Spreader Tow Behind Spreader vs 3ph

[MikePA]

I just spoke with my friendly Agway dealer concerning turning my new 3 acre parcel/lawn into horse pasture. The farmer finally harvested his corn last night with a huge JD harvester. Six lights on the front...looked like a Close Encounters of the Third Kind happening next door. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Whatever spreader I buy, I want it to spread fertilizer and seed on both the pasture and our lawn. Given our soil conditions, I'm going to be applying lime, probably 3 tons, every year. Of the three types of lime they sell (pelletized, granular, pulverized), he recommended;

1. Pelletized lime - $124.50/ton in 40 lb bags. Can be applied right before seeding. Total Cost: $373.50
2. Spreader - Tow behind spreader like the attached picture. Total Cost: $200.00
3. Seed - Horse mixture grass seed - 25 lb/acre - $52.99/25 lb bag. Total Cost: $158.97

Your thoughts about his recommendations?

 

[DAP]

Hmmm ... limeing just prior to seed? I'd be worried about the horses grazing a freshly fertilized paddock.

Perhaps my worries are baseless or you have a way to rest the fertilized paddocks before turning out your animals?

 

[MikePA]

We have, or will have, 2 pastures. The new one (2.5 acres) that needs lime and seeding and the existing one (2.0 acres) plus a lawn (.75 acres).

The horses would not be put on the new pasture until the grass is well established and not put on any pasture until 2 weeks (sound OK?) after fertilizing/lime.

The equipment I will buy has to work for both pastures plus the lawn.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...looked like a Close Encounters of the Third Kind happening next door...</font color=blue>

Gee whiz Mike... you got me all excited... I clicked on your attachment wanting to see that huge giant JD havester... but no....little tiny weenie.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[jbgard]

If you are looking for a tow behind spreader, check out a broadcast spreader, it will be a lot faster. Here is a link for Earthway, they are a little on the pricey side, but I bought a push style last year, and do 2 lawns with it, +/- 2 acres and it is a breeze. I wanted the push behind so i could get into tight areas with it. They have all sizes, and the one i have is built like a tank.

http://www.earthway-outlet.com/index.htm

 

[MikePA]

Sorry /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. I should have taken a picture. He was driving towards our house and those 6 headlights were shining through a leyland cyprus hedge, the corn stalks were casting shadows, the ominous rumble of the diesel engine....gotta go carve my mashed potatos. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[toddwulf]

Hi Mike. I've got no input on your spreader dilema 'cause I've got the same scenario you do. Seems like that spreader in your picture is awfully small if your planning on doling out 3 tons of lime as well with it. Might work allright just for the seed and fertilizer. As I understand, 2 Horses require a minimum of 4 acres. I plan to rotate grazing between 2-2 acre parcels and have yet to go visit my local feed store to get the mix. I've got time as the house is being built and should be move in time in June-ish-I hope. That gives me lot's of time to prep the earth and get it ready. Does 2 Acres/Horse sound right and what mix are you going to pasture with?

'98 NH 1920 4x4

 

[MikePA]

I've always heard 1 acre/horse, but it depends on the area of the country.

For the pelletized lime, it'd work out to 150 bags, 4 bags/spreader load means I'd have to load the spreader 38 times. Ugh! Some of the 3ph spreaders, e.g., Herd or this one can hold 320 or 750 pounds, but they cost more. Sigh. It's always a money versus time decision. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

When I told Agway the pasture was for horses, they mentioned they have a specific seed mix for horses. Said it doesn't contain any grasses bad for horses.

 

[Knight9]

I would think that Landpride or something like that would be fairly reasonable price. Anyone priced these out??

Kevin

 

[MikePA]

Landpride prices from a local (PA) dealer.
FS500 - $410
FS700 - $430
FS1000 - $450