The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-03-18, Page 46_ mase 4A
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Tom Perry, the owner of SoiLab, a crop consulting business located in Auburn, points out
on a map some of the over 50,000 acres in the area which the firm has assisted. ( Alan
Rivett photo)
SoiLab assists in conquering
the variables of cropping
By Alan Rivett
Seeds applied to soil may be the basis of _
growing a crop, but as any farmer can tell
you, it's only the beginning of the long and
• involved process of growing and
harvesting a crop with many variables in
between which can work both for and
'against -the farmer.
Conquering -the variables of cropping
and making them work for the farmer by
way of increased yields and profits is
where SoiLab comes into the picture.
SoiLab, opened by Ton Perry four years
ago out of a small office in Auburn, is part
of the burgeoning network of crop con-
sulting businesses, using a great deal of
data and analysis to come up with a cropp-
ing program that will benefit the in-
dividual farmers who use the 'service.
And, with the small margin of profits
currently realized with most crops, he
says farmers are looking for an edge in
order to prevent their profit margins from
further deteriorating.
"The profit margin has shrunk so much
that the crop consulting services have
been growing and has become more accep-
table over the last three years.
"I'd like to think that we either save the
farmer money or make him money. Our
objective when working with a client is to
control the input costs while striving for
maximum return. The maximum results
for minimum inputs doesn't always mean
the highest possible returns. It's a balance
between the two that the farmer is trying
to seek," said Mr. Perry. ._ -
Prior to establishing SoiLab, Mr. Perry
worked in the fertilizer and pesticide retail
.business and, through dealing with
farmers, realized there was a definite need
for this kind of service.
According to Mr. Perry,_SoiLab current-
ly has 200 clients and- over, 50,000 acres a
year with 80 per cent of the crop consulting
business done in Huron, southern Bruce
and Perth Counties while his work has also
taken -him to parts of Wellington and•Ox-
ford counties. - -
Upon taking on a client, Mr. Perry says
soil samples are taken which represents
the first step in developing a cropping pro-
gram for the farmer. A sample is taken of
each of the fields with one core sampii-ng
taken per acre. - -
The soil is analysed using a number of
soil labs in order. that results can be cross-
referenced for accuracy. The soik analysis
provides the background information of
the fields, as it indicates the percentage of
organic matter, and the PH of the soil.
Out of these tests, recommendations can
be made t t,, types. of pesticides which
may or ma, nt ` be required and the rates
of fertilizer as e..ery crop has different fer-
tiler requirements, he said.
However, the recommendations are not
merely based purely ion scientific data.
Mr. Perry says the pesticide and fertilizer
recommendations are .made with prat- -
ticality in mind. "It must be economical
and feasible to do these things. We try to
make it as practical as possible."
After these recommendations are made.
a follow-up service of crop
"troubleshooting" can be used where a
visit would be made looking for problem
areas in the field in order that they can be
• corrected.
"The follow=up visit is an additional part
of the service as there's lot of things that
- could develop through;the growing season.
If we watch for it, tht're's a possibility -of
preventing some of the problems" he said.
- The balance of the business -is in the in-
formation end of it. Four years of•cropputg
records have been kept on a campi,lter
which helps in making cropping decisions
in the future."1'he ciuta base is 1 cun)pil r
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