IN THE TRENCHES - drainage Newsletter March [email protected] I Secretary Treasurer John R. Johnston 231 Dimson Ave, Guelph, ON N1G 3C7 (519) 836-1386 [email protected]!

EXECUTIVE !PRESIDENT Matt Williams (519) 291-0767 [email protected] !PAST PRESIDENT Joe Frankis (519) 420-0014 [email protected] !VICE PRESIDENT Jamie Turvey(519) 535-4423 [email protected] !DIRECTORS Keith Frey (519) 575-6211 [email protected] !Tim Gillier (519) 359-8934 [email protected] !Denis Keupfer 519-276-7743 [email protected] Secretary Treasurer John R. Johnston 231 Dimson Ave, Guelph, ON N1G 3C7 (519) 836-1386 [email protected] !Convention Coordinator Franklin Kains (519) 775-0153 [email protected] !Environmental Advocate Don Lobb (905) 838-2221 [email protected] !!

IN THE TRENCHES

Hello fellow members. Thank you for the opportunity to represent such a successful organization as LICO. With such great support from the board as well as the members, it’s a fool proof position……..I hope! Special thanks to Joe Frankis for his tenure as president. Great job leading us, now go see if you can get the tile price under control! !Another successful convention is behind us. Thanks to everyone involved in producing such a popular event. Awareness was raised, fellowship was had, lies were told and livers were tested. What more could one ask for? If anybody has any suggestions on topics for next year or possible changes to the format (possibly moving the date to February?), please contact myself or any of the other board members. Our contact information is posted on the front of this newsletter. !Don’t forget to take some time for yourself this winter season. Customers won’t tell us to take time off, we must take it ourselves. Take the time to acknowledge the stress in your life and find ways to deal with it constructively. Tobogganing doesn’t have an age limit! !In closing I would ask that everyone take the time to go over safety procedures with their crew before hitting the field full speed this spring. A happy worker isn’t a flat worker. And dollars can’t undo short cuts gone wrong. !Work hard & be nice, Matt Williams

From the President’s Desk

“Drainage doesn’t cost - it pays!” www.drainage.org March, 2015

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Sewage Case Highlights Need for Vigilance – (Excerpts from London Free Press, January 22, 2015)!!In the eastern Ontario village of Westport, temperatures of -7C mean municipal staff can make snow to lower the levels of wastewater in the sewage lagoons. !Westport treats the sewage from its 300 homes and businesses by turning it into snow. In fact, Westport has been blowing snow since 1996. !Sewage is pumped uphill from the village to a holding lagoon where the sludge settles to the bottom and the top water is then pumped into a second lagoon. In winter, when the temperatures dip, the water from the second lagoon is sprayed through snow-making towers over a large field. During this high-pressure blowing process bacteria are broken down and only piles of snow are left to melt away in spring. !Westport discovered last spring that the system hadn’t been functioning for several years and sewage in the holding ponds had risen to dangerous levels. !The man hired at more than $100,000 a year to keep the system operating hadn’t been doing his job. He subsequently was found guilty of mismanagement of both the village sewage and water systems and find $35,000 for his misconduct. ! The village council released about 25 million litres of untreated wastewater into the Upper Rideau Lake. They also hired a company to truck away millions more litres of sewage to the town of Smiths Falls for processing. ! With the Walkerton water crisis only 14 years behind us, it is remarkable reporting and staff training for any water and wastewater system, no matter how unusual, could fall behind. It’s a reminder we can’t take clean water, or our environmental responsibilities, for granted.

Better Infiltration May Help Curb Phosphorus Losses - (Excerpts from Ontario Farmer, February 3, 2015)!!It takes only a little bit of phosphorus escaping from each farm field to feed Lake Erie’s algae blooms. And the solution to the problem will likely be found in a lot of small, incremental improvements. !Those were two key messages from University of Waterloo researcher Dr Merrin MacRae and OMAFRA engineer Kevin McKague. !Most of the phosphorus in Lake Erie feeding those blooms comes from rural and urban runoff, with 52 per cent of the load originating in Michigan, 34 per cent in Ohio and eight per cent in Ontario. !The shallow Western basin of the lake gets most of the overall load, close to 60 per cent. !While phosphorus carried off eroding soils was a huge issue in the past, the focus today is more on dissolved P. !A study done at three Ontario watersheds: Maitland, Thames and Essex County, revealed a lot of phosphorus in each field - 1670 kgs/ha in a Maitland-area field with a P soil test of 10 and 1837 kgs/ha in a Thames River field with a soil test of 16. !Research has shown phosphorus coming from the tile “is driving P loss”. This includes normal drainage but there is also the additional runoff going directly to the tile through catch basins and surface inlets.


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Ontario Growers Discuss Their Path to Better Soil Health - (Excerpts from Ontario Farmer, February 3, 2015)!!Ken Nixon, Middlesex County producer, and Dresden-area producer Earl Elgie shared the podium at the SmartSoil Conference at Waterloo. !Nixon mentioned avoiding compaction as one of his priorities. “Regardless of your tillage or soil type, it’s the number one limiting factor to yield.” That means ensuring equipment leaves as little footprint as possible. !He calls organic matter “the holy grail of crop production”, important for water infiltration and release, mitigating compaction, and cation exchange capacity, especially on sharp sands. !Elgie outlined how soil conservation has always been a part of their philosophy. That goes back to the late 80s when they planed “miles of windbreaks”. !There are three underlying goals: keep the land covered, do sensible tillage and feed the soil life. To that end, they started using cover crops in 1989. !Cover crops now go after or into growing crops to catch and trap nitrogen and phosphorus, provide a carbon source for soil life, prevent erosion and insulate soil. !Most of the fields are soil-saved and get one or two passes with a Salford S-tine in the spring. The idea is to mix the residue and work the soil shallow.

Seven Selected for Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame – (Excerpts from Ontario Farmer, February 24, 2015)!

In its 36th year, the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association will induct seven leaders into the Hall of Fame Gallery at Country Heritage Park in Milton on Sunday, June 14.

To qualify, inductees must have demonstrated visionary leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in the advancement of agriculture in Ontario. They will have left a lasting legacy for the benefit of future generations.

One of these seven to be inducted is LICO’s own Don Lobb.

Donald Wilbert Lobb, Caledon, (1939 - )

Don Lobb farmed near Clinton in Huron County for more than 35 years. He was a visionary and motivator to establish and improve soil conservation practices and water quality.

He could see by the early 70s that conventional tillage and planting were leading to soil erosion and the contamination of waterways. So he set out, in collaboration with researchers and extension specialists, to introduce new conservation methods, including no-till, on his farm.

He provided sites for more than 50 major university and government research projects and hosted many conservation education events, welcoming visitors from six continents.

(Continued Pg. 4) !


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Seven Selected for Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame - (Cont’d. from Pg. 3)!!Lobb’s intensive assessment of conservation practices proved that crop yields and income were not sacrificed by adopting them.

He authored, co-authored and edited reports and Best Management Practices for No-Till, Cropland Drainage and Field Crop Production. He continues to work with the Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario to promote the importance of proper soil moisture management.

Lobb was a founding member of the Soil Conservation Council of Canada 1987 to promote soil conservation practices and decrease soil degradation.

He is the first national recipient of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s L.B. Thomson Conservation Award.

2015 Sponsored by the Ontario Soil and Crop Association

CHAIN OF COMMAND!


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LAND IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS OF ONTARIO

www.drainage.org

The Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario (LICO) is an association of professional drainage contractors and suppliers of drainage pipe and equipment. The focus of their business is soil moisture management to enhance crop production in Ontario.

The Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act applies whenever someone drains cropland other than their own. The purpose is to protect land owners who buy this service. It requires that equipment be certified and drainage contractors and their equipment operators be licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF). LICO contractors comply with this Act.

Many contractors grew up in the drainage business and most have spent time in the trenches where they come face-to-face with problems that must be solved quickly and effectively. This practical experience is a huge asset.

To be licensed, tile drainage machine operators must take a primary drainage course that allows them to install drains under supervision, and then having that experience, take an advanced course that allows them to work independently. The license-related courses are intensive and demand competence – in surveying, drain system design for efficiency at the least cost, the science around soil and water interactions, hydrology in the drainage system, environmental concerns as

associated with cropland drainage, drainage law, and equipment adaptation (weaknesses and strengths; for example, where lasers are required and where GPS can improve work productivity and quality). The objective of cropland drainage is to create the proper balance between air and water in the crop root zone and to do this while conserving as much water as possible to carry crops through summer drought.

A#er a candidate demonstrates a high level of classroom competence through exams he (or she) must prove ability in the field with the operation of drainage equipment. Drain installation accuracy and design competence must be proven before an operator license is issued.

The drain installation equipment that contractors use must be certified by OMAF as capable of maintaining proper grade and depth.

Licensed contractors usually provide valuable services such as assisting in obtaining necessary permits, providing a detailed map record of drains installed and providing a work guarantee. Licensed tile drainage contractors also have the experience necessary to quickly locate existing tile drainage systems.

Many contractors are also licensed to design and construct agricultural erosion control structures for surface water management. Once again, this includes intensive classroom work. They must understand the role of soil management, the design principles and place for surface water control structures, and understand

the association and integration of surface water and sub-surface drainage systems. The objective here is to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality beyond the farm.

LICO contractors engage in continued professional development activities, through summer tours and drainage days, and by attending seminars and training sessions that are associated with their winter conference. Typical topics include First Aid, Work Place Safety, Highway Regulations, Drainage Regulations, safety around utilities, drain problem solving, drain water quality and the relationship between cropland drainage, soil erosion and nutrient loss.

LICO members, through their organization, have funded considerable research in the interest of reducing negative impacts that agricultural drains may have on nutrient loss or the environment.

The goal of a LICO contractor is to improve soil productivity in a responsible and efficient way without causing downstream damage.

WHY LICENSED CONTRACTORS ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT – For Everyone!

License courses are intensive. Photo courtesy of Andy Kester, OMAF.

A certification sticker must be affixed to the drainage machine. Photo courtesy of Sid Vander Veen, OMAF

If you contract drainage work, the machine must be certified and the operator and contractor must be licensed.

* Reprinted with permission from Country Guide magazine


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Drainage of Soil – Part 4 Soil Management - R.W. Irwin !

Farm machinery has to be physically supported by the soil; that is, the bearing capacity of the soil must support the weight of the farm machine. The soil also must be dry enough to provide traction for the wheels (soil shear strength) without excessive slippage.

Clay soils cannot usually be brought to a satisfactory state of dryness by drainage alone; some evaporation from the surface by the sun will be needed even after the drains have stopped running. Tile drained clay soil permits the point where the drying process by evaporation takes over is reached more quickly.

Soil is not uniform; it varies with location and with depth. The way soil water behaves, its retention, speed and direction of movement and availability to crops, is controlled by the physical or solid parts of the soil. Tile drainage greatly assists and enlarges soil management opportunities.

Tile drainage also provides for more efficient use of machinery through improved surface working conditions. It achieves greater fuel savings and increased output. A drained soil requires fewer cultivations and therefore less solid compaction due to the fewer passes over the field.

Good drainage provides greater flexibility in the planning and timing of field operations and allows greater flexibility for cropping, rather than have them dictated at the last moment by soil conditions.

Working land when it is wet will lead to compaction and the destruction of the natural soil structure, to the detriment of effective drainage and crop production.

Wet soils are usually the most fertile soils, high in clay and organic matter. When drained they can be used for more productive purposes.

Proper drainage makes the entire field more uniform in soil moisture, including the elimination of wet spots. This results in earlier, more predictable and more efficient tractor use, tillage, planting and harvesting operations.

See the OMAFRA “Best Management Practices” booklet on Soil Management.

Spring Proverbs!!Spring has come when you can put your foot on three daisies.

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.

Spring is sooner recognized by plants than men.

If you do not sow in spring, you do not reap in autumn. !!!!


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2015 LICO Convention, January 20 – 22, 2015 - Franklin Kains!!Here are a few of the highlights from this year’s convention in January in London. !The major theme of the conference was controlled drainage. Three speakers talked of its potential for improved crop yields and lower nutrient losses with the benefits becoming more apparent if we should suffer long-term climate changes. Bob Meiners of Agrem in Illinois described the tile drainage design program they have developed that lays out the drains to follow land contours thus making controlled drainage and sub-irrigation feasible on rolling topography. !Richard Taggart of Safety Matters talked on the new hazard for tile contractors of underground electrical cables installed to service the ever-growing number of wind towers across Ontario. His case studies suggested that the installation of these cables is not always as accurate, well documented or regulated as they should be and great caution should be used when tiling in the vicinity of such towers !Tony Paladino (pictured) along with Peter Darbishire talked on the history of the double link plough that Tony developed. It was a fascinating remembrance of a machine that has played such a big part in the increased productivity of the installation of tile drainage in Ontario and North America. !The pre-conference workshop on mapping with the OMAFRA’s Agricultural Information Atlas reviewed the basics of this GIS tool and introduced the new updates. The workshop drew over 40 participants. !On Thursday afternoon 60 people participated in the post-conference tour to Bron Heavy Equipment at Woodstock where we saw the manufacturing facilities for the Bron drainage ploughs. !For a second year now the Wednesday banquet proved to be popular as attendance was up again this year to 225 people. The banquet was followed by a Casino Night. Overall, the registrations for the convention were 216, up 15% from last year. !All in all, another successful convention with everyone anticipating a busy year ahead.

No….what?? More snow!! Oh come on!!!!


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CALENDAR OF EVENTSJanuary 20 & 21, 2016 LICO Conference Best Western Lamplighter Inn 591 Wellington Rd,London, Ontario N6C 4R3

Red Cross Course - January 19, 2016!

!PASSINGS!WOLFE, MARY - wife of Honorary Life member John Wolfe, a good friend and supporter of LICO. !Peacefully at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital on Sunday November 9, 2014, Mary (Davis) Wolfe of Melbourne in her 80th year. Beloved wife of John Wolfe. Survived by her children, Judy (Keith) Gillies, John Henry (Diane) Wolfe, Jim (Sherry) Wolfe and Jennifer (Dave) Bechard and by her 10 grandchildren and her brother Robert Davis. Predeceased by her daughter Susan Jane and sons, Jeffrey and Jason and brother Jack. Special thanks to Jamie. Private arrangements. Interment Longwoods Cemetery, Melbourne. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Strathroy

A little madness in the Spring Is wholesome even for the King.

~Emily Dickinson


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IN THE TRENCHES - drainage Newsletter March [email protected] I Secretary Treasurer John R. Johnston 231 Dimson Ave, Guelph, ON N1G 3C7 (519) 836-1386 [email protected]!