A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 5pm.
For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
CANADIAN YOUNG SPEAKERS FOR AGRICULTURE
Do you like a challenge? Would you like to share your enthusiasm for agriculture? Does the opportunity to win a substantial cash prize appeal to you? Are you 11 to 24 years old?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition is for you! The Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition is held annually in November at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto, as part of Youth Weekend.
It’s an opportunity to develop your public speaking skills and a forum to express community concerns. The competition originated in 1985 in honour of International Youth Year, and was originally sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Farm Credit Canada joined as a co-sponsor in 1987.
There are cash prizes for the six finalists in both the Junior Competition (ages 11-15) and Senior Competition (ages 16-24). The Senior Champion will receive $1000, while the Junior Champion is awarded $500.
Registration details, rules and speech topics are all available online at: http://www.cysa-joca.ca.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
The last workshop at Everdale in Erin was full to capacity with good participation and lots of good reports. The next workshop is planned for Tuesday, November 6th to be completed Tuesday, November 13th in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room. For information, call Liz at 519-638-3268 or John at 519-846-3394.
SILO GAS ALERT
There is increased potential for high nitrates and therefore silo gas (nitrogen dioxide) in recently harvested corn silage due to the dry growing season this year. Farmers exposed to silo gas are at risk of severe respiratory distress, permanent damage to lungs, and even sudden death.
Reports of silo gas are coming in. Some of the corn in these silos did not appear to be severely stressed in the field. Precautions should always be taken in tower silo situations.
Silo gas is produced almost immediately after filling a silo. The greatest risk is the first 12 to 60 hours after filling the silo, and then risk declines for approximately 4 – 6 weeks when silage fermentation is complete. Silo gas has a bleach-like odour and may be visible as a reddish-brown haze. However, it is not always visible.
Nitrogen dioxide is heavier than air, therefore it tends to be located just above the silage surface. It may flow down silo chutes and into feed rooms. Tower silos are at greater risk because the silo gas is contained at the silage surface level, and operators often enter the silo after failing to level silage and set up the unloader.
When inhaled, nitrogen dioxide mixes with body moisture to form nitric acid which causes severe burning of the lungs and the rest of the respiratory system. Pulmonary edema results. Victims often collapse. Other people attempting a rescue can also be overcome. Farmers exposed to silo gas should get immediate medical attention. Do not enter a silo during the risk period without wearing an appropriate self-contained breathing apparatus. Before entering the silo, ventilate it by running the forage blower for 30 minutes and leave it running while inside. Also ventilate the silo room and chute. Post appropriate warning signs, and keep people and animals away.
For more information on preventing injury or death from silo gas, refer to:
• Silo Gas Dangers – Workplace Safety and Prevention Services: www.farmsafety.ca/public/factsheets/silo_gas_dangers.pdf
• Silo Safety – Workplace Safety and Prevention Services: www.healthandsafetyontario.ca/HSO/media/WSPS/Resources/Downloads/Silo_Safety_Final.pdf?ext=.pdf
• Hazardous Gases -OMAFRA Factsheet 04-087: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/04-087.pdf
• Farmers with concerns about silo gas should contact the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, (formerly the Ontario Farm Safety Association) at 1-877-494-9777.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
Farmers are signing up for the next EFP workshop to be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room on Wednesday, November 14th and to be completed on Wednesday, November 21st. Farmers are realizing their EFP workbook may have expired and are taking advantage of this opportunity to renew the workbook for 5 years. Call John at 519-846-3394 for more information.
COMING EVENTS:
Sept. 29 – Rural Romp at various locations across Wellington County celebrating the fall harvest with tours of over a dozen farms. Visit: www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca.
Sept. 29 – Wellington Children’s Farm Safety Day. The Wellington Farm + Home Safety Association has planned this event from 10am-3:00pm at Deboer’s Farm Equipment Ltd., 0519 Wellington Road 7, Salem to include; OPP, Fire House, Bike Safety, Ambulance, Animal Safety, Fire Department, Farm Shop Safety, Lawn Mower Safety, Chemical Look Alike, Tractor/Skid Steer Safety. Lunch will be served. For additional information call Walter Grose at 519-846-5329.
Oct. 2 Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly board meeting, at OMAFRA boardroom, Elora at 7:30 p.m. For information, contact Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774 or email: jplh@golden.net.
Oct. 3 National Farmers Union Waterloo-Wellington Local, monthly board meeting at 7:15 p.m. at Husky Farm Equipment, Alma (they meet every first Wednesday of the month).
Oct. 4 Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, monthly Board meeting will be held at the Wilmot Recreation Complex. For information, contact Richard Cressman at 519-662-2790 or email: rcresman@sentex.net.
