Woman Dead After Crash Near Stratford

A two-vehicle crash north of Stratford last night claimed the life of a Palmerston woman.
93-year-old Bessie Gadke was a passenger in a car that crashed into the back of a tractor trailer that had slowed down on Perth road 119 to make a turn at the Topping Curve intersection.
Gadke was rushed to hospital in Stratford, but died several hours later.
The driver of the car, 79-year-old Hazel Tomlin of Harriston remains in Stratford hospital with non life threatening injuries.
The truck driver was not injured.
Police say the road was wet at the time.

Hensall Meat Processor Expanding Production

The President of Metzger Meats in Hensall says government money will help them supply the increasing demand for meat products in Ontario.
Gerhard Metzger's operation is getting 350 thousand dollars from the province's Rural Economic Development program.
They'll use the money to increase production of beef, lamb, pork and poultry products.
Additional smoke houses and cook houses and modernizing it's production system will help increase Metzger Meats smokehouse and ready-to-eat meat production by 400 per cent.
The money also means up to 10 new jobs at the Hensall operation which already has more than 18 workers.

Funding for Kincardine

The Kincardine Family Health Team should be up and running in one year.
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell announced a $75,000 grant which will allow the team to come up with a business and operational plan.
The municipality was one of 30 new teams announced last month.
Dr. Gary Gurbin said the move will also be an important tool in bringing new doctors to the area.

Sept. 3 - Closing Markets

BLACKBURN AGRI-MEDIA CLOSING MARKET REPORT:
Date: 09-03-10

On the Chicago Board of Trade:

Corn Futures:
September up 16 and a half at 4.49 and a half
December up 17 at 4.64 and a half

Soybean Futures:
September up 22 and a quarter at 10.29 and a half
November up 26 at 10.35

Wheat Futures:
September up 27 and a half at 7.08 and a quarter
December up 27 and a half at 7.41 and a quarter

Oat Futures:
September up 11 at 2.83
December up 11 at 2.95

-> FROM DAUPHIN FEED AND SUPPLY, THE 48% SOYBEAN MEAL QUOTE, F-O-B HAMILTON = $394/tonne

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

Note there is a basis change on all soys and on 2012 soft red winter wheat:

09 CROP CORN = up 17 at 4.05/BU
2010 CROP CORN = up 17 at 4.05/BU
2011 CROP CORN = up 5 at 4.03/BU

09 CROP SOYS = up 11 at 10.05/BU
2010 CROP SOYS = up 16 at 9.90/BU
2011 CROP SOYS = up 6 at 9.67/BU

2010 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 27 at 5.36/BU
2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 14 at 5.25/BU
2012 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 9 at 5.05/BU

(O-C-A Report)

-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:

Total sales for the week = 86,698
That's up 1,562 from the previous week.
Included were 73,778 contract hogs
and 10,629 exports.
The Ontario Pool Price = $149.13 per 100 kilograms.
The Ontario Pool Plus Price = $160.21 per 100 kilograms.
Friday's preliminary U-S National Cost Price = $82.09
that's down 25 cents
Friday's opening forward contract price for December-January delivery = $148.42
That's down 60 cents from Thursday.

Millions For Affordable Housing in Huron

The federal and provincial governments are each contributing about 1.8 million dollars for affordable housing units for seniors in Huron East.
Huron-Bruce M-P Ben Lobb and M-P-P Carol Mitchell were on hand for the ground-breaking ceremony this morning on the site behind the Huronview Complex.
Social Services Administrator Dave Overboe says the project will involve 31 new units and he says that represents about 15 per cent of their current waiting list. Overboe says the project will contain 19 one-bedroom apartments and twelve two-bedroom apartments.
Tenants will pay about 80 per cent of the market value for similar units and will have to be seniors with moderate incomes to qualify.
They hope to have the units available to tenants in about one year.

Fire Ban Lifted in Perth East

Perth East has lifted their fire ban.
Fire Chief Darrell Reis issued the ban because of the heat and humidity, but now that that things have cooled down, it's lifted.

New Company comes to Stratford, Hiring 30-50 Workers

A company that makes parts for the automotive , medical and industrial sectors is opening in Stratford.
In a release, president and COO, Brad Gotts says Florida Production Engineering is going to begin production in April 2011, initially making parts for Honda.
FPE is a subsidiary of Ernie Green Industries which also owns Marion Industries, a brake/module assembly manufacturer dedicated to Honda.
The plant will initially hire 30-50 employees.
Mayor Dan Mathieson says Stratford is a great community to invest in with a highly skilled workforce and quality of life second to none.

Progress Being Made on Stratford U of Waterloo Campus

Timelines have been set for construction of the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus.
Mayor Dan Mathieson says the transformation of the St. Patrick Street site to the home of the new campus is underway.
The new parking lot will be complete in about a week, and site preparation for the building can begin.
Mathieson says construction on the educational facility will likely start in November after the necessary environmental approvals are obtained, the design/build proposal is issued and the builder selected.
The University of Waterloo Stratford Campus will have a strong focus on digital media, and officials indicate it will bring learning, new technologies and innovation to the Festival City.

Ontario Corn Crop 'Dramatically Ahead Of Normal'

OMAFRA's Greg Stewart reports the provincial corn crop is dramatically ahead of normal in terms of maturity.
Stewart says silage moisture levels are dropping at three quarters to one full point a day.
He points out that quality silage hinges on correct harvest moistures so producers should not delay in testing and harvesting silage fields.
Stewart says recommended silage moisture levels for corn are 65-70 per cent for horizontal - 60-70 percent for bag - and 62-67 per cent for most upright stave silos.
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Brought to you by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association

OSCIA web page http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/
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OMAFRA Field Crop Report September 2, 2010

For emerging issues, questions or to provide feedback on this report, contact the CropLine at: 1-888-449-0937. Technical information can also be obtained at the OMAFRA Field Crop Webpage at www.ontario.ca/crops and Crop Pest Ontario at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest

Spring Cereals: Scott Banks

Harvest is finally complete. Fusarium in wheat and crown rust in oat plagued the crop, with yields often below average despite early planting and sufficient moisture. Warm temperatures throughout grainfill further reduced yields in some areas.

Where growers removed straw from spring cereal fields, potash fertilizer should be applied to replace the extra nutrient removal unless sufficient manure is available for this purpose, or soil tests are very high.

Soil Fertility: Keith Reid

Cover crops can help to retain nitrogen in the rooting zone that could leach into groundwater during the late fall and winter. The key is getting adequate growth this fall, so plant as early as possible. Cover crops should be targeted to sensitive areas (sandy soils over shallow aquifers) and where residual N is high from manure application or crops harvested while green.

Forages & Pastures: Joel Bagg

It can be very tempting to cut some forage for haylage or baleage in September if the weather is good. To reduce the risk of alfalfa winterkill, avoid cutting alfalfa during the Critical Fall Harvest Period. This is the 6 week period before the average date of killing frost. This allows a harvested alfalfa plant to regrow and store sufficient root reserves to survive the winter. After cutting, the alfalfa will use the existing root reserves for regrowth, "emptying the tank". After about 3 weeks, the alfalfa has enough leaf area to move carbohydrates back to the root, "refilling the tank". Cutting in the middle of the Critical Period is usually higher risk than cutting at the beginning or end.
Even when winterkill does not occur, loss of vigour and yield the following spring typically results. Research shows that the yield sacrificed by not harvesting during the Critical Fall Harvest Period is usually regained in first-cut yield the following year. The decision to cut should be weighed against the immediate need for forage.
Sufficient top growth will help to hold snow that helps insulate overwintering crowns against cold temperature damage and frost heaving. Older stands with less disease resistance, low potassium soil tests, poor varieties and poor soil drainage are all at increased risk of winterkill. Aggressive cutting schedules with cutting intervals of less than 30 days between cuts increases the risk of winterkill, while intervals over 40 days (allowing flowering), reduces the risk. Refer to OMAFRA Factsheet 91-072 "Alfalfa Winterkill Risk Factors" at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ crops/facts/91-072.htm.
Check pastures in dry areas for poisonous plants. Young livestock in particular may eat plants they would normally avoid if forage supply is limited.

Corn: Greg Stewart

Corn is dramatically ahead of normal in terms of maturity. Much of the crop has reached the one-half milk line. Silage moistures are dropping at .75 to 1.0 points per day. Quality silage hinges on correct harvest moistures. Producers should not delay in testing and harvesting silage fields. In some cases alternate fields that are higher in moisture may need to be identified. The use of silage processors may improve the quality of silage that results from more mature corn. Recommended silage moisture levels are 65 - 70% for horizontal, 60 - 70% for bag, and 62 - 67% for most upright stave silos.
Corn dry down has been enhanced in some areas by very dry soil conditions. In some cases stressed areas of the field have gone through rapid desiccation during the high temperatures experienced August 28 to September 1.

Winter Wheat: Peter Johnson

Early planting of winter wheat is underway following canola or edible bean harvest. Soil conditions are dry in some areas. Plant up to 3" deep to reach moisture, if moisture can be found. If moisture can not be found at 3", plant at 1.25" deep. Where wheat is being planted more than 10 days ahead of the optimum date, reduce seeding rates by 25% to avoid excessive fall growth, disease, and the chance of snow mould.
Wheat following corn or previous wheat crops adds additional risks that require careful management. Be sure to use more tolerant varieties to fusarium, seed treatments, and tillage as appropriate. Crop insurance has specific requirements in these rotations to be eligible for complete coverage: call the contact centre at 1 (888) 247-4999 for details.

Have a question? Call the OMAFRA CROPLINE at: 1 888-449-0937

An audio version of the OMAFRA CropLine is available at www.ontario.ca/crops under "podcasts"

Ag Energy Co-operative Expanding Membership

The Ag Energy Co-operative is looking to expand it's membership.
The Co-operative has dropped the requirement that members have a minimum annual consumption of 50 thousand cubic meters of natural gas.
Co-operative CEO Rose Gage says they expect the change to make Ag Energy stronger.

(Gage On Membership)

Ag Energy Co-operative already represents half of the natural gas and one third of the electricity consumed by Ontario agriculture.
It's hoping the expanded membership will also help it expand further into the green energy areas such as solar and biomass generation.

CFFO: Diversity Creates Problems For Farmers

A spokesperson for the Christian Farmers Federation says Ontario's farmers have differing opinions - all of them valid - and many contradicting each other.
Jenny Denhartog says those differing opinions have created a diverse primary production sector.
And she says that's created a contradiction in itself.

(Denhartog On Diversity)

Denhartog says a plan for the future of Ontario farming needs to acknowledge those different types of farming and find ways to address their differing needs.

(Complete CFFO Commentary)

OMAFRA Changes Deputy Minister And P-A

Ontario Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell has a new Deputy.
John Burke moves to the OMAFRA Deputy Minister slot from Deputy Minister of Community Safety.
Burke's also been a deputy minister in Municipal Affairs and Housing as well as Natural Resources.
He has a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Mary's University and a diploma in Public Administration from UWO.
Burke has also studied labour relations at Queen's University.
Another change at OMAFRA is the return of Maria Van Bommel.
The MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex is back as Parliamentary Assistant for OMAFRA.
She'd held that same job several years ago.
Most recently Van Bommel has been the P-A to the Minister for Children and Youth Services and the Minister Responsible For Women's Issues.

Hort Industry Funding Includes Apple Storage Research

The President of the Canadian Horticulture Council says recent government funding will have a real impact for the industry.
Andy Vermeulen was reacting to the announcement Ottawa is investing over 5 million dollars in two different research clusters for the horticulture industry.
One of those clusters - the Edible Horticulture Cluster - will focus on projects such as field sanitation for blueberries and enhancing the storage of apples.
The other - the Ornamental Horticulture Cluster - will look at projects such as best practices for pest and weed control and fertilization and optimal production conditions to reduce energy consumption.
In 2009 farm cash receipts for the Canadian horticulture sector were about 6 billion dollars - up five per cent from 2008.
And exports of Canadian horticulture products last year reached 3 point 8 billion dollars.

Employees at Huron-Perth Catholic Schools Share Hopes for New Year

About 500 employees of the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board gathered at St. Anne's Secondary School in Clinton Thursday to shared hopes for the coming year.
Director of Education Martha Dutrizak says all of the different groups of the board's employees were represented and that was important because they all play a vital role in the development of each students.
She says it was important that everyone was on the same page as they go into a new school because they won't be successful without every group being part of the team.
Dutrizac says the meeting was also unique because it was the first time they were able to get everyone together before the school year started.

Kincardine Officials Fear Wind Turbines Will Hurt Tourism

Wind turbines placed in Lake Huron would have a detrimental effect on Kincardine tourism.
Deputy-Mayor Laura Haight would like to see more submissions to the province about its offshore plans.
She says hundreds of red lights blinking on the tubines will do nothing for the tourism industry and the overall economy in Kincardine.
The off-shore turbine question will be discussed next Wednesday at the Corporate Services Committee of Kincardine council.