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Natural Fertilizer on Hayfield Ideas

J

jacksonduper

Member
I make hay on a property where the owners do not want any commercial fertilizers used. We need to get some nutrients into the soil this fall. I was wondering what my options would be. I'm located in Southern Wisconsin and I may have access to pellet chicken litter this fall. A fire at the egg farm has put that on hold right now. What are my other options to increase/keep hay production.

Joe
 
When I clean my corrals I stockpile it for a few years to let it rot down then spread it on the hayfield and pastures.

A lot less material to move and spread once it rots down and you get benefit from it the year you apply it versus waiting for fresh manure to decompose.

I put down about 15 ton an acre on of what basically looks like good black topsoil.

After application I still have to pick rocks and run around with the harrows, to cut down on that I try to spread enough to last a few years.



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I would have the soil tested-here in KY our extension office is a part of the University of KY, and they will help you determine what your soil needs. The only cost to you would be the soil test(maybe$5-$7). And do it now, so you apply ag lime in the fall so it can break down and work over the winter. Lime(ph) is very important and is what makes other fertilizers work. Your extension agent can tell you the nutrient value of different organic fertilizers(manure), how much to apply, maybe where to get it,(and also the lime). Its basically free advice, and they seem to enjoy helping, in my experience. Mark.
 
If you actually want to do that, you're better off buying whole soybeans and grinding them, then spread them on the fields. There are fish-based fertilizers out there, and bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, but it's all expensive. 'here' we have access to compost from the mushroom barns. Some people say it's bad to use, but I've had success with it . . . after it ages, not right out of the barn. You need a soil test to know exactly what's missing and what isn't. Do you have a use for a legume in the hay? Drilling in some alfalfa will help with nitrogen. Got to get pH, P and K levels right with materials that are acceptable to the landowners, though.
 
I dont know exactly what you mean by commercial fertilizer. Chicken litter pellets must be made for commercial purpose I should think. Some organic farmers where I am use a product called vinasse. It is a byproduct of the ethanol or sugar industry. Might be worth trying to find out if that is available where you are.
 
The neighbor I custom organic farm for has
me spread chicken litter pellets on their
farm. I just assumed they came from
organic chicken farm but maybe not. They
order them and have them trucked in on
semis so I don't really know where they
come from.
 
About all that's used around here is liquid poop from the treatment plant. Next county over is chicken manure because they have so many chicken houses.
 
(quoted from post at 17:53:45 08/22/21) Think I could borrow that rig?
Click to expand...

We could probably work something out but 800+ miles and an international border kind of make it a little tough.
 
Education of the landowner would be my first step . Everyone is in love organic farming yet if you asked them to give you a reason they couldnt other than well read on Facebook or someone said .
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