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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, May 5, 1976 Need more farms for 200 urban students For the past three years the Ontario Ministry of Agri- culture and Food has run the very successful Junior Agri- culturist Program to help full-time commercial farmers teach urban stud- ents the basics of agriculture and rural life while farmers get summer help in return. "This year, two hundred, 16 and 17 year old urban stud- : ents will be placed on farms throughout the province. To date this year, there have not been enough farm- v ers apply to be hosts for the students. Many farmers who are capable to teaching the. students, and also need help on the farm do not apply and "this is a mistake as the program would be benéficial for both. Host farmers are to be engaged in farming full-time and be on a commercial operation. They must also be interested in helping inexperienced young people develop the skills required on a farm, and have the ability to work well with and supervise young people. The farm must also have suitable accomodation. The students will recejve $16.00 per day as their train- ing allowance. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food will provide $6.00 of this and the farmer provides $5.00 cash and $5.00 worth o room and board per day. The students will stay on the farm from June 21st to - - August 20th, working twelve days consecutively and then receiving two days off, usually from after chores on Friday evening to before " chores on Monday morning. In the past, this program has worked out very well for all thdbse who have parti- . cipated and is a help to the farmer and student. This is not meant to pro- - vide cheap labour to farm- ers, but rather to provide a learning experience for both students and farmers. Further information - and applications may be-obtain-- ed from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food office in your county. Vo Ontario Blue Cross WELCOMES EMPLOYEES OF H. H. Goode & Son Limited (Uxbridge) EXTENDED HEALTH CARE 'Farm Scene - 5 These employees now have the added be- nefits of extra health protection fog.them- selves and their families: a Blue Cross Ex- tended Health Care Plan. EHC provides protection against health ser- vices not covered by the basic government health plan, coverage for such items as pre- scription drugs, private nursing and private room accommodation in hospital. In addi- tion, EHC can be tailored to meet the needs of any employee group. "As your Ontario Blue Cross representative | am pleased to add my personal welcome, and look forward to serving you along with the many others in this region already enjoying the protection of a varie of Blue Cross Plans." Max A. C. Clarke 311 George St. North, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 3H4 (705) 743-0677 / 'ONTARIO BLUE CROSS "A DIVISION OF THE ONTARIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION Beef producers in the area are invited to attend an Open House at the private Beef Cattle Performance Testing Station in operation at: Wotton House Farms, R.R.2, Uxbridge, Ontario, on Monday, May 10th, at 1:30 in the afternoon. During the month of May, Open House Days will be held at the four Government Beef Cattle Performance | TestingStations at New Liskeard College - May 4th, is e.~~May 14th, Ridgetown College - May- 18th and" Arkell [Experimental Farm, Guelph , - May 19th. This ¥s-the first Open House to be held in Ontario at - a private Beef Cattle Performance Testing Station, and we are pleased that Wotton House Farms have been chosen for this event. The programme will include a discussion led by Mr. N.M. MacLeod, Livestock Specialist, Toronto, on the benefits of "the Beef Cattle Performance, Testing Programme, an outline of the farm operation by Mrs. Robert Dale-Harris, and a demonstration of the' ultrasonic measurement of backfat in beef cattle. There will also be an.opportunity to see the group of "bulls that will be completing test in May. All interested beef producers are invited to attend. Prepare for Pasture Feeding Season Mr. Don Taylor, Dairy Cattle Specialist- with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Brighton, reminds us that dairy cattle require the same nutrients during the pasture season, as they do for the "rest of the year, yet many dairymen forget some of their sound feeding practices Wien the cows go out to grass. Early pasture growth is very. high in quality but declines rapidly. Within- a' month, the dry matter of spring grass can drop from 68 percent T.D.N. and 15 percent protein to 50 percent T.D:N. and 7 percent protein. It is this variability which creates most of the difficulties of pasture feeding programmes. . A common problem with cows on lush pasture is the change in appetite. To consume the dry matter of 30 pounds of hay, a cow may have to eat up to 200 pounds _of pasture. This can cause even high producing cows to fill up and so refuse grain. This problem can be minimized by changing over to pasture gradually. Allow only a few hours of grazing -in the early part of the year. The cows will fill up in a short time, but will digest this and be ready for grain and other dry feeds at milking time, The grain mix which compliments your pasture feeding programme will depend upon the maturity of the forage species present. Ideally the protein content of the grain mix in early June need not be as high as in July or August. If however, only one grain mix is to be fed all summer, it is better to overfeed protein in the early stages. This may also overcome any protein shortages due to poorer grain appetites this period. A grain mix which should suit most pasture feeding situations, might have approximately 71 percent T.D.N. and 16 percent protein. It should also contain adequate phosphorus and magnesium, the two ele- ments most often lacking in pasture feed. Providing a commercial 1:1 mineral and trace mineralized salt will help assurg that the mineral requirements are . met with low producing co Pasture rations due to their ow fibre content, often result in fat test depression. To avoid this, Mr. Taylor suggests that dry hay be made available in a free choice hay feeder. If each cow does not consume at ~ least 5to 8 1bs. per day, it may be necessary-to-keep,- them in the barn longer fo? hay feeding. Increasing the hay palatability with a sprinkling of diluted molasses may 'help intake. There is no single answer to the question of how to maintain milk production with pasture feeding. 'Appetite and forage quality will vary more during this period than at any other time of the year. Many dairymen have overcome these problems with year' round stored feeding programmes. If you plan on remaining with pasture, it will likely be necessary to level out the milk flow during the summer months with proper grain feeding practices. - Dairymen wishing assistance with their summer feeding programme, are advised to get in touch with their local Ministry of Agriculture and Food Office. JG PHOTOS ® Weddings ® [ortraits "® Teams, Groups TRG Ld Commercial