Spreader Liming Fields - Spreader

[DanielVT]

Hi,

I need to get a spreader for liming a couple of acres. I see two designs, the cone shaped ones like Agrex and the box shaped ones like groundbuster. Anybody have an experienced opinion on advantages/disadvantages of these two types?

I'd also like to use it for spreading fertilizer and seed, which makes the Agrex look more useful.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[leonz]

Are you planning on using pelletized or bagged hydrated lime or bulk lime?

Are you plowing this ground?

Do you know how much you need?, are you planning to bring the PH up to 7.0 or near neutral?


You do know that hydrated lime likes to eat steel dont you?

For two acres I would hire a local farmer to do with a rental lime spreader or have a farm store come in and spread a small load with a truck.

 

[HCJtractor]

THe cone type spreader is by far the most common and economical. It also is easy to operate. The only disadvantage is that it will only spread pellitized lime, not the bulk "Ag" lime that is powdery and lumpy. But for only two acres, I would spend the extra cost on bagged pellitized lime even though it is more expensive. It's easier to handle and easier to find unless you are in an agricultural region. The cone type also works great for broadcasting seed where as the drop spreaders don't do too well at that function. You can get a 3 point hitch cone spreader many places and cost around $500. I spread lime on up to 10 acres with this type. It's quick and easy.

 

[JimP]

I used a three point cone spreader to spread 4 tons of pelletized lime over 4 acres. It worked fine, just takes longer to load the spreader than to spread.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I also have the cone shaped 3pt spreader,over seed 40+acres in rye and put out (dry)fertilizer/mix seed on my big food plots in winter. If I have to do the smaller plots around an or so I use the 4wheeler spreader(holds 50lbs). I have a 350gallon trailer 21ft boom sprayer to put out liquid fertilizer on cattle pastures.Thinking about put out liquid lime,this year...

 

[DanielVT]

Thanks everyone. Once I can get into the dirt here I'm going to have the soil tested to see what I need to do - pretty sure that liming will be on the list, based on the stuff that's been growing in those fields for the past few years.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I have used both but my little farm I use an old Gandy drop spreader to spread bulk ag lime. It works great just make sure no rocks get in it and it stays dry. I leave the load in my ton dump and back the spreader under it. It covers 10 feet wide swath.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have used both but my little farm I use an old Gandy drop spreader to spread bulk ag lime. It works great just make sure no rocks get in it and it stays dry. I leave the load in my ton dump and back the spreader under it. It covers 10 feet wide swath.

When we lived in McComb we had the local coop spread lime with their trucks, seemed to be reasonable in price. Heck of a lot easier too.

 

[tlbuser]

Check on trailer or delivered/spread before deciding what to do . Here, it's cheaper to call and have lime delivered and spread than to buy in bags.

 

[Mark Page]

Jen and TL are correct, have your lime dealer spread it. My last lime application was 16 tons. No way I'm gonna spread that much material with a 350 lb. broadcast spreader. You may be wasting your money if you don't get a soil test done first. You may not need any lime, or possibly more than you think.
The "box" spreaders are called drop spreaders. They will apply lime in a very specific area but are very slow to use.
Which ever one you buy be sure to completely hose it down when done as fertilizer and lime will rust them out.