SEPTEMBER               

Are your pets lonely and depressed because the kids are Back to School and not home playing with them?  

Time to Stock up in case they decide to eat more than usual just out of depression and/or boredom.

                   ($1.50 off per 16 KG Bag)

      Tip Top Dog 16 kg          Bite Size Dog 16 kg

      Tip Top Cat 16 kg           Prestige Cat  16 kg   

Keith’s Corner

As I visit farms all over Southwestern Ontario and have conversations with producers, there is one re-occurring topic…Feed inventory.  This hasn’t changed much from the last newsletter, however third cut seemed to be better than second cut and there seems to be a bit less anxiety focused on forage inventory.

The focus for producers has shifted towards this year’s corn crop.  The corn crop is variable across the countryside.  In some areas of the deep southwest, corn looks phenomenal and other places …. Not so much.  For the most part though pollination look’s good and the kernels are there.  With drought stressed crop, the fiber should be very digestible and with the cob:stalk ratio, we should have some very high-quality forage. 

Here are some rules of thumb for the to take into considerations for harvest timing, kernel processing and cut length.

Harvest timing – According to the Pioneer Silage handbook, harvest should begin when the milk line in the kernel reaches 2/3 to ¾.  This will maximize starch deposition in the silage and maximize the energy levels of that feed.

Cut Length - Theoretical Length of Cut (TLC) should be between ½”- ¾” (15-20mm) for processed corn silage, with unprocessed corn silage, that number should be between 3/16”- ½” (12-15mm).  Cut length is critical to reduce the porosity of the silage either in the silo or in the bunk.  Oxygen is the enemy when making high quality silage, so making sure the cut length is right helps reduce the amount of oxygen in the silage mass.

Kernel Processing – With the price of grain right know, having the corn silage processed correctly will help the ruminants utilize more of the starch in the corn silage, which in turn reduces the amount of grain that you need to supplement from on farm sources or purchase from the feed mill.  In an ideal world, I like to see no more than one half or whole kernels in a one litre sample.  This can be achieved by making sure the processing rolls are set to a 1mm gap.

     These are just a few quick guidelines to help make sure that your corn silage is set up to be the highest quality feed.  Corn Silage harvest is the one of the most critical periods on the farm, if you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.   

Rodents will be Scurrying around the Area    

      Searching for their new Winter Home

With the crops coming off and the weather soon turning cooler, the mice and rats will be picking out their residence for their Winter Vacation.

Not only should you bait heavy enough but check for holes in homes, sheds and barns that rodents would effectively enter the premises. 

Remember to Rotate the bait to be most effective,

Re- Check it regularly and you will

Be Ready.

REMINDER  -  Pesticide Licence Updates

Please update your name on file to include your updated Pesticide Licence in order to purchase, restricted or commercial Rat/Mouse Bait or Restricted Fly Control.

It saves frustration and disappointment if the file has been updated before wanting to buy restricted product.

Farm cards such as OFA will not be accepted to buy

The regulatory amendment 63/09 of the

 Ontario Pesticides Act which came into 

force on May 1, 2020 changing Class 4 

restrictions.”  The pesticides are now 

classified as Class B and C in Ontario 

respectively. 

Commercial or Restricted products “Effective January 1, 2021 for purchase from retailers.”                                                   

  Clothing

Soon the weather will be changing to cooler temperatures and you will need warmer clothes.

Long-Sleeved Coveralls in Navy or Tan in Sizes Tall, Regular, and Short. Material is Polyester-Cotton.

In Work Shoes we have CSA Royer with composite protection for the toe and shank area. (No metal)

8420 – Low top style compares to 8620 but a High Top.

(Sizes Up to Size 15)

3330 – a little different design but a good shoe for comfort.

(Sizes up to Size 13)

The above styles have no metal in them.  They use a composite material such as Kevlar to make them CSA approved.  Since the composite could be thicker than metal you may have to go a size larger to get a comfortable fit.

Men’s Socks  - Shoe Size 7-11

• Cushioned throughout for maximum comfort.
• Terry provides heat by trapping air in the loops
• Specially reinforced at heel and tow for long wear.

40% Acrylic, 23% Polyester, 20 % Merino Wool,

15% Nylon, 2% Spandex.

LIQUID  CHLORINE

It will not be too long before the pools are serviced for Winter protection from the cold.  If you have a heater, you may stretch the pool season into September/October.

We will continue to have  liquid chlorine in 10 litre and 20 litre jugs.

The 10 Litre jugs the customer owns and they are refilled at that time if staff is available.

The 20 litre jugs begin with a deposit plus a fill of chlorine.  When returned they are exchanged for full jugs and when the season is over, the empty jugs if intact with their cap are returned, a return of a deposit is given to the customer.

AS REMINDER:  Please DO NOT use the jugs for anything else and keep the jugs out of the sun to help preserve them longer from the plastic breaking down with the direct sun.  

  Pool Supplies:

• Leaf Skimmers                        
• Test strips
• Vinyl Repair Kit                      
• Thermometer
• Algaecides (Whamo and Nok Out)
• Super Shock granules (450 grams)
• Filter Free (1 Litre)                     
• Easy Shock Plus     1 kg
• PH Up and PH Down                  
• Sparkling Clear
• Stain Free
• Super Pucks

STAB or stabilizer we do not have.  Our supplier strongly suggests people have their pool tested before using STAB.  Using too much Stabilizer can result in multiple more problems later if conditions do not need more of the product.

There is some stabilizer in the chlorine Super Pucks. McBrayne Feed does not have water testing equipment.  

 Sheep Producers

Be sure to check out “The Messenger” news from the Sheep Growers that we receive regularly. The rack is found by the Coffee Maker.

Wool Growers

If you are in need of the Government Sheep tags, contact:    Ontario Sheep Farmers

                        130 Malcolm Road, Guelph

                        OntarioN1K 1B1

                        Telephone:  519-836-0043

                        Fax: 519-836-2531

                        www.OntarioSheep.org

Free for the Taking   

“The Messenger”  that is mailed to us regularly listing various topics of interest for those in the Sheep business.

Feed Products

        to Help Maintain Health

Kid/Lamb Colostrum

For Goats           

16% Just Kidding (Dry Dairy Goat Ration Pellet

20% Kid Goat Starter Ration (0% ECP) Pellet

17% Goat Developer

15% Billy Goat Gro-Finisher Ration Pellet

Dairy Goat Mineral

For Sheep 

16% Lamb Starter Ration with Bovatec .66% ECP

16% Lamb Starter Ration (No Bovatec)

35% Sheep Supplement (200) (3.3% ECP)

Premium Sheep Mineral