March 2001

Identity preserved farming opens new markets

by KEN BENNETT

Courtland Ontario farmer George Robinson was honing the essential skills of Identity Preserved farming before the term was even defined. Seed companies and grain contractors have gravitated readily toward Robinson and farmers like him because they are helping define this new paradigm in grain production.

The common ground shared by these contractors and growers is a dedication to be accountable for the specifications of their product as it propagates from seed to field to food. It is a pattern that may be new to crop production but is seen in many other industries, particularly manufacturing. This goes a long way to explaining Robinson=s approach to farming since he is a hybrid in his own right. For some 30 years he has been repairing, innovating and inventing farm equipment in his successful machine shop business. It is only in the last decade that he has branched out into cropping as an extension of his business. He brings to farming the same strategies of precision already inherent in his machine shop and that means he welcomes higher standards in agriculture that reap premiums.

There comes a time when customers become very specific about the product they want to buy. If a food producer finds a certain flavour of wheat that appeals to consumers, they do not want just any wheat, they want that wheat -- every time. They may want a certain soybean with higher protein. They may require corn with a certain moisture, colour, or with no genetic modification. Buyers have their own reasons and, if willing to pay, deserve exacting producers. This is a worldview that has been quickly changing the face of the grain industry over the last decade.

Ralph Brown has been involved with methods of grain handling and storage for over 30 years and has been mindful of the changes. Before becoming a professor and corn quality researcher at the University of Guelph, Brown spent several years working and managing the Norfolk Cooperative elevator. He notes that it was common practice for an elevator to blend many different sources of a particular grain in order to increase the overall quality and improve profitability. Grains traditionally have been thought of as a commodity without identity. The emphasis is now on segregating and identifying rather than aggregating in order to improve quality, he says.

Brown sees this as a general approach that will open markets to specialization industries. For instance, the food grade corn industry is watching closely for possible assurances with respect to colour, moisture content, drying methods and absence of mycotoxins. Brown has also been working closely with George Robinson researching storage and marketing of high moisture corn. He sees this as a type of identity preservation, since it has to be treated differently from dried corn.

Brown says that it is appropriate in an information age for a new layer of information to be added to crop production. The key to tracking this knowledge is the development of a good record keeping and sample testing system.

Murray Walker sees the value of this from the perspective of both the grower and buyer. He is a field representative for Wheatley Elevators Ltd. in Southwestern Ontario and emphasises that the field inspections and checklists he supervises are meant to help prevent rejection of crops. He has watched the demand for some Identity Preserved soybeans increase tenfold in the last three years and knows this kind of development requires a strong base of repeat growers.

Walker's ability to maintain a good clientele of growers hinges on providing farmers with strong support with their compliance to standards such as equipment cleaning. This has been very compatible with Robinson=s style. Vacuuming out every grain from his seed drill, combine and bins after use was something he had been doing anyway in order to prevent insect and rodent infestations.

That aside, he considers the premium (approximately 50 per cent above the current board price) well worth an afternoon of cleaning. While he accepts the zero tolerance criteria for rejection of his soybeans, he believes in staying one step ahead when it comes to tracking the integrity of his crop. Contamination of the grain can potentially happen anywhere, starting at the seed distributor and ending with the delivery truck. Additional precautions for him include setting aside a small sample with the tag from each bag of seed planted and a close inspection of each delivery truck before it is loaded.

In the end, a zero tolerance system may seem overly stringent to some, but it can also be viewed as evidence of a system we can all trust.BF

© copyright 2001 AgMedia Co-operative Inc..

back

March 2001

Commodity groups uneasy about consolidated food safety legislation

OMAFRA's intention to amalgamate seven statutes into one is a "step backwards" in the eyes of the dairy industry, and gets mixed reviews from other sources

by DON STONEMAN

The Ontario agriculture ministry is considering consolidating all of the province's food safety legislation under one statute. Not all the commodity sectors are willing.

The dairy industry wants a bye on the proposal, citing it as a "step backwards." The beef industry wonders where the resources will come from to inspect facilities not currently under provincial jurisdiction. At the same time, there is a sense of urgency as other provinces move ahead with their own food safety programs.

The province proposes to amalgamate seven acts under one statute. The Milk Act, the Meat Inspection Act, Livestock and Livestock Products Act, Edible Oil Products Act, Dead Animal Disposal Act, Farm Products Act, and the Grades and Sales Act, are currently enforced by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The agriculture ministry proposes to add in the Fish Inspection Act, currently a Ministry of Natural Resources responsibility.

At the moment, the various acts, which have been passed by the Legislature, have many specific provisions in them. Each statute specifies a standard or what the practice is that is being regulated.

The single statute that is proposed is described as being "enabling" in that it would give the Lieutenant Governor in Council (the provincial Cabinet) sweeping authority to make regulations in many areas. The ministry would then spell out specific rules on issues as diverse as dead animal disposal, meat inspection, and safety rules for milk products and cheese. The province says it will be able to quickly react to a safety concern such as raspberries that make people sick or animals being disposed of improperly.

Dairy Farmers of Ontario thinks the changes are a great idea for other commodities, but says the Farm Products Marketing Commission already sets out dairy regulations and food safety issues don't have to go to Cabinet. "We've got the waterfront covered," says John Karn, secretary to the board. "We are the one commodity that has all these standards and regulations in place. We prefer to have all of our legislative authority covered by one statute," Karn says.

Regulative authority and quality authority for the dairy industry has been under one statute since 1995. "It works well," Karn says. "The consultative paper even refers to our statute as the model to follow."

DFO is also a little puzzled by the way that the consultation process is being handled. "The consultative paper says they'd been thinking about it for two years," notes Karn. "This amazed us. We weren't advised until November."

Graeme Hedley, executive vice-president of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, says "there is some inherent logic" in moving the food safety legislation from six or seven acts into one.

However, Hedley warns that it will be costly to inspect the hundreds of meat-cutting facilities that aren't currently under provincial jurisdiction and are now under the jurisdiction of the public health units.

"There are a huge number of these establishments. It will require some human resources to do that," he says.

There's also a question of how quality assurance programs will be handled. Currently the industry is paying for them and they are voluntary. Hedley says things are changing fast. He thinks that in a couple of years it may be impossible to market beef to a major packer unless a producer has taken part in such a program. People are asking for some kind of body to certify a voluntary program, he says, and train the people who go out and do the audits. That body may be necessary to meet export standards.

The Ontario Cattle Feeders Association and the OCA are developing a Corn Fed Beef program, which is expected to be running later this year. The Ontario Veal Association already has a Quality Assurance program in place.

Chicken Farmers of Ontario is willing to work with the province on this, says John Slot of Moorefield, a board member and representative to the national agency. He says a national food safety plan for chicken is in the late stages of development and should be running by the end of the year.

Gwen Zellen, director of the food safety systems development branch, says the ministry will analyze the replies from commodity groups to see if the changes should be made. She notes that the proposal "isn't a given. We are consulting with stakeholders."

Meanwhile, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is anxious to get past the issue of amalgamation of food safety laws and on to dealing with national issues, says its president, Jack Wilkinson. He is concerned because the provinces appear each to have gone their own way in creating HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) programs for food quality. Wilkinson blames the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for being tardy in putting together a program. As a result, he says each province has created its own standard.

What's needed, he says, is a system that is seamless from farm to retailer. "If every province has its own standard or base where it is starting from, then the national program will fall apart," Wilkinson predicts. "This could cause a great, big international trade problem."

Being able to advertise correctly for domestic and international sales "is what it's all about, " Wilkinson argues. He hopes that a federal, provincial and territorial trade meeting this winter will help bring the food safety issue back on track. BF

© copyright 2001AgMedia Co-operative Inc..


back

March 2001

Check those glowplugs for correct diesel hard starting

by Keith Berglind

If you're reduced to using a block heater or starting fluid, even on warm days, it's time to check the glowplug operation

by KEITH BERGLIND

Glowplugs are the most common cold-start device for diesel engines. But, being a small, simple electrical device, they are prone to failure. And since the V-8 diesel in your pick-up has eight glowplugs, how do you know when first one, then another fails? Do you just put up with an engine that gets harder and harder to start?

Thankfully, glowplugs are fairly easy to check and replace. The parts market has become so large that the after-market parts suppliers routinely stock them, often offering a choice of after-market brand names. For example, I recently went searching for a full set of glowplugs for a Ford/IHC 6.9L diesel, and in the first two phone calls to suppliers I was offered a choice of Bosch, CAV, AC and Champion brands, with very little difference in price.

There are two parts to the glowplug repair job - first, testing the glowplugs in the engine and, second, checking the timing control system.

The first symptom of glowplug failure is, of course, hard starting. If you're reduced to plugging in the block heater or to using starting fluid, even on warm days, it's time to check the glowplug operation. I prefer to pull the wires from each glowplug and use an ohmmeter to check the internal electrical resistance between the post and the engine block. For the Ford/IHC engine, the ohmmeter reading should be just under one ohm. When you get a reading of zero, the plug is burned out. When the reading is high (10-20 ohms), it is shorted out inside. Neither glowplug will glow and heat up. To get an exact value for your test, measuring a new glowplug is a lot faster than trying to find a shop manual with specifications.

Next, once the wires are off the plugs, I disconnect the individual heavy feed wires from the relay on the fender and check each wire for continuity and resistance. It's not unusual to find a broken wire, possibly caused by a shorted glowplug.

Another method is to engage the relay with a jumper wire, then test each wire end for proper voltage. Be sure to remove the jumper wire before connecting the glowplugs. When the glowplugs stay energized, they quickly burn out.

I know good mechanics who prefer to remove the glowplugs and test them on the bench with a battery. This is okay for mechanics who are careful and know what they're doing. The idea is to see if it "lights-up" and glows. A good test, when done right.

One concern is the voltage rating of the glowplug. We tend to think everything on these engines is going to be 12-volts. Not so. Before testing any glowplug, clean off the base and look for a voltage rating. The Ford/IHC Glowplugs usually are stamped 11.5 volts.

If the system is older, and has a resistor in the feed line, the rating may be 9.5 volts. So, if you put these on the bench and connect to a fully charged battery (13.2 volts), your glowplug may "light-up" rather dramatically. That's why I don't like this bench test.

A common farm tractor resistor was located on the dash. There was a one-inch diameter cover with holes. In behind, you could see the resistor coils that started to glow when the pre-heat circuit was engaged. When the device was glowing red, the engine glowplug was supposed to be hot, and it was time to hit the starter button. This was a series circuit, so if the wire broke, or the glowplug died, the dash unit didn't heat up. The new diesels in our pick-ups are timed for about 11 seconds. When the red light goes out, engage the starter. Here's where we need some information from the owner. When there is a failure of the timer-controller system, the warm-up time may be wrong. Too short and the engine doesn't start. Too long and the glowplugs might burn out. Sometimes the timer will engage again after the engine starts. If this lasts for only a second or two, it hardly justifies replacing the very expensive timer device.

There are mechanics who believe that as each glowplug burns out, the voltage line loss is reduced so each remaining glowplug now gets a higher voltage, causing the remaining few to burn out faster. You're free to debate that theory with your friends.

I like to do the in-place check once a year. Any glowplug with a bad ohmmeter reading gets replaced. Any glowplug that tests wrong (high or low) should remain disconnected until it's changed. The last thing I want is to have the tip come off and go through the engine. I keep a couple of spares on hand.

One of my favourite glowplugs is the combination diesel fuel-electric element unit used on Volvo truck, tractor and forestry engines. A little 1/4-cup container is mounted just above a large electric glowplug at the inlet to the intake manifold. When the pre-heat element is energized, a small valve also lets diesel gravity feed onto the glowing element. To check the operation, you just remove the air cleaner pipe and watch for smoke and flames.

Finally, the answer to the first repair question I raised at the beginning of this article is: as soon as you suspect the diesel isn't starting right, check those glowplugs. BF

© copyright 2001AgMedia Co-operative Inc..


back

March 2001

Keep your hydraulic systems free of contamination

Though incredibly small, those tiny particles of metal or dust can play havoc with your equipment if you don't take adequate precautions

by RALPH WINFIELD

Equipment manufacturers and oil companies both spend considerable time and money to provide us with hydraulic systems that are clean and free of contaminants. What they expect of us is to keep them clean, and that can be a significant challenge.

With newer hydraulic systems, we must be concerned about particles that are two to 10 microns (µ) in diameter. Those little pieces of metal or other particulate material can be abrasive and grind away at machined surfaces in pumps and valves, causing more particles to be formed. They can also cause sticking of control and relief valves, which might cause slow or erratic machine operation.

First, let us put the size of these particles in perspective. If we could see pieces one micron in diameter, we could put over 25,000 of them in a one-inch space. With 10µ particles, more than 2,500 of them could be placed side by side in that one-inch space. Needless to say, we cannot see or feel particles of this size in hydraulic fluid. We do, however, expect a good filter to collect a high percentage of these particles on each pass through it. Thus, a normal manufacturer request is to change the filter after the first 25-100 hours of machine operation. This is intended to remove as much as possible of the contaminant load that was present in new components, including the oil, or generated during assembly.

Please do not misinterpret the need for initial contaminant removal. The manufacturer has taken every precaution possible to ensure that new components are clean and are kept clean by the use of plastic plugs in fittings and caps on lines and hoses prior to assembly.

If the system is clean initially, how do contaminants get into the hydraulic fluid? There are a number of sources. Some hydraulic systems will generate small metal particles from contacting metal surfaces in new pumps, valves or actuators (cylinders or motors).

Opening the system to add fluid or to replace a component will also allow contaminants to enter. Dust from around fill openings and from funnels and container tops often gets in. Unless filtered on the way in, new hydraulic fluids can also introduce undesirable contaminants.

With agricultural equipment, the primary source of system contaminants has to do with hydraulic cylinders. Those cylinders are extended and retracted frequently to lift and lower equipment in a dusty or dirty environment. Every dust particle or drop of material that contacts the oily cylinder rod when extended is a potential contaminant.

Only two things prevent these particles from entering. The first and primary one is the wiper seal. How often do we check the wiper seals on our hydraulic cylinders? It is the one that you can see, and it must have a complete lip pointing outward at the rod. If it is damaged, the adjacent high-pressure seal with the lip pointing inward will not prevent dirt from entering. Its sole purpose is to keep the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder.

The second mechanism that helps to prevent dirt from entering at rod seals is an anti-void or anti-cavitation check valve. It is a part of the control valve assembly for the cylinder. Its sole function is to prevent the pressure in the rod end of the cylinder from dropping below atmospheric pressure when the cylinder is being retracted (collapsed).

If the anti-cavitation valve is not functioning properly air will also be drawn into the hydraulic system around the cylinder rod. This will result in foaming fluid and spongy hydraulics, both unacceptable.

Air in a hydraulic system will cause serious erosion of metal parts in a high-pressure pump. Often referred to as cavitation damage, it can cause catastrophic failures.

Cavitation failure more often results from air entering around pump or line seals when the fluid flow to the pump is restricted by a plugged intake strainer or a collapsed supply hose.

And last but by no means insignificant is the contamination entering the hydraulic system when remote cylinders are connected. Do you carefully clean the connectors with a lint-free cloth each and every time you hook up the cultivator, planter or loader hydraulic hoses? BF
Agricultural engineer Ralph Winfield farms at Belmont in Elgin County.

© copyright 2001AgMedia Co-operative Inc..


back