OT - Lime

Had the mother load of lime brought in and spread on my hay fields. Big truck with spreader on back. Being broadcast, the application is somewhat streaky, heavier concentration centered behind the truck and lightens up as the distance from the truck throws - as expected. To counter this, the driver overlapped the edges to achieve some evenness. However still somewhat streaky.

This lime was like fine powder, no real granuals - almost like baby powder. The driver did a good job IMHO, but not sure broadcasting this stuff is the most efficient/even spreading that can be done. But it is practical and I got what every farmer the coop puts down for everyone else.

Maintaining the PH. We are making hay and once we get our PH up to snuff, I don't see anymore "mother loads" but maintenance sized loads.

Just curious of how often you reapply lime and in what tonnage per acre in your hay field?

With maintenance application, what is the pros/cons of using an old drop spreader (with provisions on the auger)) to put down lime. I think I can put down lime at a lower cost if I can do it myself and with a drop spreader, I'd have what I think a more even/measurable application.

12-13 acres today, up to 30ish in a few years.

Back on the day, when all the farmer had was a drop spreader, how did they make out?

Any advice, tips - much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

My last soil samples recommended about a ton per acre on the hay ground, I waited until the grape vineyard needed about the same and ordered the semi loads. I rented a smaller pull-behind spreader from the co-op for the grapes and my neighbor has a BIG one, so he did the open ground last Fall when he was spreading his fields. We used hi-calcium lime as recommended, looks like Creme of Wheat size. I have used pelletized lime mixed with fertilizer on the hay fields, usually putting on potash and lime after first cutting is off of the alfalfa. We have a drop spreader for in the grapes, but use the spinner type since you can cover 3-5 rows per pass.

The fine, powder like lime is good for a fast result but the granular , looks like fine crushed stone, will last for several years and helps keep the PH level at the best level.

I can buy lime at the nearest quarry for around $18 a ton haul it to my farm and spread it myself or hire it spread for around $35 a ton this is high Cal,high Mag lime.By the time I get it hauled and spread the lime myself I'm ahead to have it truck hauled and spread.Plus loading lime with a loader in a drop spreader is nasty work.Also many drop spreaders just will not spread powdered lime very well unless its extremely dry and much of the time what you get from the quarry has a good amount of moisture for many reasons one reason is water is cheap and if the quarry can sell water for the price of lime they're making good $$$.I do haul some lime in and spread it myself for small hard to get to fields or for a lime that I want from a certain quarry.Have a soil test done to determine which type lime you need and how much.State of VA issues an analysis on all quarry products.Roughly speaking looking at the pictures of your hay fields in your past postings if they were mine I'd apply 2 tons per acre two years in a row and then see how it works.Also you might want to look at a product like Planters II to mineralize your soil.If you really want to get serious about your soil go to Kinsey Ag services for one of the best soil tests/analysis you can buy.

We don't need lime here, some of my dirt is 8ph...... My low stuff is 6.2. Half the rocks here are limestone......

I hear some lime is slow release, over 5 years; some is fast mostly in a year used up; some soil needs a little, some needs a lot.

I hear if you need a lot, its best to not do it all at once?

Kinda depends where your soil is at, and which version of lime you used, as to what to do from here on.

Paul

I've been spreading pelletized lime. It's more expensive than powedered, but also has a higher RNV than all of our local quarries powedered lime. It's bagged and I can spread it with a funnel spreader without any issue. Works for us pretty well.

Did you test your soils ph? Until you do you have no idea how much lime you will need. I tested my soil years ago and the result called for 12 tons/acre. I thought this was a little high so I had 6 ton/acre put on. About 4-5 years later I had it tested again. This time it called for 6 tons/acre, so that's what I had put on.

Yep - definitely working off a soil test.

Not trying to hijack the thread but what kind of costs for pelletized lime (called pel-lime by the outfits selling here in SE Arkansas) are you all seeing. Between $350 and $400 a ton is what I have been quoted.

Mine was $45/ton delivered and spread. I had quotes for as much as $80. My biggest obstacle is my location - far from anything.

Bill,

I bought calcitic lime from Vulcan materials near Staunton for 11/ton about two years ago. They keep it in a shed and it was very dry. I spread it with an old Ezee flow drop spreader. The accuracy is great and you don't lose lime due to wind. This works great for a small acreage areas as I get more land cleared.

I have heard putting chicken litter on with lime will help speed up the brake down of the lime, to get the ph up to snuff faster! Something to look into.

Pelletized lime here in East Ky is between $179 and $200 a ton, at the fertilizer store. since it's bagged I just pick it up and spread it myself.

Bill, Contact the county extension agent for a soil sample kit, you mail it where they say and VSU or Va Tech will test the soil and tell you how much lime and fert you need, as well as trace elements. The test is free except for the postage to mail the sample. Also, I would not worry about the spreading being uneven, it is even enough to adjust the soil ph.

I worked with an extension agent and had a soil sample analyzed at Va Tech - that's the measure for all my fertilizer/lime application.

Just trying to get a feel for what tons/pounds to acre I'm looking at going forward from a maintenance standpoint vs a total rebuild like I'm doing now. Even then I'll rely on a soil sample(s).

Also curious if a drop spreader will suffice.

Thanks!
Bill

All drop spreaders are not created equal,I've tried several and the New Holland is by far the best I've tried but they are getting pretty hard to come by.

Here in central IL, water and sewer plants have lime when they clean out the pits. It reacts fast but doesn't last long. Some spray it on and others dump it and let it air out, then spread it dry. ADM has fly ash from the generator plants - coal, lime and used tires.

I have got lime from our local Co-op. They load a spreader and deliver it with about 7 tons on it. That's about all my JD D will handle on soft ground. Spreader sometimes takes a little work to get it feeding easily, but nothing like standing on a running board working all afternoon on my brothers old lime spreader. I always set the spreader for 1/2 the amount and cross the field--lots more even and doesn't take long.

Around here most guys are not using lime anymore. Instead they get wood ash from wood fired electrical generating plants. The ash itself is free, but you have to pay for the hauling, which is a lot less than the lime because the ash is a lot nearer. The time required is considerable though, because the application rate is a lot higher for the ash. It is usually applied with a manure spreader, and a rep from the company that handles it for the plants comes out and helps you to calibrate your spreader. The same guy takes care of the paperwork for you for permits from the state to apply it.