Freakin lime!!??!!

[sd455dan]

depends on what lime he gets.. peletized is different from powder is different from crushed limestone.

Where I live, an extension agent will rent equipment to spread ( or plant trees, or cut fire brakes via trailing plow ), very very cheaply or free.

might check. If you can get the spreader free, and have a loader to load it and a tractor to pull it.. then a load of crushed limerock will undoubtedly be your cheapest route.

The op could possibly find an old spreader at an equipment sale, like we used,and it worked fine for spreading lime and other things including seed . i think soundguy has it right depends on the type of lime even better if the spreader can be borrowed

 

[hunt4570]

The op could possibly find an old spreader at an equipment sale, like we used,and it worked fine for spreading lime and other things including seed . i think soundguy has it right depends on the type of lime even better if the spreader can be borrowed

I will most likely get a 3ph cone spreader for seed and fertilizer, wont do anything that takes 2 1/2 tons an acre though. I have a little 10 acre hay field that a guy down the road does, I just talked to him and he is going to get me a price on doing the lime.

 

[smstonypoint]

My problem right now is finding a supplier/spreader guy. Just like building contractors here.... there are none!

Still searching!

I will most likely get a 3ph cone spreader for seed and fertilizer, wont do anything that takes 2 1/2 tons an acre though. I have a little 10 acre hay field that a guy down the road does, I just talked to him and he is going to get me a price on doing the lime.

If your neighbor doesn't come through for you, call your local county ag. agent. He/she should know the folks who provide custom spreading services in your area.

Where are you located in SC?

Steve

 

[hunt4570]

If your neighbor doesn't come through for you, call your local county ag. agent. He/she should know the folks who provide custom spreading services in your area.

Where are you located in SC?

Steve

Yeah,I have been working with him.. he had one guy who has not returned my call yet..

Kershaw SC

 

[Fossil Farm]

Just remember, you are liming and fertilizing for a food plot, not production crops, so it is not as critical if you do not get it done as precisely as most farmers trying to make a living off their crops would like it. Also depends what you will be planting. Going from a pine plantation to any type of legume would require an inoculant for the legume to produce its own nitrogen quickly since the bacteria is probably not present in the soil. Not expensive, but another consideration depending on your crops and goals for the field. Good luck. Sounds like a great project.

 

[hunt4570]

Just remember, you are liming and fertilizing for a food plot, not production crops, so it is not as critical if you do not get it done as precisely as most farmers trying to make a living off their crops would like it. Also depends what you will be planting. Going from a pine plantation to any type of legume would require an inoculant for the legume to produce its own nitrogen quickly since the bacteria is probably not present in the soil. Not expensive, but another consideration depending on your crops and goals for the field. Good luck. Sounds like a great project.

Yes, that is correct and I agree.... but.... if I don't treat the soil properly I'll just be wasting $$ on seeds that wont do well. And I always like to use an inoculant on my legume seeds.
It is a fun project, but taxing sometimes.. both on my wallet and my sick little mind!

 

[Soundguy]

It is a fun project, but taxing sometimes.. both on my wallet and my sick little mind!

Most are.

 

[MossRoad]

So I had about 7 acres cleared out of my pine woods to turn into my own private hunting field, trying to set it up for turkey, deer, and quail. Just got my soil test back and it recommends 4700 pounds per acre of lime!! Holy camoly!!!!! Thats right at 33,000 pounds or 16 1/2 tons of lime... I have no budget for that!

Any suggestions? don't want to just blow it off as my seeds wont grow well,not sure what to do with it at this point... dang!

Suggestion would be to do just a few acres per year if you can't afford to do it in one shot.

Just curious as to why you cleared the pines? Our pines are loaded with deer and turkeys. Don't know about quail as I haven't heard a bob-white for over 35 years and that was in pine forests as well.

 

[hunt4570]

Suggestion would be to do just a few acres per year if you can't afford to do it in one shot.

Just curious as to why you cleared the pines? Our pines are loaded with deer and turkeys. Don't know about quail as I haven't heard a bob-white for over 35 years and that was in pine forests as well.

Diversification, got about 85 acres of pines.. need some clearings, need to do some controlled burns to create some savanna areas, got some ponds, got a marsh.. nice riparian corridor... just need some clearings ...

 

[CalG]

Do a small area, In strips. A little of the good stuff brings 'em in just as well as an entire field.

 

[MossRoad]

Diversification, got about 85 acres of pines.. need some clearings, need to do some controlled burns to create some savanna areas, got some ponds, got a marsh.. nice riparian corridor... just need some clearings ...

Gotcha! Sounds nice!!!

 

[hunt4570]

Anybody know anything about Bio-Activated Liquid Calcium???

They say it will do everything lime does only better, I'm just afraid its just another gimmick..

About 2/3 the price, although I'd have to buy a sprayer..

 

[hunt4570]

Gotcha! Sounds nice!!!

We just bought this place in December so I'm working on setting it up the way I want, it was ignored for quite a few years so I'm cleaning it up a bit. Nice big deer hunting field will be nice.

 

[Soundguy]

Anybody know anything about Bio-Activated Liquid Calcium???

They say it will do everything lime does only better, I'm just afraid its just another gimmick..

About 2/3 the price, although I'd have to buy a sprayer..

Hmm. Lots of Craigslist adds.

One website, no science quoted, and has customer testimonials. While not proving bad, those do throw up flags for me.

Google shows a few other message posts if people trying to find out info. I only looked 1 page over, didn't see any who have tried it.

I see mention of it being put down with nitrogen...

 

[hunt4570]

Hmm. Lots of Craigslist adds.

One website, no science quoted, and has customer testimonials. While not proving bad, those do throw up flags for me.

QUOTE]

Exactly what I was thinking..

 

[Clay45]

You don't indicate where you are in South Carolina. I recently used Tri-County fertiler in Belton, SC for a similar issue. Turns out purchasing anything less than a "load" would induce delivery charges so I purchased an entire load - approximately 14,000 lbs for our 6+ acres and their trucks have slingers and man do they ever sling! I just directed them away from my septic field and let them have at it. 30 minutes and almost $600 later it was done. I'll do another soil sample in a year or so but for now its over. Based upon how long and how many circuits he did around my place he estimated I was only applying lime to 4.5-5 acres. Sounds pretty close to yours.

 

[hunt4570]

You don't indicate where you are in South Carolina. I recently used Tri-County fertiler in Belton, SC for a similar issue. Turns out purchasing anything less than a "load" would induce delivery charges so I purchased an entire load - approximately 14,000 lbs for our 6+ acres and their trucks have slingers and man do they ever sling! I just directed them away from my septic field and let them have at it. 30 minutes and almost $600 later it was done. I'll do another soil sample in a year or so but for now its over. Based upon how long and how many circuits he did around my place he estimated I was only applying lime to 4.5-5 acres. Sounds pretty close to yours.

Kershaw SC, a couple hours east of you looks like.

If I could get 14000 pounds spread for $600 I'd be tickled pink!!

 

[MossRoad]

We just bought this place in December so I'm working on setting it up the way I want, it was ignored for quite a few years so I'm cleaning it up a bit. Nice big deer hunting field will be nice.

We got our in '89. It was 1/2 fields and we wanted it to go back to woods! To each his own... :laughing:

 

[MMagis]

Anybody know anything about Bio-Activated Liquid Calcium???

They say it will do everything lime does only better, I'm just afraid its just another gimmick..

About 2/3 the price, although I'd have to buy a sprayer..

Sorry, I know this is days later. But the liquid lime is borderline gimmick. It does do something, so I wouldn’t call it a complete gimmick, but it simply doesn’t do what they imply. Raising the soil pH is simple chemistry. They claim to get better results with a small fraction of what is used in traditional lime, but it’s simply not possible to the degree they make you believe. It’s also going to be a nightmare to spray with a smaller sprayer.

 

[hunt4570]

Sorry, I know this is days later. But the liquid lime is borderline gimmick. It does do something, so I wouldn’t call it a complete gimmick, but it simply doesn’t do what they imply. Raising the soil pH is simple chemistry. They claim to get better results with a small fraction of what is used in traditional lime, but it’s simply not possible to the degree they make you believe. It’s also going to be a nightmare to spray with a smaller sprayer.

Yes, I believe that's true. I asked a few questions and they were quick to answer. I asked how long it would last till I had to apply again... Never got an answer or even a response.

I'm guessing its like the old analogy of is it a band aid or a cure..