western post and, should the Conservatives win, three or four other candidates would be highly -qualified. Wilford, of course, would be a top candidate should Cana- dians surprise themselves and the rest of the world by electing the New Deomcrats. His boyish face has been in front of cameras and his quotes have been in the press for months. His Farm Gate Defense, a book on how farmers should protect themselves, is now in its third printing. When reviewing the book, I suggested some better editing. In a letter from his publisher, I was informed that the changes have been made so the book should be more professional and better accepted. He continues to bash the banks and both the mainline parties. So that campaign in Lambton-Middlesex is in- teresting and could be a bell - weather riding for all of Canada. Times -Advocate, August 29, 1984 . Pogo 7A AP- i ii ii Prices are Down s i i Drive a John Deere forMUCH LESS money per year... We are offering: • Lowest Payment Plan • Lowest Finance Cost • Best Value On Tractors/Combines See Us Today While Prices Are Down This is the year to switch to John Deere Exeter Simon Van Dam, Res: 235-0351 John Snell, Res: 262-5728 Don Glassford, Res: 235-1889 Blyth Gary Whytock, Res: 392-8158 Dave Thomas, Res: 482-9588 u HURON TRACTOR WE'RE VERY SIO ON SERVICE Exeter (519) 235-1115 Blyth (519) 523-4244 Order Your Seed Wheat By Quality • By Name • Certified Augusta Wheat - "Certified Houser Wheat" In. 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