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The Huron Expositor, 1984-07-18, Page 13
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, ,JULY 18, 1984 — A13 Cumulative stresses affect corn growth By Pat Lynch, Sob &_ _ Crop Specialist end Brian Ball, O , Clinton This past few days we have " received numerous phone calls about uneven corn. As ➢ drive the back roads I notice more fields that are uneven. To understand this condition you have to know how the corn plant grows. When a corn kernel germinates, it puts out a small root system attached to the kernel. Let's call these first roots attached to the corn kernel the "primary root system". As it continues to grow and forms leaves, it produces its main or "secondary root system". This secondary root system is formed right under the soil surface - right at ground level. If you dig a plant up, you will be able to see both root systems. The primary root system gets the plant started. The secondary root system tends to "kick -in" when the plant is 10 to 20 cm. high. It's the secondary root system that really makes the plant grow. It's the main root system. If anything slows down the formation of thissecondary root system, these plants with a small secondary root system will be shorter - at least at the 6 10 leaf stage. Generally, they catch up. On some fields these shorter plants are on lighter soil, some fields have the shorter plants on heavier soil. On light soils, the secondary root system has been slow to get, going because of the dry weather in early June. The big rainfall in mid June hasmnow prompted those roots to get going and soon those plants will catch up. On heavier soils, the single root going from the seed to the corn plant has started to rot. This rot is especially bad if the seed is too deep or the soil has poor structure. This root rot has slowed down the plant and thus, these plants' secondary roots started later. How- ever, the rains of June 16 and 17 started the main roots growing and they will soon catch upI have been in one field where too much fertilizer -with the planter burnt the primary root system. This slowed the whole growing process down. Another field I was in had the corn planter too deep. This deeper planted corn took longer to emerge and again the secondary root system took longer to get started. Many fields have been held back by herbicide. Again, these herbicide damaged plants are just that much behind the good plants in the same field. In all the fields that I have been in, the problems tend to be in soils that are not in the best of shape. Most of the fields have not had a forage cropin quite a few years. In this regard, one frmer taught me a new meaning to the term "a couple of years". 1 was called to see a field of uneven corn. I -looked at the corn and saw the conditions I have just been explaining. The owner, his neighbor and myself walked the field. I asked the owner how long it had been since he had a sod crop in this field. He said "a couple of years", At this, his neighbor shouted "A couple of years? There hasn't been sod on this field for 10 years." So now, I know when farmers say a couple of years, they mean 3,565 days, at least if they refer to a couple of years between sod crops. The point for you is - corn can take a lot of stresses. It can take deep planting, cold weather, herbicide injury, but it cannot take these stresses if it is growing in poor soil conditions. Corn in this part of the world will have some of these stresses every year. If you give the corn a good medium to grow in, it will overcome these stresses. If you give it a poor medium to grow in, it will be short, yellowish and in extreme stresses, it will even turn Piowing match will be showcase of agriculture in Wellington the Queen of the Furrow Competition. Each year, county Queens compete for the provincial title and the honor of representing the International Plowing Match and the Ontario Plowmen's Association at various events during the following year. The International Plowing Match touches every corner of the host county through the Rural and Urban Beautification Competition. There are prizes but the most satisfying part of the competition is seeing the general upgrading of the County. A STRONG BIERITAGE The first plowing competitions in Ontario were sponsored by local Agricultural Socie- ties. The Ontario Plowmen's Association was formed in 1911 and in 1913 the first provincial plowing match sponsored by the OPA was held. Every year since then, with the exception of a period during World War Il, the Match, now an internati nal one, has travelled from county to coup throughout Ontario. Next year the Match w 1 be held in Elgin County. In 1986 in Hastings County. Grey County in 1987 and Perth County in 1988. The 71st International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show will be held in Wellington County from Sept. 25-29. Eight hundred acres of prime agricultural land are being groonied and 'staked for the event, which will take place in Teviotdale, kilometers north of Guelph. • Country and western singing star Carroll Baker will be the ofacial guest of the 1964 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show. The award-winning sing- er, who lives near Guelph, will open the Match on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The International Plowing Match has been called the World Series of Plowing, where more than 200 plowmen will vie for 535,000 in prize money. It is also the greatest outdoor display and demonstration of farm machinery in North America. As in previous years there will be a tented city occupying 90 acres. There will be outdoor displays of farm machinery, power tools, farm buildings, as well as silos, feed and seed and cars. These will be .complemented by food tents, government displays and entertain- ment. Much of the entertainment will be presented from the stage of the Heritage Village Caravan, A Bicentennial project of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs. "A realistic attendance figure would be 130,000 but we fully expect to exceed that amount," Match Chairman David Craig said. This is the fourth time that the International Plowing Match has come to Wellington County and the 250 dedicated volunteers who make up the 25 local committees are determined to make the 1984 Match the best ever. They have been working with the Ontario Plowmen's Asso- ciation, who sponsor the event, since 1979 putting together a program that will appeal to everyone. The Wellington County Exhibit will depict the history of the County and feature a display of antique farm equipment. On Wednesday, Sept. 26, the committee has planned a special Bicentennial Parade complete with period costumes, antique vehicles and special floats with an historical theme. One of the highlights of the week will be A SEND OFF THIS COUPON NOW To: PROPANE SAFETY, 555 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6. Please send me your free 20 -page handbook, LIVING SAFELY WITH PROPANE. *t DON'T LET ,YOUR WEEKENDS GOUP. IN SMOKE! Propane is a wonder- fully convenient fuel for cottagers, campers and backyard barbecuers. It's clean, quick and efficient for cooking, refrigeration and lighting. But, like all flammable matenals, fropane must be used with care. Did you know, or instance, that: Propane barbecues should never be used in an enclosed area. Propane cylinders must be stored outdoors and checked for safety every l0 years. o A propane cylinder should always be moved or stored in an upright position a1 ropane cylinders must be located outside recreational vehicles or in a compartment that is gas-tight to the vehicle interior and ventilated directly to the outdoors. a It is strongly recommended that propane - fuelled refrigerators be cleaned and adjusted every year. You'll find these safety facts and more in our free booklet. Mail the coupon today and get your copy. It's a great reference guide, and it will ensure that propane is always a helpmate rather than a hazard to you and your family. The Ontano Govemment-Working to Help People. Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations Ontario Robert Elgie M.D., Minister William Davis, Premier purple. In a month or so, most of these areas will be hidden. But, you and l both know they have hurt yield and will show up again unless you manage the soil to prevent this. SCUFFLING CORN I have been asked numerous times again this year about inter -row cultivation of corn - scuffling was what we called it at home. And the answer is still the same. I have not seen any research or any field demonstrations to prove any economic benefit to scuffling corn. I didn't want to write this article until after corn scuffling time. The last time I chided you about scuffling, I'm sure more of you scuffled corn than before. The way I see it, the pros and cons of scuffling have not changed. If you have annual weeds or a crust at emergence, you have to scuffle. You have no choice. However, to scuffle corn that is five or six HURON -BRUCE (FEDERAL) LIBERAL ASSOCIATION NOMINATION MEETING A meeting of the Huron Bruce Federal Liberal Association will be held at the Central Huron Secondary School, Clinton at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26th, 1984, to nominate and elect a Liberal candidate 90 contest the riding of Huron - Bruce In the September 4th general election. The speaker will be announced In this paper next week. To be eligible to vote you must hold a current paid-up membership purchased at least 72 hours prior 90 the meeting. Please: urge Liberals In your area to attend and support the candidate of their choice. At the moment two people are actively seeking the nomination. Alex Graham, Secretary Memberships for the Federal Association may be obtained by calling: Gordon Strang, !Exeter 235.1466 Paul Stocklo, Zurich 565-2147 Grant Chisholm, Lucknow Clarence Donommo, Clinton Jock Horan, Walton John Currie. Wingham Muriel Murphy, Godorich , Sorry Reid, Wingham Donald Thompson, Lucknow Mac Inglis, Clifford 529-7524 482-9004 345-2829 357-3605 524.7913 357-3652 528-3516 367-2043 leaves and no weeds - even if it does nave a crust - is a waste of time and money. I understand . a little more about why farmers scuffle corn. I dow am convinced that many of you scuffle because your neighbor does. You see him scuffling and you don't want him to think you're lazy. Again, I suggest if you have to scuffle (to get it out of your system), go scuffle your neighbor's. One farmer confided to me this year that it, made him feel good to scuffle corn. He could look back at the end of the day and see what he had accomplished. That's hardly justifica- tion for scuffling. It's also a lot easier to go and scuffle corn, than walk fields with a back pack sprayer or do some of the more mundane chores around the house and barn. Some of the cons of scuffling - I have seen more erosion in scuffled fields when you get a big rain right after scuffling. I have seen scuffled corn killed by -frost when corn right beside not scuffled was okay. (Two stresses). 1 have also seen atrazine and oil burn corn under cold weather when the unscuffled rows were not burnt, (Three stresses). Every year I see scufflers dragging twitch grass and bindweed and other perennial weed roots all through a field. I know 1 can't change your mind for this year, but 1 am now working on next year scufflers. George Jones once told me, that growing corn in this part of the country is like a'�religion. I will add, that part of this religion includes the ritual of scuffling. However, the reason behind this ritual has been lost now for about one generation. ACCUMULATED HEAT UNITS at C.C.A.T. to June 25 - 814, 1983 - 776. Long term average 820. WHEAT GROWERS! GO TO W.G. Thompson & Sons Ltd. To Deliver Your 1984 FALL WHEAT HARVEST 4 Branches to Serve You with fast unloading facilities - accurate grading - fast returns Remember to Order Your Seed Wheat Early for Fall Sow Thompson's own Hyland Brand Augusta Seed Wheat - The Top Yielder Deal with the Specialists - Qualified Staff Port Albert 529-7901 MI choll 348-8433 Hensel) Granton 262-2527 225-2360 _HONDA. IlaDAsON YOURIDR Pre -Inventory 1 4 SILADOww500 Save $800 ©n Shadows Reg. 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