WInter 2011-Golden Horseshoe - Ontario Soil and Crop ...

goldenhorseshoeSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011Inside:•Meet David & Leanne Vollick & Family•OSCIA News•OMAFRA CropTalkThe official publication of the Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Associationserving the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association members in the counties of1 Brant, Haldimand, Halton, Niagara North, Niagara South, Norfolk, Peel and Wentworth www.ghscia.com

SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011goldenhorseshoe4 Member profile! 6! President’s message! 6! Sponsor spotlight! 6! EFP & GYPF workshops! 7! Niagara North SCIA! 8! Planter performance! 9! Soil test workshops!10! SmartStax® corn!11! County rainfall reports!12! Crop year in review!13! Halton SCIA!14! Peel SCIA!15! Niagara SCIA!16! OSCIA News!19! OMAFRA CropTalk!29! PRWQP Update!30! Peel SCIA!31! Coming Events41315Cover photo: Parker,Leanne, David andMickayla Vollick ofVollick Farms, City ofHamilton (formerlyWentworth County)Photo credit: Anne HowdenThompson302 www.ghscia.com

EXECUTIVEPresident: Rosemarie HaegensPast President: Gerry Veldhuizen1st Vice President: Arpad PasztorSecretary: Mark JaniecTreasurer: Anne Howden ThompsonASSOCIATION DIRECTORSLennie Aarts, Jeremy Huizinga, John Hussack,Greg Kitching, Gary Mountain, John Nurse,Arpad Pasztor, Ed Russell, Steve Sickle, JohnSikkens, Scott Sowden, Peter Szentimrey,Andrew Spoelstra, Mike Tomascin, FritzTrauttsmandorff, Julia WhalenPROVINCIAL DIRECTORMarshall DavisEDITORAnne Howden ThompsonSoil and Crop News is published four times ayear by the Golden Horseshoe Soil and CropImprovement Association and distributed to theOntario Soil and Crop ImprovementAssociation members within the counties/regions of Brant, Haldimand, Halton, NiagaraNorth, Niagara South, Norfolk, Peel and theCity of Hamilton.GOLDEN HORSESHOE SOIL ANDCROP IMPROVEMENTASSOCIATION12722 Heritage Road, Caledon, ON L7C 1T3Phone: 905-873-6811Email: goldenhorseshoe.scia@rogers.comTwitter: www.Twitter.com/GHSCIAWebsite: www.ghscia.comIf you are interested in receiving this newsletteror want to change your address, please contactthe editor. Comments, ideas and sponsorshipwelcome.Contact your local/county secretary for OntarioSoil & Crop Improvement Associationmembership rates.Undeliverable Canadian mail return toGolden Horseshoe Soil & Crop ImprovementAssociation12722 Heritage Road, Caledon, ON L7C 1T3Canadian Publications Mail Agreement40046443editorialWelcome to the latestedition ofgoldenhorseshoe. Thereis a lot going on over thenext couple of months inour region and it isexciting to be part of suchan active organization.Last year the OntarioSoil and CropImprovement Association (OSCIA) and the OntarioMinistry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)partnered with the regional associations to offer a series ofsoil test workshops across the province. This was a pilotproject and response to these workshops was exceptional.GHSCIA will be hosting OMAFRA’s Peter Johnson again.See page 9 for more details.At the local level our organizations continue to provethey are active and thriving. In the coming months there areseveral workshops and tours planned. Be sure to check outthe Coming Events on page 31 for more details on all theregional and local events.Many of our members are hard-working men andwomen, with strong commitments not only to their ownfarm operation, but to the community as well and it is alwaysgratifying when they are recognized for their contributions.In February Barry Hill, our former GHSCIA provincialdirector and immediate OSCIA past president, and his wifeCheryle were recognized as the Brant County Federation ofAgriculture ‘Farm Family of the Year’, with Don Lobb, aPeel SCIA member, presented the L.B. ThomsonConservation Award in recognition of Lobb’s outstandingcontributions to soil and water initiatives. Lobb served as theOSCIA Honourary President last year. Congratulations toboth of these recipients on their well-deserved recognition.For each issue I have the opportunity to travel toa different part of our vast region to profile one ofour members, and in this issue we visit with Davidand Leanne Vollick and family of the City ofHamilton (formerly Wentworth County). As always,our members have great stories to share.Comments, story ideas and sponsorship are alwayswelcome and I look forward tohearing from you. ghSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011Anne may be reached atgoldenhorseshoe.scia@rogers.com3 www.ghscia.com

member profileMeet David & Leanne Vollick ofVollick Farms, City of HamiltonDavid Vollick is proof that if you are meantto farm, you will find a way to make it work.Vollick, a resident of Stoney Creek in the Cityof Hamilton (formerly known as WentworthCounty) grew up on the back of the family farmin Binbrook. And while his father worked in thecity at Dofasco, his uncles all maintained activefarm operations in the community. “I hung outwith them,” says Vollick. When he was 16, hewent to work for one of his uncles on his farm.But when he graduated from high school, hewent on to train as a millwright at Dofasco.The recession of the early 1990’s broughtsome unwelcome changes for the formidable steelcompany giant, with the company announcing itsfirst permanent layouts since the GreatDepression of the 1930’s.Vollick was served with his layoff notice in1994 and while he was eventually called back, hiswork assignment was changed. By 1995, witheight years of service to his credit, he decided toabandon his millwright career and focus insteadon his passion for farming.For Vollick, it was a year of new beginningsand partnerships, forming a formal businesspartnership with one of his uncles, GordMilmine, and a marriage partnership with hischildhood friend, Leanne Cline.Both David and Leanne grew up in Binbrookand the Vollick and Cline families knew eachother well.“He went to school with my brother (and) Iwent to school with his brother,” she says.For the first two years of their marriage theyoung couple lived in Dunnville, in theneighbouring county of Haldimand, while Vollickcontinued to farm the Stoney Creek farmproperty with his uncle. The couplecontinued on next page...4 www.ghscia.com

moved to their current Townline Road farm property in1997.The partnership between Vollick and his uncleworked well for both partners. Milmine has four children,but none of them wanted to farm, so it created a needfor his uncle and an opportunity for Vollick. WhenVollick quit Dofasco, it paved the way for the two tobecome active partners; a successful partnership thatlasted from 1997 to 2008. The partnership was dissolvedin March 2009 when Vollick bought out his uncle’s shareof both the farm and the business partnership.Over the years the size of the Vollick operation hassteadily grown, peaking at about 3500 acres. “We wentright down to Lake Ontario at one time,” he says,although today he admits the operation has beendownsized to a more manageable 2500 acres -“to spendmore time with the family.”Vollick grows 600 acres of corn, 1000 acres ofsoybeans and 700 acres of wheat, with the remainderseeded down to hay. Most of the land worked is what hecalls “hard old clay”, although he said he has some sandylands along Stoney Creek’s Ridge Road. “If you get therain….yields are decent,” he says.He uses a lot of no-till to cover his acres, although hesays he is re-introducing plowing to his fields.Leanne’s father, Don Cline, grew up on a farm, butdidn’t want to spend his lifetime as a farmer. A mechanicby trade and now retired, the couple say he is aninvaluable asset to them in their operation, working forthem full-time from March through December.While the farm business enterprise is focused on thecrops, the barns aren’t sitting idle, housing the family’sthree horses, three chickens, six ducks and two dogs.“We’re like Noah’s Ark,” jokes Leanne.So what does this young farm couple do when theyaren’t farming?Like many farmers, Vollick says he doesn’t have anytime for hobbies—“there’s always something that needsdoing,” he says, either around the farm or as a directorwith the Wentworth Soil and Crop ImprovementAssociation.Leanne, like many farm wives, maintains order onthe farm. Home and family are top priority and theappearance of family’s tidy, well-kept farmstead propertyis to her credit. She logged more than 250 hours on hercontinued on page 7...lSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011Photos, top to bottom: This attractive carved rock welcomes guests to thegateway of the Vollick’s family farm; Mickayla and Parker (photo credit: WandaOldfield of Lemon Love Photography); the family homestead; Reba and Zeus.Remaining photo credits: Anne Howden Thompson.5 www.ghscia.com

SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011president’s messageThe season of greatfood, drink and companyhas come to a close for meand I hope everyone hasenjoyed the festivities asmuch as I have. But now itis time to get back to lifeas normal--or as normalas life gets for me. It is thetime to tackle all thoseprojects that have been put off until those cold winterdays. The only problem is, it seems the winters are neverquite long enough to accomplish everything, so we justpick the most important things and live with the rest untilnext winter.The New Year has me contemplating making someresolutions. Let’s lose some weight (or maybe not) .Ormake a pledge to walk every day. That lasts about as longas the first bitter cold morning, in which case I tell thedog to walk himself, because let’s face it, he has more hairthan me. My favorite--and the battle I lost a long timeago—is staying young.Well this year I decided to make my commitment toCanada and all Canadians. I have always been supportiveof Canadian industry, but this year I am going to bemuch more tenacious in my quest to buy Canadian;hopefully it does not prove as hard to do as losing weight.Over the winter months our members have theopportunity to take a ride on the information highway,through events like the SouthWest AgricultureConference (SWAC), FarmSmart, other industryinformation days as well as our local annual meetings--allpacked with valuable information to help us tackle thenew growing season. I hope you all joined with me intaking advantage of these opportunities.I would also like to invite you to get involved withyour local associations, because the value is not just in themeetings alone, but also in the informal discussion thattake place afterwards. I have been richly rewarded in myexperience on the board with fellow directors and coworkerswhose skill and opinions I regard with the highestesteem, and last but not least, whom I consider valuedfriends. gh~ Rosemarie Haegens, President, Golden Horseshoe Soil and CropImprovement AssociationUpcoming EFP &GYFP workshopsIf you are planning to improve environmentalconditions on your farm or are interested inevaluating your business management skill set,the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and theGrow Your Farm Profits (GYFP) workshops arean excellent place to start. Workshops arescheduled for the counties of Brant, Halton,Niagara and Peel. Please visit the link below for acalendar of available workshop dates. If no datesare currently listed in your county, call or emailyour county representative to register for a futureworkshops:www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/programs/workshop_calendar.htmNext issue: Spring 2012Copy deadline: February 25sponsor spotlightThe newsletter remains our association’s mostimportant communications tool to share news withour members, and we are grateful to all ournewsletter partner sponsors for their assistance inhelping us continue to deliver a strong publication.Thank you to the following sponsors for renewingtheir sponsorship for another year:•City of Toronto•FS PARTNERS, a division of GROWMARK INC.•IGPC•Novozymes BioAg Limited•TD Canada TrustA complete list of newsletter sponsors is includedinside the back over. Please be sure to thank themand support their businesses. gh6 www.ghscia.com

“Vollick” continued from page 5lawn mower last year. “I put more hours on my lawn mowerthan he does with his combine,” she says.A trained law clerk, Leanne spent several years asan in-store marketer with the Hudson’s Bay Company,abandoning her own career aspirations upon the birthof the couple’s first child, Parker.Leanne is currently head of the Tapleytown PublicSchool parent’s council, the school that their youngestchild, Mickayla, attends. During the fall busy season,Leanne spends the month of October leading schooltours at the nearby Green Mountain Farm.Their son Parker, now 14, is in grade 9 at SaltfleetDistrict High School. Like many young boys, hockeyand soccer have figured prominently in his athleticschedule over the years, but currently his passion is fordirt bikes.But the couple is quick to note that Parker is anactive, contributing part of the family’s farm workteam. They describe him as, “one of the best employeeswe’ve ever had.”“He already has respect for theequipment,” says Leanne. “Other kidsthink it is fun, (but) he is good withhauling wagons and has respect forfarming. Even my dad is astonishedhow well he can disc up a field.”Parker wants to pursue a career inheavy equipment; the skills he haslearned on his family’s farm shouldstand him in good stead in the future.Their youngest, Mickayla, age 12, isin grade seven at the nearbyTapleytown Public School, and she isalready an accomplished horsewoman.She rides western pleasure and is amember of two nearby saddle clubs,Dry Lake and Ancaster, where she haswon several recognitions for herhorsemanship skills, nabbing HighPoint honours at the Dry Lakes club formembers 12 and under, and GrandChampion and High Point for 18 andunder for showmanship at the Ancasterclub. Despite her age, with these newwins to her credit she will be advancingto compete in the next age group forthe next season.She also likes hockey.“Both are expensive,” says her dad.Farming has had its share of tough times over theyears, and when asked for the best piece of advice hewould give, Vollick is quick: “Don’t be a farmer, get areal job,” he says.While he may have said it in jest. Vollick’s owncareer path started out in another industry buteventually he found his way back to doing what heloves: farming“He could have stayed (as a millwright) but youmight as well enjoy something you do,” says Leanne.And while farming can be a very stressfulprofession at times, the camaraderie and sense ofhumour and fun displayed by the family are evidencethat they have found the right work-life balance tomake it work well for them. And they’re happy to bedoing it. ghThe Wentworth Soil and Crop Improvement Associationselected David and Leanne Vollick and family for this issue’sproducer profile.SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 20117 www.ghscia.com

SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011Tom Snyder,owns Grand RiverPlanters inHaldimand County.He may be reachedat info@grpp.ca.Planter performanceTop ten checklistBy Tom SnyderTo maximize your planter performance, checkout this top-ten checklist:1.Level the planter. Check hitch height.Make sure the planter’s tool bar is level(vertically) or running slightly uphill. Whenplanters tip down, the coulters run too deepand the closing wheels run too shallow.2.Check bushings and parallel linkage.Worn bushings increase row bounce, whichincreases seed bounce. Stand behind the rowunit and wiggle it up and down and back andforth, checking to make sure bushings aretight.3.Check the drive system. Check everychain. Kinked chains cause shock andvibration in the meter. Start with fresh,lubricated chains and check them daily.Include transmission chains, meter drivechains and insecticide box chains.4.Calibrate corn meters. Calibratedmeters can add six or more bushels per acre.Take your meters and samples of your seed toa certified MeterMax representative to gainan additional two, four or more percentaccuracy.5.Test double disk openers. Make surethere is good contact between the doubledisks. Slide a business card from the top downalong the front of the disks until the cardwon’t lower any further. Mark that spot withchalk. Then take the card from the back andslide it forward until it stops. Mark that spotand measure the distance between the twomarks. If it is less than two inches, re-shim orreplace the disks. In general, the disks must bemore than 14.5” in diameter.6.Inspect seed tubes. Check for wear atthe bottom. Frequently the tubes will have asmall dog-ear flap on the left side of the seedtube. Replace them.7.Evaluate closing wheel system. Consideran alternative to rubber closing wheels. Forcool, moist planting conditions take a look atrunning one spike wheel (15”) and one rubberwheel (13”). The spike wheel can help chopthe sidewall, improving fracturing and sealingin the tough soil conditions. For no-till, a moreaggressive approach may improve trenchclosing. Two 13” spike wheels with a dragchain provide the most aggressive action.8.Check closing wheel alignment. Withyour planter setting on concrete, pull aheadabout five feet. Look at the mark left behindthe planter by the double disk openers. Themark should run right down the centerlinebetween closing wheels. If a closing wheel isrunning too close to the mark, adjust theclosing wheels to bring it back to centre.9.Adjust row cleaners. With higher levelsof residue and more corn on corn, almost anyplanter can benefit from well-adjusted rowcleaners. Row cleaners sweep residue from therow, warming the soil around the seed trench,reducing wicking and seedling blight. Makesure row cleaners gently sweep residue; youdon’t want to move soil, just residue.10.Improve germination with seedfirmers. On average uniform germinationadds six bushels per acre. Keeton SeedFirmers promote uniform germination byimproving depth control and seed to soilcontact. Firmers should have 14 to 16 poundsof tension. ghSave the date!Thursday, July 12, 2012Friday, July 13 (Youth Day)Elora Research Centre, Elora8 www.ghscia.com

Why should Ontario corn producers growSmartStax® corn?Western Bean Cutworm has been increasing inoccurrence across the province at a rate much higherthan initially anticipated. Larvae have been found to beover-wintering in Ontario soils and thriving uponemergence in late spring. Western Bean Cutworm feedon the silks and kernels of the corn ear, decreasing yieldpotential, and the openings that the larvae leave intothe ears allow late-season disease to enter and reducethe quality of the grain. The application window forspraying affected fields is very short, and the costs ofsprays that will reduce Western Bean Cutwormpopulations are very expensive. There are currentlyonly two different genes that have any effect on WesternBean Cutworm, and one of those is in SmartStax®hybrids. For growers in Western Bean Cutworm hotspots, not growing a corn hybrid which has WesternBean Cutworm protection in 2012 could be very costly.Extension studies conducted at Universities acrossthe Midwestern United States have shown that evenunder minimal insect pressure, SmartStax® hybridshave a higher yield potential than non-Bt corn hybrids.Combine this information with the opportunity toreduce the amount of non-Bt refuge acres that arerequired to be planted from 20 percent down to 5percent, and whole farm yield potential could increaseby up to 15 percent. If there is any insect pressurewithin the growing season the yield potential ofSmartStax® corn hybrids is even greater. Couple thiswith the reduced need for expensive foliar pesticides,and there is little doubt that SmartStax® hybrids are anexcellent economic decision for Ontario corn growers.ghcounty rainfallSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011SmartStax® multi-event technology developed by DowAgroSciences and Monsanto. SmartStax® is a registeredtrademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. ALWAYS READAND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance toglyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agriculturalherbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill cropsthat are not tolerant to glyphosate. Roundup Ready 2 Technologyand Design® and Genuity® VT Double Pro are trademarks ofMonsanto Technology LLC. Herculex® Insect Protectiontechnology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Alwaysread and follow label directions. LibertyLink® is a trademarks ofBayer.Coming in the next issue!•Member Profile: Halton•FarmSmart Conference report•OSCIA AGM Highlights11 www.ghscia.com

Niagara SCIA combine clinicSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011Clockwise, top left: Matt Henderson, Niagara South SCIA president with Rosemarie Haegens,GHSCIA president and Brian Heaslip, host for the combine clinic; Daniel Wiens, of PremierEquipment Ltd., Smithville; Brian Spotts and Casey Smith, of O’Neil’s Farm Equipment Ltd.,Binbrook; Fred and Matt Goit, of Haldimand. Photo credit: Anne Howden Thompson.15 www.ghscia.com

SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 201116 www.ghscia.com

17 www.ghscia.comSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011












Two new grants for Peel farmers through PRWQPApply now for up to $15,000 in support per projectThe Peel Rural Water Quality Program (PRWQP)offers technical and financial assistance to agriculturallandowners who voluntarily implement environmentalbest management practices on their land. The programnow supports projects in 18 categories; includingnutrient management planning, manure storage &handling systems, and livestock access restriction.Grants cover between 30 to 100 per cent of totalproject costs. Up to $15,000 in funding is available insome project categories. New this year, the programnow provides up to $10,000 in irrigation managementsupport and up to $15,000 for eligible silage storageprojects.The PRWQP is a partnership of the Region ofPeel, Peel Federation of Agriculture, Peel Soil & CropImprovement Association, Toronto and RegionConservation (TRCA) and Credit Valley Conservation(CVC). It was launched in 2005 as a means to improveand protect rural water quality for the agriculturalcommunity, citizens and wildlife within the Region ofPeel. Since then the program has provided $290,530 infunding for 72 projects across Peel and continues toevolve to keep up with current trends in farm practices.Funding is provided by the Region of Peel and theCanada-Ontario Agreement. ghTo learn more about the program or apply for funding, contact:Mark Eastman, CVC (905) 670-1615 ext. 430 or NadineAbrams, TRCA at (416) 661-6600 ext. 5349SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 201129 www.ghscia.com

SOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 2011Peel SCIA fall tourTop four photos, left to right: Jalon Farms, near Creemore; John Miller and his stepson,Shawn Corbeil, of Jalon Farms; Richard Armstrong and Joe Gray of Peel; Peel membersand guests enjoying the tour; bottom photos from the visit to the Dunlogon Farm operationof Brian Dunlop, Stayner. Photo credit: Anne Howden Thompson30 www.ghscia.com

Coming eventsComplete details on all these events are available online atwww.oscia.cloverpad.org.MON. MARCH 5 & TUES. MARCH 6 – SoilTest Workshop with OMAFRA’s Peter Johnsonand Bonnie Ball. See page 9 for details.TUES. MARCH 13 to THURS. MARCH 15 -North Niagara SCIA Bus Tour. See page 7 fordetails.TUES. MARCH 27 – Wentworth SCIA GrainStorage Handling Workshop with OMAFRA’sHelmut Spieser at Shirlmar Farms, 265 Butter RoadWest, Ancaster, 9:30 am. Producer panel discussionin the afternoon, featuring: Mark Brock of D & DBrock Farms, Staffa (pneumatic grain system); MarkComley of Shirlmar Farms Inc., Ancaster (grainelevator system); and Fritz Trauttmansdorff ofDunlea Farms, Ancaster (grain conveying system).All welcome. Free to all OSCIA members. Lunch:$15. For information: Michelle Spoelstra at905-692-5751 or royalea@pathcom.com.WED. MARCH 28 – Haldimand SCIA MTOTruck Inspection Workshop at Eggers Truck &Machine Ltd., 85 Robinson Road, Dunnville, 5:30pm. Do you have questions about the use ofagriculture husbandry vehicles on Ontario's roads?Come out to this hands-on workshop to hear fromKerry Wirachowsky, MTO and have your questionsanswered. Supper included. Free to OSCIAmembers, $10 for non-OSCIA members. Allwelcome. Haldimand members, please comeprepared to renew your three-year membership.($90). For information: Dianne Booker at905-899-3748 or cwdibooker@gmail.com or JohnHussack at jhussack@clarkagriservice.com.SAT. MARCH 31 – Halton MTO Workshop atthe Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Road,Milton, with MTO’s Kerry Wirachowsky, offered aspart of a day-long program in partnership with theHalton Federation of Agriculture. Free to OFA andOSCIA members. Non-members may register for$30, includes a one-year membership in their localOSCIA club. For information: Nancy Comber,Halton Federation of Agriculture atspeccomm@lara.on.ca or Anne HowdenThompson, GHSCIA atgoldenhorseshoe.scia@rogers.com. Pre-registrationalso available at www.oscia.cloverpad.org. ghSponsorSpotlightOntario Ministry of Agriculture,Food & Rural Affairswww.omafra.gov.on.caOntario Soil and CropImprovement Associationwww.ontariosoilcrop.orgBrant Tractorwww.agdealer.com/brantCity of Hamiltonwww.hamilton.caCity of Torontowww.toronto.caEgger Truck & Machine Ltd.www.eggertruck.comFS Partnerswww.fspartners.caGrand River Planterswww.grpp.caHalton Regionwww.halton.caHuron Commodities Inc.www.huron.comHyland Seedswww.hylandseeds.comIGPCwww.igpc.caMaizex Seeds Inc.www.maizex.comNiagara Regionwww.niagararegion.caNovozymes BioAg Limitedwww.novozymes.comPride Seedswww.prideseed.comRegion of Peelwww.peelregion.caScotland Agromart Ltd.www.agromartgroup.comSyngenta Seeds Canada Inc.www.nkcanada.comTD Canada Trust AgricultureServiceswww.tdcanadatrust.comSOIL AND CROP NEWS WINTER 201131 www.ghscia.com

WInter 2011-Golden Horseshoe - Ontario Soil and Crop ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?