By Fred Groves
The past and present definitely met the future at this year’s Essex County Plowing Match.
Held August 1 on the farm of Ian and Shaundra Ruston in Comber, the annual tradition certainly highlighted farming techniques through several decades.
Ruston demonstrated his drone, which sprays fields, while during the match itself, one of the entrants made the best work with his 1941 Farmall tractor complete with studded steel wheels.
“It’s a long-time tradition to have this in Essex County. It’s a friendly competition between the plowmen. You get some bragging rights and a little prize money,” said Essex County Plowmen’s Association President Brian Stirling.
There were a total of 14 classes that participants of all ages could enter, including small tractor, antique, drag plow, mounted plow, an open class for horses, and the always popular Queen of the Furrow.
One of the displays was a rollover plough brought by Sterling’s brother Rob.
“The way he sets that plow is different. It’s a whole different concept and interesting to watch,” said Brian Stirling.
Prize money ranged from $75.00 for first place down to $50.00, but as Stirling indicated, it is about supporting each competitor, regardless of experience or expertise. Points are accumulated if a plowman goes to more than one event in Ontario and, if they get enough, can qualify for the International Plowing Match.
This year the IPM is being held Sept. 22-26 in Bruce County’s Walkerton.
“Some of us, if you are a real diehard, might hit eight matches across the province.”
At the Comber event, Stirling said there was one entrant that came from the Hamilton-area in a quest for some much-desired points.
Points are awarded for straightness and in the tractor classes, the crown of the furrow had to consist of four rounds for two furrow plows and three rounds for three or more furrow plows. A maximum of three marking stakes can be used for guidance.
The day before the Essex County Plowmen’s Association had a junior match for those younger enthusiasts and Stirling said there is hope to have a 4-H group in the future.
While the plowmen and women were busy on the field, Ian Ruston was at the back of his farm proudly showing the future of farming – spraying with a drone.
“It does all the spraying on its own. Any objects like trees, it sees that and stops so it won’t hit it. If it sees hydro lines (which there are on this farm), it stops and tells you how to avoid it,” explained Ruston.
He said that his particular drone can work as high as 20’ in the air and has a spraying width of up to 36’.
“This is another tool. An advantage is that if it’s wet, you can still apply without wrecking the ground.”
Ruston said the drone is not to replace the conventional sprayer but rather be an additional tool. He had to get a license from Transport Canada and, in June, was approved by Health Canada, which noted that a drone applying is no different than a plane or helicopter doing the work.
“It’s definitely the future. I think in time you are going to see these get a lot bigger and be able to apply a lot more to match the volume a conventional unit can do.”