Spreader Lime and 3 pt spreader

[greenthumb]

can you use a three point spreader to brodcast lime. I have several food plots that need it and it is a tight fit through the woods. I know it would be dusty

 

[hazmat]

You can get the pelletized lime - It's a bit more expensive, but there is little dust & it won't blow away.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

can you use a three point spreader to brodcast lime. I have several food plots that need it and it is a tight fit through the woods. I know it would be dusty

As mentioned, pelletized lime spreads just like fertilizer. But it's generally quite a bit more expensive than "ag lime". Hydrated lime will spread, but talk about a dust storm! (And it's NOT the best choice to lime ground with anyway) Ag lime will tend to "bridge", or jamb up around the meter opening in most "spinner" spreaders.

The quarry where I always bought my lime has spreader trucks. For just a few pennies more per ton, they would spread it as well as deliver it. They also have "fertilizer buggies" that can be rented. They're essentially the same spreader as is on the trucks, albiet smaller, and built on a two-axle trailer that will go anyplace a tractor will go.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree with the others.

Peleted lime spreads like a charm.. but costs quite a bit more than hi-cal ag powdered lime.

On the other hand.. ag lime is super cheap.. and spreads.. uh.. not so good.

Being a cheapscate.. i usually go ag lime and only fill my hopper up half way, and I carry a wooden 'grade' stake and if the hopped bridges.. i run the stick down in there and break the bridge. with a little dilligence.. you can make it work.

Another thing to do is to 'jimmy up' the agitator.

With your spreader empty.. look at the agitator. I've seen everything from 1-2 fingers.. to just a spinning square hub.

Take some stiff fence brace wire and wind it around the agitator and leave the prong stuck up and in irregular patterns. Secure it good so it doesn't come loose and wind up inthe shaft seal.

I did this a while back and virtually never have to use the wooden poker as the wire keeps the lime moving up far enough that it won't bridge.

The spreadr truck advice is good to. our local feed coop quotes fert price as 'spread'. Many times you only save 50$ locally to pick it up and spread yourself..

You may also try a local construction company that does paving.. many have 'sand spreader' trucks and can dump a few buckets of crushed limerock in them and spread them out on your property than you can even buy the many bags of ag-lime.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[greg_g]

can you use a three point spreader to brodcast lime. I have several food plots that need it and it is a tight fit through the woods. I know it would be dusty

Some spreaders come with an agitator extension arm for ag lime. Without additional agitation, powered lime will just compress in the hopper - won't even come out the chutes. On rough ground, it can compress even WITH an agitator extension. That can be really hard on those light duty spreader gear boxes. Pelletized lime will spread just fine, but it's also much more expensive. Around here it's maybe $120 a ton in bulk. And even pelletized lime requires constant agitation if/when it's wet or clumpy.

Long story short, I don't mess with powdered lime at all in my TPH. And I install the agitator extension arm before filling the hopper with pelletized lime.

//greg//

 

[Mike120]

I get my dealer to spread it in my fields, but in small areas like my horse paddocks, I use liquid lime and put it on with a 3pt sprayer. It costs a little more, works faster than dry, and is less trouble.