Spreader advice for my property and needs

[SandraOpines]

I am in need of a spreader and see a lot of complaints that spook me. I thought my needs were simple but apparently not. Here is what I need to accomplish.

We will ultimately have about 15 acres of field to spread nitrate.
about 3 acres (possibly more) that I will want to spread Black Kow Compost on as it is Centipede
The Centipede grass will also get Milorganite
Also seeding and other things

The complaints I see are:

Striping/overspray of Nitrate
Compost/Top Dressing plugs the spreader

I am looking at the Land Pride PFS series since the tow behind less expensive spreaders all said they won't spread top dressing. I don't really want to spend a ton of money and really didn't want 2 implements.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jeff9366]

Educate me: What is nitrate? Do you buy nitrate or is it a by-product of farm crops? Is nitrate a fertilizer or a soil conditioner?

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't know what those materials are, so I can't be too specific, but I had a cheap tow-able spreader that was great until it fell apart. I liked being able to use it on anything with a tow hitch instead of having to remove what was on the back of my tractor for a quick couple hour project twice a year. My next one will probably be something like this.

Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment ATV 5-Bushel Pull-Behind Spreader/Trail Feeder at Tractor Supply Co.

 

[ruffdog]

Getting ready to spread some goodness.....

 

[ddbackhoe]

Compost will most likely not be spreadable with the land pride or any cone type spreader. From page 31 of the owners manual, “IMPORTANT: Product must be dry (not humid) without lumps to spread uniformly and correctly.” A top dresser does a great job for compost, manure and most fertilizers but dont work well for seed and they can be pricey.

I dont know of any one unit that will do all of those things well.

Millcreek Manufacturing Co., Mid-Size Top Dressers, Turf Tiger Cub

 

[dusty3030]

If you are looking for something that spreads manure / compost and granulated fertilizer than you are out of luck.

If you are going to be spreading your compost more often, which I would thing would be the case, you need a pull behind manure spreader.

For the granulated fertilizer, if you have a co-op or bulk fertilizer dealer nearby you can more often than not use one of their spreaders if you buy from them. Benefit of that is if you can pull a soil sample you can get the right blend you need. They would load the amount you needed (15 acres let's say it's 100lbs an acre = 1500lbs) in the spreader, you pull it home and spread it then return it back to them empty. This would only be a once or twice a year thing at the most.

 

[SandraOpines]

Educate me: What is nitrate? Do you buy nitrate or is it a by-product of farm crops? Is nitrate a fertilizer or a soil conditioner?

I should have said Nitrogen. NPK = nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Field grass ie... Bahia LOVES Nitrogen which is why I said it that way. Sorry I foobar'd

 

[mjw357]

The complaints I see are:

Striping/overspray of Nitrate

Spinner-type spreaders are more likely to ‘stripe’ fertilizer than the pendulum-type.
To minimize striping with a spinner spreader, set your rate to half and overlap the rows.

 

[mred2]

Every farmer I know call it nitrate, including the feed store.

 

[SandraOpines]

Thank you all sooooooooooo much for your valuable comments and insight.

I made a decision to just get a spreader for seeds and dry fertilizer. The teenagers (ages 14 and 15) will just have to be my compost spreaders Hey, I tried to do it mechanically.

Our local tractor dealer had a AgriFab broadcast spreader in their warehouse that was just a one off and we got a deep discount on it. It is 250 pound with ATV pin hitch as well as an adapter for ball hitch. Here is a couple of pics of it. I am quite pleased with this decision. I just couldn't justify the cost of something to spread the Black Kow Compost..... Sad but I will get over it.