tdm69
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by tdm69 on May 31, 2008 14:03:39 GMT -5
I learned something about lime yesterday from a faithful reader of my site who happens to be a farmer. Our local ag service runs around $88 a ton. I've seen other discussions in the forums about it and I think the cheapest I seen was around $40 a ton. Well turns out you can buy the same lime straight from the quarry, so I called my local quarry and I can get it for $3 a ton. THAT'S RIGHT $3 A TON !!!! Now that really helps a joe smoe like me at getting into food plots.
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on May 31, 2008 23:22:24 GMT -5
But your ag service probably either spreads it for you at that price, or will loan you a spreader.
$3/ton is a big savings (that's cheap, even for around here- limestone country), but it doesn't get you an easy way to spread it....
|
|
tdm69
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by tdm69 on Jun 1, 2008 0:28:30 GMT -5
Nope that's just the price of the lime at both places. You don't get it hauled or spread for that from either. I have small secluded spots that a spreader can't get to anyways and would have to do that myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jun 1, 2008 8:15:40 GMT -5
I was wondering about spreading it. Would a standard rotary spreader for fertilizers work ?
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on Jun 1, 2008 9:29:44 GMT -5
It should, but you'll wear yourself out in no time.  |
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jun 1, 2008 19:30:58 GMT -5
It's a 175 lb. capacity pull behind. I didn't know if the lime would just ball up in the bottom of the hopper or not. I suppose the key would be getting it as dry as possible. I might try it this fall.
|
|
tdm69
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by tdm69 on Jun 1, 2008 21:35:00 GMT -5
I'm using a walk behind broadcast spreader for an acre and a half. That's what was recommended to me. You shouldn't get lime wet it should be dry, but I guess getting it from the quarry after it has rained almost everyday , I may have a problem with that.
|
|
|
|
Post by schall53 on Jun 2, 2008 7:24:34 GMT -5
LIME IS USUALLY WET BY IT'S NATURE. IT IS MADE BY CRUSHING LIMESTONE. THEN THE STONE IS WASHED AND SORTED BY SIZE OF THE STONE, THE AG LIME IS THE FINE POWDER OR DUST THAT IS WASHED OUT.
|
|
|
|
Post by hornharvester on Jun 2, 2008 9:26:23 GMT -5
If you get Ag lime from a pit you need to spread it out and let it dry. If you don't you are in for a lot of work. If you spreader has a stirring bar or mixing bar inside it helps other wise it plugs up. If the lime is a little wet it plugs up anyway. For small plots use palletized lime. Its a little more money but way easier to apply. Ag lime will last longer but unless you have a spreader made for lime its harder to apply.
Ive got a regular Ag lime spreader thats 10-12 ft wide and holds 500-600 lbs. It has a drive wheel that attachés to a stirring bar that runes the length of the spreader. It kind of looks like a grain drill. The last time I used it the pit delivered lime that was damp. I let it set for a couple weeks and used a Bob Cat to load it. What a head-ace it was to spread. I had to stop every 20-30 ft and unplug it. h.h.
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jun 2, 2008 14:22:51 GMT -5
I suspected the ag lime from the pit might require a specialized spreader, but the people there didn't have that answer for me, so thanks for the reply h.h. Just a tip..... that stuff is stockpiled months in advance, so if you ask real nice, or maybe buy the loader man a cold drink, he'll dig into the pile and find some dry for you and save you some trouble. Even though I don't have the right equipment, I'll probably try it this fall regardless, as I run materials out of the pit anyway and I'll only be out a few bucks if it's not doable with what I have.
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on Jun 2, 2008 21:20:03 GMT -5
The stuff in the middle will be the wettest in the pile. You want the loader to scrape off the lime from the very outside of the pile. Last year on the second week of June (the 14th, I think), I went to the gravel pit to pick up some gravel. The loader dug into the pile- he pulled out snow! |
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jun 3, 2008 0:08:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice on the farming practices. I'll let the lessons on quarrying and material handling slide by though, as that's something I happen to know quite a bit about after having spent the last 35 years doing it. |
|
|
|
Post by danf on Jun 3, 2008 6:14:50 GMT -5
You've got a few years on me there. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by hornharvester on Jun 3, 2008 10:04:56 GMT -5
I suspected the Ag lime from the pit might require a specialized spreader, but the people there didn't have that answer for me, so thanks for the reply h.h. Just a tip..... that stuff is stockpiled months in advance, so if you ask real nice, or maybe buy the loader man a cold drink, he'll dig into the pile and find some dry for you and save you some trouble. Even though I don't have the right equipment, I'll probably try it this fall regardless, as I run materials out of the pit anyway and I'll only be out a few bucks if it's not doable with what I have. Hux, The lime spreader I have is called a drop spreader. It looks works like a grain drill. The also have the kind that fits on a three point hitch and holds about 300 lb. As long as the lime is good and dry both of these work fine. Most of the Ag lime is put on by truck with a conveyor system that pulls the lime into the spreader wheel, pretty much like what a hyway salt truck has. If you got some way to load it other than shoveling by hand and a spreader you can get it done. Ag lime lasts longer because the pieces are all different sizes and dissolve at different rates. Ag lime will last 4-5 years where pelletized lime last only 3-4 months because it dissolves very quickly. Up here in the North East most of the time the correct application rate for our soil is 2 tons per acre. h.h. |
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jun 3, 2008 18:32:34 GMT -5
I've only got about 1/3 acre linear plot planted on the lane that goes to the back end of my property, so if it's a little bit of a struggle with the spreader I have, I won't be killing myself. The loader I have is a 1 1/2 yd. bucket though, so I'll be doing some shoveling. The mix I planted here has done pretty well without liming but it should make the plants more palatable to the deer according to what I've read. Anyway, I'll give it a try because I'll need to replant as the planting I have now is on it's third year and should go downhill after this season.
|
|
