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Newsletter
- April 2000
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THANK YOU to all our customers and those
who attended our seminar January 26th in Wellesley. This was our
most successful seminar to date and it is all because of you,
our loyal clients. The response to Joe Cummins' speech as well
as Catherine Diodata's presentation was overwhelming. We feel
very happy that these two important speakers were first in our
community to raise awareness of the issues and conditions as they
exist.
Seminar Tapes/Videos - If any of you who are interested, we can provide
you with tapes or videos of the entire day for a small cost.
GMO Debate Continues - Meanwhile some of Joe's comments prompted an attempted
discussion on the Internet, but fortunately most people didn't
fall for the bait. The debate over GMOs (genetically modified
organisms) continues to be hot and heavy, more than ever. The
research community is having to defend the fact that they have
never done animal studies. In the United States, they are now
finding that the BST being used in the cows has actually modified
itself over the years and it is no longer the same product that
Monsanto had applied for in the patent.
In Saskatchewan, the case of Percy Schmeiser moves closer to court.
Mr. Schmeiser, you will recall, is the man who single handedly
vowed to take on Monsanto. The illegal canola that Monsanto brought
in had to be disced down several years ago. This same canola was
actually discovered in some neighbouring farms, much to their
chagrin. Monsanto would sooner not reveal their bad side to the
public, so these charges were dropped.
If the GMO debate continues to rage, many of
you people who work for a living and pay taxes will be pleased
to know that the Ontario government has just given away $77 million
of your money and my money to the University of Guelph to put
up new facilities for new biotechnology research on a technology
that has not been totally proven to be safe at this point in time.
The other thing that is interesting to note is that the provincial
and federal government gives the University of Guelph $66 million
annually to run the biotechnology program. Of course the big corporations
contribute $14 million but somehow they seem to walk away with
the new discoveries!! Something doesn't seem to add up to me.
I didn't ask these people in the federal or provincial level to
do this for me and I don't know if any of the rest of you have
either. I am sure that if the average consumer knew this, they
would be somewhat upset. It never ceases to amaze me that the
government continues to do things that the rest of us would be
thrown in jail for.
GE Postcard
- Enclosed with this newsletter is a preprinted post card which
has been designed by a group of family farmers concerned with
genetic engineering. We encourage you to sign and forward these
postcards to the Minister of Agriculture to request the immediate
mandatory labelling of all GE foods.
Molds & Mycotoxins
The 1999 crop year produced beautiful looking
corn but often contained quite deadly material in it. The problem
with molds and mycotoxins, especially fusarium molds, is far more
widespread than anyone thought possible. Many people say you cannot
predict mycotoxin levels by visual sight. Hybrids with 25% of
the cobs showing mold growth might come back with only 1/2 ppm
vomitoxin. The hybrid next to it with only 5% visual mold on the
cobs, could have 4 ppm vomitoxin. It is impossible to predict
strictly by sight and is a hog farmer's worst nightmare.
In the past few months, there have been several sample results
from different labs where some of the levels have been extremely
high. Yet there are others where the levels are quite low. A word
of warning to all hog farmers - vigilance is the name of the game.
To give you some ideas, we will list some of the mycotoxins:
ZEARALENONE
* has an estrogenic effect;
* levels of 1 ppm or greater can cause enlargement and inflammation
of the uterus, the vulva and the mammary glands with prolonged
heat and poor conception;
* can reduce the sperm production and libido of boars;
* can have sows and gilts with failure to show heats;
* abortions, stillborns, low fertility;
* rectal and vaginal prolapses can occur in some extreme cases;
* can be transferred to baby pigs through the sow's milk causing
enlarged vulvas in female piglets;
* does not affect the feed intake or the growth rate.
VOMITOXIN
* affects the gastrointestinal tract;
* levels of 1 ppm to 2 ppm can cause a reduction in feed intake
and results in a loss of gain;
* between 1/2 ppm and 3 ppm, it is wise to dilute this with clean
grain and any level above 5 ppm, severe problems can occur. Vomiting
and complete feed refusal can result and pigs will initially consume
sufficient amounts of the ration to induce vomiting but they will
voluntarily reduce intake to stop vomiting.
T-2 TOXINS
* more potent but less common than vomitoxins
but are more likely to be produced during long periods of cool,
wet weather;
* 1 ppm or greater can cause vomiting and decreased feed intake
as well as reduced growth rate;
* 16 ppm to 20 ppm causes complete feed refusal.
If any of you feel you are having a problem,
please contact the office and have one of our salespersons pick
up samples. We will send them to one of several labs that are
available to us to see if indeed you are experiencing any types
of molds. Keep a close watch on your herd as well as your baby
pigs for early detection. If you are not having any problems,
but suddenly develop them, you can be assured that something is
starting to happen. This could be from dry feed, fermented feed
in a silo or whatever methods you use to feed your animals. Make
sure your augers are clean, do not leave feed lying which could
enter into a secondary fermentation as this can cause problems.
At Bio-Ag, we have several tried and tested
products to help you, should any of you experience moldy feeds.
REDMOND CONDITIONER:
This is a colloidal silicate trace mineral which contains a combinaton
of over 50 mineral compounds. Their colloidal state seems to be
poised to
a. bind molds or mycotoxins
b. make available trace minerals.
In fact, Feedstuffs Feb 12, 1996 reported reduced
somatic cell count, better health and a reduction of aflatoxin
levels in milk.
HALT
A great product by Naremco, a company that
spent years developing a propionic acid that would not corrode
and have easier mixing and storage capabilities. This is accomplished
by the carrier in this fine product. With over 50 billion particles
per pound, this product gets into the nooks and crannies to neutralize
the effects of mold.
KELP MEAL
Some recent tests just completed by a company
in Ottawa revealed Kelp Meal had wonderful aflatoxin binding capacity
- zearalenone binding was also evident. North American kelp meal
was more effective than European kelp. People with goats, sheep,
cows, horses know animals crave kelp during mold crisis.
We can custom mix all or any one of these ingredients
into one of our great premix packages for you, if and when you
need them!
KELP FERTILIZER MIX
We would also like to announce that this year
we will again be making the Kelp Fertilizer Mix for your corn
fields. If any of you are interested, we have the capability of
mixing everything for you on site in our plant. Contact the office
in advance so we can have the product available.
CULBAC FORAGE
Also a reminder to place your Forage orders.
You do not have to take delivery at this point but consider giving
us your orders so we know how much to have ready for you. Remember
it is available in both liquid and dry material.
From the staff at Bio-Ag: Murray, Florence, Ted, Susan, Carl,
Bill, Mel, Betty Ann, Parry, Mary Lou.
FOR SALE
1ST CUT ALFALFA HAY
800 to 1000 square bales.
Call Calvin Jantzi (519) 656-2878.
CORN SILAGE/HAYLAGE MIX, EAR CORN
Call (519) 887-9566.
11 BEEF BLEND COWS (Shaver/Saler), 4 COWS (1/2 Murray Grey bred
to Shaver Beef Blend Bull for late summer/fall calving), BULL
for sale, Shaver Beef Blend, quiet, good breeder. Farm is organic,
calves certifiable. Call Bob & Moira Sansom (519) 461-1263.
WANTED
BEEF COWS, Natural or Organic, Call Elmer Martin,
(519) 887-9043.
CATTLE for GRAZING, pasture available to accommodate 30 head for
the summer.
Call Bio-Ag for details 1-800-363-5278.
FREE
Parts for belt brush feeder -- side panels,
plough, bottom panels.
Call Bio-Ag 1-800-363-5278.
BIO-AG DEALER PROFILE
DAVID COLLING
Practical experience has given Dave Colling
a wealth of knowledge about dairy farming. He has lived on a dairy
farm all his life near Ripley. After graduating from Grade 13
he attended university for 2 years studying Electrical Engineering.
In 1978 he purchased the farm from his parents and along with
his wife, Kim, managed a herd of 24 dairy cows.
In 1979, they expanded to 40 cows and in the
next few years their family increased to include two children,
Kara and Kurtis. In 1989, due to high vet fees, high feed costs
and herd health problems, Dave attended a Bio-Ag seminar and met
Murray Bast. Dave was impressed with Bio-Ag products and starting
using them in his dairy operation. In 1991, he became a distributor
and shared his success story with Bio-Ag customers. Dave has always
been on the cutting edge of agriculture, having the first flush
barn in Ontario.
At present, the Collings have a herd of 75
milk cows, own 200 acres and also do soil and crop consulting
in addition to being a Bio-Ag distributor. With Dave's electrical
background, he has been helpful in researching the cause and potential
solutions to the timely problem of stray voltage. Dave's distribution
area includes Kincardine, Tiverton, Holyrood, Wingham, Blyth and
Dunlop areas. You can contact Dave or Kim at (519) 395-5194 phone
& fax or by calling Head Office at 1-800-363-5278.
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**5% DISCOUNT** APRIL/2000
SOLUBLE SEAWEED EXTRACT
For field crops, horticultural crops & the home garden.
Used in foliar applications, seed treatment and rooting/transplant
solution.
20 KG/44 LB BOX
* increases plant growth and development
* improves plant appearance and colour
* increases sugar content in plants, extends shelf life
* improves frost & drought resistance
* reduces insect damage
* meets OCIA standards
$ 396.15 (reg. $417.00)
Also available in 1 lb packages $14.25 (reg. $15.00)
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**5% DISCOUNT** MAY/2000
CULBAC FORAGE for Haylage and Silage
* promotes superior lactic acid fermention
* safe, non-corrosive
* economical and cost effective
* does not need refrigeration
* product stability
* available in liquid and dry
50 lb bag (treats 227 tonne) $ 256.50 (reg.
$270)
1 gallon liquid (treats 100 tonne) $ 133.00 (reg. $140)
5 gallon liquid (treats 500 tonne) $ 617.50 (reg. $650)
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