Maple producers on bug alert
By John Muggeridge
Forget the millennium bug. Canadian food inspection officials are warning maple producers to keep a sharp lookout for a stowaway Chinese beetle that could sap their $100-million industry.It's called the Asian long-horned beetle and it was discovered last June in a Waterloo, Ont., warehouse in a crate shipped from China. Guelph-based Canadian Food Inspection Agency program officer for plant protection Ken Marchant recognized the 1G-inch beady-eyed black beetle with white spots on the body and long antennae as the same species that has already devastated urban hardwoods in Chicago and New York.
Hitchhiking from China in wooden shipping crates, the beetle is "really hammering Manitoba, Norway and silver maples," says Marchant. Both adult beetles and larvae chew half-inch holes into the trunk, roots and branches, cutting off the tree's vascular system and eventually killing it.
"This would be very serious if it got into Canada and would pose an extreme risk to woodlots and maple sugar operations," says Marchant. The bug is harmless to humans but impervious to insecticides. The only way to eradicate it is to destroy the tree.
Growers should be on the lookout for the beetle's telltale signs, including large half-inch exit holes on the trunk resembling gunshot wounds, any bleeding in the upper part of the tree, piles of sawdust on the ground or in the crotches, fermenting of sap in the summertime, with frothing, and any unusual presence of moths, butterflies or wasps feeding on the sap.
CFIA launched an exhaustive investigation following the discovery and so far has come up empty, says Marchant: "We're working on keeping it out. Exclusion is the key to success. If it is found, early detection will make the difference between success and failure."
The agency is also requiring all solid wood cargo crating from
China to be
heat or chemically treated. CFIA says the beetle is one of a
growing number
of potentially destructive foreign insects threatening Canada's
forests and
crops, including Asian gypsy moth, Japanese long-horned beetle
and the
European spruce bark beetle.
Farmers who think they have sighted an Asian longhorn beetle
should call
Marchant at (519) 837-9400, ext. 2111.
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Climate change or changing climate?
A year has passed since the infamous Ice Storm '98, and its
imprint is
still clearly stamped on the minds and account ledgers of many
inhabitants
of eastern Ontario, western Quebec and upstate New York.
The storm, which dumped as much as 100 mm of freezing rain on some parts of the region between Jan. 3 and 10, has already generated $1.4 billion in Canadian insurance claims, and more are expected. Uninsured losses, social and health impacts, and the destruction of millions of trees further add to the magnitude of the disaster.
Why - coming on the heels of the Saguenay flood in 1996 and the Red River flood of 1997 - have we experienced so many weather disasters in the last few years? The ice storm - like almost all severe weather disasters - was not caused by one single factor but by the coincident occurrence of several very different and unusual weather conditions.
The first factor was the intense El Nino conditions of the 1997-98 winter. During December, these conditions, under the influence of a strong high pressure system over North America, caused a continuous flow of very moist air across the southern U.S. states and out over the Atlantic Ocean.
While this resulted in serious flooding in the U.S., it left southern Canada warmer and drier than normal. However, in early January, that warm, moist flow of air over the U.S. was deflected northward into Canada, bringing with it above freezing temperatures and heavy rainfall - quite unusual for that time of year.
The second unusual condition was another strong high pressure system that started building over the sub-tropics of the North Atlantic on Jan. 3, offset by an equally strong low pressure centre southeast of Greenland. Linked to a weather phenomenon known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (or NAO), this weather pattern blocked the flow of warm, moist air crossing the U.S. from moving into the Atlantic, and hence was the cause of its northward movement into Ontario. It uncharacteristically persisted for seven days, allowing three successive weather systems to move - in quick succession - warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico into our region.
The final factor was a third high pressure system over northern Quebec that brought a flow of cold, heavy air from the north down the St. Lawrence Valley, again lasting for the entire week. As the cold air met the lighter warm air mass from the south, it slid underneath it. Rain falling from the warm air layer through this cold air in the valley cooled to sub-zero temperatures, freezing upon impact with objects on the ground.
Like the odds of throwing only sixes with the toss of a handful of dice, the probability of this combination of unusual weather conditions meeting over eastern Ontario at the same time appears, at least at first glance, to be very low. In fact, during the ice storm, media reports frequently referred to it as a once-in-a-century storm. One report even suggested it might be a one in 1,000-event. Suggestions were also made that the ice storm and other recent extreme events might be linked to a general change in climate, perhaps caused by humans.
While such possibilities cannot be excluded and need to be investigated further, more careful analyses of past weather events suggest that the ice storm may not have been quite so unusual after all. They imply that a similar event may have happened in Ontario in 1933, with other significant but somewhat less intense ice storms in years such as 1929, 1942 and 1959.
However, decades ago Ontarians were also much less vulnerable to the effects of an intense winter storm. With homes heated by wood, cows milked by hand, horses as an optional transportation mode, and cold cellars and pantries filled with preserves, farmers were much more independent than they are today.
In many respects our modern society's increasing dependence on expensive equipment, on electrical power and on just-on-time delivery systems has itself become a direct contributor to the magnitude of the disaster caused by the ice storm. Some climatologists refer to that as becoming "mal-adapted" to our climate and its variability.
Food for thought!
Henry Hengeveld is a science adviser on climate change,
Environment Canada
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By STEVE MAXWELL
Noticed a surge in interest in energy self-reliance? With memories of last winter's ice storm still fresh - and the possibility of power disruptions arising from the Y2K bug a frequent news item - more and more people are re-examining their dependency on the grid. Farmers know that access to electricity is about much more than convenience.
Why a portable?
Portable generators make it easy to bring power to small job
sites,
offering lower fuel consumption per watt of electricity than any
other
generator style. Who wants to hitch up a fuel-hungry
pto-generator just to
screw down some new steel on the hay barn? Good portables are
quiet,
well-behaved and include features you won't find on large,
tractor-driven
units.
Choosing one to fit your farm
Like all generators, portables are rated in watts of output, the
same
measure used to gauge the power consumption of light bulbs and
appliances.
Generators that can be carried by one or two people typically
offer 3,500
to 5,000 watts of power - an ideal size for many farm jobs.
A 5,000-watt unit will provide basic household lighting (500 watts), energize a well pump (800 watts), heat a toaster oven (1,500 watts), power your fridge (1,000 watts), and operate the thermostat and blower on your wood or oil furnace (1,000 watts).
Tallying hand-held power tool requirements is a little different with appliances because tools are usually rated in amps of current draw, not watts. To convert amps to watts, just multiply the voltage of the tool (usually 120) by the amperage number stamped on the name-plate. But be careful. Wattage requirements of anything with a motor spike up momentarily during start-up by 200 or 300 per cent over the name-plate ratings. Your generator has to be sized for this surge load or the breaker will trip every time a bunch of things start at once. Also, keep in mind that advertised wattage outputs for generators are usually inflated. The rated numbers are typically peak output levels, not sustainable ones. Generators can safely produce only 80 per cent of their rated maximum levels for extended periods.
A portable suitable for farm use will cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Top-drawer models are quiet, sip fuel sparingly, and offer a longer service interval between oil changes because of superior motor design. Cheap generators are loud, have no smart features, guzzle fuel and require oil changes after every full day of operation because of their aluminum cylinder bores. When it comes to generators, you really do get what you pay for.
If you're interested in quality, look for a machine with overhead valves (they burn less fuel per unit of output than side-valve engines), an auto-throttle feature that cuts the engine back to an idle when no power is demanded, AC/DC outputs, and on-board voltage meters that let you monitor output and adjust it.
Getting connected
With the exception of simple, plug-in appliances, none of the
essential
electrical devices in most homes or workshops has a cord you can
plug into
a generator's outlet. So how do you get electricity from your
generator to,
say, the thermostat and blower of your furnace? Your living room
lights and
your water pump? Or the stationary tools in your workshop?
The best way is by installing a wiring system that allows power
to be fed
directly into your electrical panel to existing circuits already
buried
within walls and floors. This way you won't have to fool around
with
multiple extension cords leading outside, plus you can power all
those
essential services that are hard-wired directly into your
electrical panel.
Any hardware link to your panel must meet strict electrical code requirements that exist to protect hydro workers from electricity accidentally fed back through the grid by your generator. The code is quite clear on this. Any connection between a secondary source of power (like a generator) and your panel must be controlled by a transfer switch that allows either one source or the other to be turned on, but not both at the same time. Discuss the requirements with an electrician; you'll certainly need professional help with this installation. One useful arrangement includes a weatherproof electrical switch and port near your service meter, equipped with an outlet that accepts a cable from your generator parked nearby.
Once you've got generator power flowing into your home, select the essential circuits you need, then shut down the rest by flipping breakers off or removing fuses from the panel. Most portable generators aren't capable of powering everything in your home.
Electrical quality
Not all 120- or 240-volt electricity is created equal. Fact is,
most
portable and pto-driven generators produce electricity that's
full of power
surges and blips that can ruin sensitive electronics such as
computers and
entertainment equipment. And standard surge protector devices and
uninterruptible power supplies won't protect against the damage
caused by
generator-induced voltage variation.
Honda is the first generator manufacturer to offer a portable unit - the EX500 - designed specifically to power sensitive electronics safely.
American Power Conversion (APC) - the world's largest
manufacturer of power
protection devices - is about to launch a line of surge
protectors designed
specifically for use with generator-produced power.
Steve Maxwell is technical editor of Canadian Workshop magazine.
E-mail
him at smaxwell@onlink.net for a technical bulletin on portable
generator know-how
Show runs two weeks early
The first week in February is normally Canadian International
Farm
Equipment Show time at Mississauga's International Centre. But if
you hit
that time slot at the International Centre this year, it'll be
flatware
instead of farming at the Gift and Tableware show.
This year's 13th edition of the annual farm showcase runs two weeks early, Jan. 19-22, due to conflicts with other shows and the Louisville farm show, says CIFES show manager Lesley Nicholson.
Farmers should also note that show times have been changed: Doors open a half-hour earlier at 9 am and close an hour earlier at 4:30 pm. Otherwise, it's business as usual, as 600 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors head for the four-day event that will draw companies from as far away as Japan. Nicholson says it's wall-to-wall exhibitors at the International Centre's five halls - "We've been sold out twice" as exhibitors vie for scarce booth space, she quips. So far, a downturn in the pork industry and low grain prices have not had a noticeable effect - in fact, Nicholson notes that recent industry figures show tractor sales were up in all categories except 4WD tractors.
"Everything sounded like doom and gloom, but things aren't as bad as they thought they were going to be," she says.
This year's official show toy tractor is a John Deere Styled AR, originally produced between 1949 and 1953. A veritable luxury model of its day, the AR featured innovations such as a six-speed gearbox, electric lighting and starting, an armchair upholstered seat, and a pto option. This year CIFES is expanding its support for the Canadian Cancer Society.
As well as the quilt raffle in Hall 1, the Auctioneers
Association of
Ontario will hold daily auctions at its booth in Hall 4 to raise
money for
the cancer society. Items will be donated by exhibitors.
"The auctioneer's chatter [will be] a welcome noise given that
the money
is headed for the cancer society," says Nicholson, who has a
special
attachment to this particular charity: Her mother Dawn Morris,
who founded
the farm show, died of cancer six years ago.
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UNDER THE HOOD
By Keith Berglind
Simple tools for electrical testing
In my previous column I covered a few of the don'ts when working around on-board computers and electronic circuit boards. Now I'd like to show you the simple tools I use for all my sensitive electrical testing.
Test probe
The home-made test probe (below) is an old multimeter probe
connected to
an alligator clip. The red tube handle was opened up, and a small
red LED
(light emiting diode) was wired in series inside the handle. A
small hole
in the handle lets the LED lie outside, where it is insulated and
held in
place with a short piece of heat-shrink tubing.
The LED has a holder and built-in resistor (available at Radio Shack, part number 276-84, for $2.99) What's important is that this diode is rated at 12VDC, and 15mA. That's a very small amount of current to put into a system, and I'm told it will not damage sensitive components. I believe you could use more current, but this LED is available at the right price, so why risk it?
Since the LED is a diode (a one-way device), it lights only when connected to the right polarity. So, when connecting the LED, get the polarity right. This tester will only light up when the clip is on a negative source and the test probe touches a positive voltage source. This makes it easy to search out hot wires and terminals.
When using this tester, I put the clip on a good ground, then use the tip to probe for 12 volt power.
Grounding out
One of the biggest problems with a test probe, multimeter or
other test
light is finding a good ground. Today there are so many plastic
parts under
vehicle dash boards and inside tractor cabs that you can never be
sure your
test clip is grounded.
My latest solution to this problem is below. I've taken a standard cigarette lighter attachment and added a short lead ending in an alligator clip. Here I have both a good ground and a 12-volt source. The alligator clip is grounded at the cigarette lighter attachment, not connected to the centre tip.
The second wire is attached to the tip and becomes the hot lead at the alligator clip. This hot lead comes out through the black handle of the clip and is soldered in a bare metal ring around the clip handle. I use this hot point as a source of 12-volt power for some tests. If I need 12-volt power, it's easy to clip on here, rather that trying to find a 12-volt source under the dash.
Circuit breaker
I was always blowing fuses while working on electrical problems,
so I
built this simple circuit breaker (above) to plug into the fuse
protecting
the circuit I'm working on.
All I've done is connect a 15-amp circuit breaker to a burnt-out fuse. Just install in place of the fuse, and if you make a slip the breaker will click the circuit open before you do much damage.
You can buy a similar "manufactured" version in many automotive parts stores for about $3.
This is also used to temporarily replace fuses that blow occasionally and for no apparent reason. Sometimes you have to run the unit for hours or days before the situation repeats itself. Take the unit for a test ride and listen for the circuit breaker to click. Sometimes you'll go for weeks before the breaker clicks out.
On-the-job example
If I were trying to trace a dead light
circuit in the cab of a truck, here are the steps I'd follow:
1. Plug the adaptor into the cigarette lighter.Anytime the little light glows red, you have touched 12 volts. Remember: The purpose of this tool is to have a test light that will not draw a lot of current and damage any sensitive parts. I use this to freely probe sensors and wiring harnesses for electronic fuel injection and electronic ignition trouble shooting.
2. Connect the two alligator clips of the test probe and the ground tool to ground the little test light.
3. Probe with the tip, tracing the hot and dead circuits and wires.
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