fertilizer prices

[jimg]

What are you all paying for fertilizer? I just got a cash price quote from my coop for 60# of N & K/ac for 20ac. The bottom line for fertilizer and spreader buggy rental was almost $1200. She said prices are only expected to go up. The good news is they allow prepayment w/ future delivery.

 

[redlevel]

I will probably put the old fertilizer box back on my Covington planters this year and put all my fertilizer in the row rather than broadcasting. I realize that broadcasting is the only option for pastures. In-row placement of fertilizer helps with weed control, also. You just have to be careful and not put your seed in the fertilizer band, because it will kill the germ.

I haven't even checked prices, but I know I won't be scattering it on row crops this year.

 

[chh]

I keep hearing that pricing is going to be in the $600 to $700 a ton range locally. I say that there will be very little fertilizer spread on my place this year.

 

[rgood]

My cost for 50 pound bags are as follows

n - $14.50
phos- $20.50
pot - $12

Lime - $22 ton

Tifton 9 - $200 for 40 pound bag

Spreader Rental $100

I'm hoping to spread 8 tons of lime tomorrow - Do you think a 25 HP 4WD tractor will pull a spreader with 4 tons of lime in it???

 

[jimg]

rgood -- not sure about the pulling part but Id be concerned about getting it stopped

chh -- My cash price for N is $556/t and K is $440/t. That assumes I spread it myself. The buggy rental is $25.

redlevel -- The coop rental drill has a fertilizer box and Im going to make use of that this fall when I reseed my hay fields.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

My cost for 50 pound bags are as follows

n - $14.50
phos- $20.50
pot - $12

Lime - $22 ton

Tifton 9 - $200 for 40 pound bag

Spreader Rental $100

I'm hoping to spread 8 tons of lime tomorrow - Do you think a 25 HP 4WD tractor will pull a spreader with 4 tons of lime in it???

Are you on flat ground? I have used a Ford/New Holland 1920 4wd loader to pull a 4 ton spreader. As long as the ground is flat and dry you will be ok. And remember, you don't "need" to load 4 ton in it. If you are not sure take lighter loads at first till you have an idea how your tractor will handle it.

 

[rgood]

Thanks Jim - My land is perfectly flat - So stopping is not a problem - I'll go up and down the road with the Ford-250. I may have to spread with the 250 also

 

[AGRIMAN]

I've never been a fan of spreading my row crop fertilizer. I pretty much have always put it under the row. I think you get a bigger bang for your buck. I'm using a 14-35-45 under my soybeans this year and the cash price on it picked up bulk is $518 a ton.

I haven't check nitrogen in the last few weeks, but it was $450 and climbing. I'm probably wont plan much corn at that rate.

I'm also looking into chicken litter as a alternative on my hay/pasture and possible other crops. I haven't bought any yet, but I was quoted $23 a ton (truck load) back before christmas. There's adv/disadv but for the price difference it's worth considering. I was told that you have to sample it and depending on the nitrogen content your looking at 2 to 3 tons per acre on average. You really need a litter spreader to do it right and another disadvantage is that you can expect to buy some weed seeds in the mix. I was also told that with the smell you might not make the neighbors to happy with you ether.

If you are getting lime for $22 a ton that's a good deal. My best price is $27 a ton and that's buying a truck load (24 ton) at a time, dumped in the field and me spreading it.

 

[hudr]

On an interesting side note: I was at my local farm/ranch supply store today and the owner was talking w/ his insurance company. It seems they want to double (yes, DOUBLE) his liability insurance since they handle Ammonium Nitrate. And, they want to include ALL fertilizer in the "high risk" category, not just Ammonium Nitrate.
And yes, fertilizer is going to run me over $500/ton probably depending on what formula my soil samples call for.

 

[chh]

I'm also looking into chicken litter as a alternative on my hay/pasture and possible other crops. I haven't bought any yet, but I was quoted $23 a ton (truck load) back before christmas. There's adv/disadv but for the price difference it's worth considering. I was told that you have to sample it and depending on the nitrogen content your looking at 2 to 3 tons per acre on average. You really need a litter spreader to do it right and another disadvantage is that you can expect to buy some weed seeds in the mix. I was also told that with the smell you might not make the neighbors to happy with you ether.

There is a lot of litter used in my area(If our Atty. General doesn't run them all out of business)and it is really good fertilizer. Especially on soils that need more humus matter built up in them. The smell fades after a couple of days. You will most likely however pick up quite a few weeds out of it. We have some crews here with speader trucks that custom spread. If you have to move it very far though you will have more in transportation than in the litter.