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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-03-11, Page 29-1 Home and Farm news "If the lawsupposes that," said Mr. B-umble,..."the law.is an ass, an idiot." It would be difficult to improve on Charles Dickens' assess- ment but maybe Aristotle said it just as well when he wrote that even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered. A classic example of the foolishness of some laws is ex- emplified by energy buff Richard Thomas. He is the chap television watchers know as the bearded Ben in Maple Leaf commercials for bacon, ham and wieners. He ran afoul of the Mounties when he made his own fuel. It began some time ago when Thomas decided he could pro- duce alcohol and use it in his car. He did just that. He planted an acre of sugar mangels, a type of cattle feed in the United Kingdom. He put together his own still made from parts bought at a hardware store and from a wrecking yard. The. mange's were distilled and he claims he got 300 gallons of alcohol at a cost of 22.9 cents a gallon. With the help of a handy mechanic, he converted his cars to us. -alcohol: Unfortunately- for Thomas, he- didn't stop there. He put big signs on his car. He publicized the fact that he was getting fuel for his car at a cost of 22.9 cents a gallon. He went— to radio stations and newspapers. He got 2,000 letters. - Never mind that the federal government had said that alcohol produced on farms was uneconomical; that it cost anywhere from $2.30 to $3.80 a gallon. Never mind that he could not afford the $500 necessary to take out a $200,000 bond which is demanded by the federal (government for anybody who wants to set up a legal still. The law, of course, ran its course. The' Mounties stepped in and confiscated his still. They also charged Richard Thomas although they knew he was not moonshining. To be fair, the Mounties did not want to charge him. They were, says Farm and Country magazine, �ene+d a aU tie. aIen Ar El.x ` ��ne Fwa.e 'Ru U•, N56 .'t GODERICH SIGNAI-STAR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1981—PAGE 9A Join the Food Forum Do you like to entertain but .e bate to fuss? Do you like to eat some basic home cooking but need a new idea for it? Do you dislike buying a new seasoning because it's only used in one recipe and then never in anything else you cook? Would you like to make . party planning much simpler and less hectic? Then why don't you Join us for our food forums I-arties That Please Your Purse"? We'd like to give you some practical and economical recipes. Everyone i} welcome. Sample the recipes afterwards. Join us on March 17, Tuesday, at. 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's _Prosily -teri.an Ch -u -r -ch, ,,Wingham; March 18, Wednesday, 'at 7:30 p.m . at Masonic Hall, Exeter or March 24, Tuesday, at 7:30 -p.m. at Ontario Street United Church, Clinton. The "1981 Guide To Chemical Weed Control", Publication 75, has gone to metric. This corresponds to the new packaging in metric. All packaging of pesticides after January 1st, 1981, as in metric. Some companies still have some imperial in- ventory, but this ;will switch to metric as it is used up dur- ing the Coming Season. This year, Publication 75, shamefaced arid apologetic when they raided his Muskoka area farm. They had known about his activities for months and had turned a blind. eye. But somebody in the hierarchy of Ottawa decided it had gone too far and Thomas' place was raided. He couldn't wait for his day in court. He was ready to prove he was doing nothing illegal in his mind, that he wasonly try- •, ing to prove that alcohol for automobiles could be grown on a farm. Strangely enough, somebody finally showed some common sense. - The charges were dropped. Some people -are suggesting that the charges were dropped because some major changes are corning in the Excise Act under which Thomas was charged. One of the 'most important facts about this whole case is that the mangels were grown on Class 7 farmland, land that is, in Thomas' own words, almost worthless. Thomas has gone a step farther. Last year, he planted Jerusalem ar- tichokes, which, he says, grow like weeds and- produce a higheralcoholyield than mangels. . The prosecution of Thomas, says Farm and Country --magazine, "was a case of pure bureaucratic vindictiveness." It may, though, bring about those needed changes in the act which will allow farmers to produce alcohol for fuel. It seems stupid — the law is an ass, an idiot - to require a $200,000 bond. ' Certainly, those enterprising Yankees have pulled out all the stops and are allowing farmers to "produce alcohol like hell." Bonding for farmers ended over there some time ago. Thomas is, by his own admission, an energy nut. His bold stand alone, ready to take the consetttiences of his so-called illegal actions, may mean a breakthrough for on- farm production of alcohol as fuel If so, we are all in his debt. . Dairyfarmers can hear. s 'ys ease live ingredient. he�labelson `n the pesticide containers are m product . rate., Table 1, page 5 to.12•in "1981 Guide to Chemical Weed. Control" gives a list of all herbicides, listing the percent active in- gredients of•each. A cor- responding conversion fac- tor is given for each product. From this, one can easily convert from active ingre- dient to product rate. In the corn herbicide recommendations, one treat- ment is: "Atrazine, 1.75 to 2.25 kg. l active I per hec- tare". A farmer wants to use atrazine flowablc with active ingredient of 500g -L. From Table 1, page 5.' the conver- sion factor in the last column is "2". Using the low rate of 1.75 kg. I active) per hectare, one calculates the rate of product as follows; "2" times "1.75" - 3.5 L -ha ( product ). You may pick up a copy of Publication 75, at the O.M.A.F, Office, Clinton. ONTARIO FARM INTEREST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Time is running out to app- ly for the Ontario Farm In- terest Assistance Program. Applications must be sub- mitted as soon as possible, but not later than March 31st, 1981. Application forms are available from most banks in Huron County and the Agricultural Office in Clinton. This program applies to in- terest paid on money bor- rowed from chartered banks, credit unions or trust companies for operating Ontario dairy producers. can hear top speakers at the first Guelph • Dairy Sym- posium, March 17 and 18 at the Guelph Holiday Inn. . "This conference is directed toward the larger scale, commercially -.oriented, progressive dairyman," says Professor' Don Grieve, animal scientist at the Ontario . Agricultural College, University of Guelph. Although there are many regional dairy meetings dur- 'ing the winter, this program boasts an outstanding slate of experts including Archie MacDonald, economist with the Dairy Bureau of Canada, and Dr. Lew Mix, of Agway Inc.,, Syracuse, New York. Speakers will include Dr. D. G. Butler and Dr. A. Meek Calves need more milk Everyone is using more energy to keep warm this winter and calves are no exception. . • - - ".Because of unusually cold temperatures this winter, calves kept in hutch housing or cold confinement barns need. more milk to sustain themselves," says Dr. Don Davis, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food veterinary services branch. "Conditions are so scold that on some farms, usual milk rations ' fed to dairy calves are 'insufficient to meet their needs. The result is that some calves die when only 15 to 20 days old. Dr. Dan Butler, Ontario Veterinary College researcher says symptoms of starvation can sometimes be confused with common calf scours. However, there are several distinguishing signs. "Producers will notice that calves scour several days later than usuai," says Dr. Butler. "The animals we examined began scouring at 10 to 15 days of age. Another difference between the two conditions is that the star- ving calves will seem anxious to eat and yet show no signs of weight gain. The calves' stools will be ab- normal and will contain mucus. Calves usually die about a week after the first signs" To detect . signs of emaciation, producers must keep a close eye on the calves. Don't be fooled by the animal's appearance; the long -winter coat may con- ceal a bony body. "A set of bathroom scales. may be one of the, best calf management tools," suggests Di. Davis. "Weigh the calves every other day, and be suspicious of any calf , that is not gaining at leasit a half a Hound a day." Undir normal conditions, calves should receive eight to 10 per cent of their body weight daily as whole milk. To make sure the calves are getting enough milk to keep warm, producers should feed' one to two per cent more milk when temperatures are less than 10 degrees C (50 degrees ,F ). Calves kept in hutch housing where tem- peratures drop to less than 0 degrees C (32 degrees F require an additional one to twoper cent whole milk. - • "The important point to remember is to increase the feed, not to decrease it as you would if the calf .had common scours," says Dr. Butler. "Drugs will not remedy the situation either." Up-to-date soil saving To keep you up-to-date on the wise use of soil today and saving soil for tomorrow, the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association are presenting a Soil and Crop Management Pro- gram. The program will be held on Wednesday, April 1st, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Pineridge Chalet between Hensall and Zurich. Windbreaks on the farm, crop rotation, principles of tillage and alternatives to the moldboard plow are a few of the topics to be covered. Experiences of in- novative farmers and researchers will be featured. There will be plenty of op- portunity for discussion and questions. A buffet dinner is included in the cost of $8.00 per per- son. Tickets are available from your township direc- tors or they Agricultural Of- fice in Clinton. • fl"m the Ontario Veterinary College. "The tway program Comprises faur half-day ses- sions and a series of evening discussion groups. The first day will feature financial management including the' importance of record- keeping systems, "the economics of scale of opera- tion, and how producers can setprofit goals, "The afternoon session on., March 17 is unique to this conference," says Professor Grieve.. "Dr. D, _J...Jonovic, an • expert • in • family businesses from Cleveland, will discuss employer- employee relations and family relationships." The second day focuses. on production management with topics on feeding strategies, management for large herds, cow behaviour and calf management. The afternoon session will be devoted to milking manage- ment including udder health, and milking systems. The Guelph dairy sym- posium is sponsored by the Ontario Agricultural College and funded partially by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Registration for the con- ference is limited to 125; pre- registration is recommend- ed. Obtain forms at local agricultural offices, or from the January edition of the Milk Producer. Cost pet-per- son erper- son is $125 including meals but not accommodation. In- terested people may also register in writing to Guelph Dairy Symposium, c -o Dr. W. S. Young, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1. Scotiabank THE BLANK OF NOVA SCOTIA Presents our 4th Annual FARM APPRECIATION MEETING At Snell's Hall in Westfield !EDNESDAYI MARCH 1 8th <' 2 PM -4 PAA Special Guest Speakers Discussing *Farm Tax Savings ®Commodities & Future Markets *Trends in Agriculture Coffee & Donuts Deer Prizes IN BRANCH DISPLAYS MAIRCH 16th -20th a7e� Scotiabank '®= THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA MANAGER: PETER M. SHEPHARD • BUTLER - Ring Drive Unioaders Big Jim Silo Unioaders Volume Belt Feeders Convey -n -Feed Cattle Feeders Single Chain Conveyors Barn Cleaners Oswalt Ensilmixers FARMATIC- Blender Hammer Mills Blender Roller Mills Blender Mills For Ground Hi -Moisture Corn Augers Leg Elevators ACORN - Cable Barn Cleaners Hydraulic Manure Pumps WESTEEL-ROSCO Grein Bins - 1,350' to 250,000 bu. Bulk Feed Taroks ACME - ▪ Fan -Jet Ventilation Systems ASTON Ventilation Systems 8 8 L - Complete Hog Confine- ment Systems - SLURRY -SLINGER Liquid Manure Spreaders CLAY- i>arts and Service for Cley Equipment AERO -FLUSH Liquid Manure Pumps, Aerators, Separators WE HANDLE EVERYTHING -ALMOST LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS, RR 1, Kincardine, Ont. iii u 6 VZ2i-:326 ... Silo 1 credit. The Ontario Govern- ment will provide a subsidy under this program. no to a maximum of 3 percent on short term working capital that is borrowed above 12 percent annual interest rate. The maximum amount of in- terest -assistance is $1,687.50 and not toiexceed the actual amount of Operating interest in the nine month period April 1 to December 31, 1980. , To qualify for the interest assistance, farmers have a gross agricultural come from the farm of mus: in - at WATER WELL DRILLING "80 YEARS EXPERIENI c' • FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL , • FREE ESTIMATES • GUARANTEED WELLS • FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT ▪ 4 ROTARY 8 PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST -WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON WELL DRILLING LIMITED 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills PHONE 357-1960 WINGHAM Collect Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST. WATER WELLS SINCE 1900". least $8,000.00 during the 12 months immediately preceding the _date of ap- lic tionand have owned less San 75 percent of their assets. 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