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THE HERALD Wednesday November Page II George Bird is Haltons outstanding farmer In swell of emotion local farmer George Bird thanked his witc Ver and his four children Marilyn Charles David and Ronald during a heartfelt speech he gave Satur day after being selected as outstanding farmer He told over people at the Ac ton Legion that when he took over his fathers in he wanted to model il alter his idea of an ideal farm Inch just happened to be next Mrs Bud said after speech were proud the I arming com muni has us tor what we re doing hut we re not done el The president the Federation Harry presented Mi Bird and hi wile with a plaque The couple also received a letter from the province presented by North Halton Walt Elliot Mr Bud also received letters of recognition Prime Minister and MP Garth Turner The Birds farm is located on the Eighth Line in Georgetown The couple operate a dairy and cash crop farm on acres and rent out an additional acres to grow crops They have holstems each of which produced on average 7833 kg of milk 290 kilograms of fat and 256 kilograms of protein in 1988 They grow acres of alfalfa hay acres of mixed gram 20 acres silage corn acres of sov beans and acres of wheat The Birds ability to improve the classification of their dairy herd was one of the reasons Mr Bird was chosen says the federation Mr Bird increased his dairy herds breed classification average 108 in to in The is determined a milk tester lakes the weight the milk pro cows and compates it against the weights milk pioduc the other row of same age throughout Canada The figures stand milk tat protein levels produced the to com parable cows aoros Canada Ihi average Output of milk fal and protein is a level about 115 across the board This means Ml Birds cows aie producing well above amounts of milk fat and compared to cow The federation has been on recording protein levels during the last five ears Mi Bird credits the improvement to the use of plus pro ven sires which have enhanced the genetic potential of herd replacements The Birds have not only taken steps over the years to improve milk production The couple has also successfully used soil conser vation practices such as crop rota tion soil sampling and tile drainage to increase crop yields and soil fertility levels They also grow experimental plots new crop alternatives Besides running a successful farm Mr Bird has also found the time to serve on several farming- related committees He is current ly a director of the federation and the Halton Holstein In the past he was the chairman of the Halton Milk Committee and prcsi dent and counsellor for the Holstein Club He was also one of the first members of the Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee The Federation of Agriculture named Georgetown farmer George Bird second from the left as outstanding farmer North Walt Elliot left was on hand to present Mr Bird with a letter of recognition for his outstan ding achievements Mr Bird is seen here with his wife Verna and the president of the federation Harry Herald photo ALL ABOARD Santas Gift Express FOR A TRAINLOAD OF SAVINGS JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS