To spread or not

larthehar

I have urea here and talking about mild weather during the week.. would low temps do it any harm if i was to go with it today?

Say my name

You're too late. You may wait till next year.





No harm at all.

huey1975

the low temps wont be a problem as you burn in hell for eternity for working on the sabbath.

Keepgrowing

larthehar wrote: »

I have urea here and talking about mild weather during the week.. would low temps do it any harm if i was to go with it today?

Go,go,go.
We’re going with full bag this week. Grass growing, days lengthening, soil temp good and mild weather forecast. Couldn’t ask for much more

Henwin

Would it be better to graze it first or spread first. We are only beginning calving this week and hope to let cows out for a few hours a day after calving.

degetme

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Go,go,go.
We’re going with full bag this week. Grass growing, days lengthening, soil temp good and mild weather forecast. Couldn’t ask for much more

Have you spread any N to date per acre

Keepgrowing

degetme wrote: »

Have you spread any N to date per acre

No, haven’t spread in January for some years

Green farmer

Going to spread this week as well, but have to let ground dry out abit first. Some amount of rain fell in the last few days.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Henwin wrote: »

Would it be better to graze it first or spread first. We are only beginning calving this week and hope to let cows out for a few hours a day after calving.

This was asked at a grass meeting this week and the answer we got was to spread as any N from the last round will have been used especially with the good growth over winter.

It won't be long till you see the tips of the grass start to turn yellow with N shortages but you should try to get the N out before that happens to keep the grass in good condition.


I'll be going out with a half bag this week hopefully but ground is still soft here.

Birdnuts

Depends if you think winter has finished with us - I would be wary of making that call this side of Paddy's Day

Keepgrowing

Birdnuts wrote: »

Depends if you think winter has finished with us - I would be wary of making that call this side of Paddy's Day

Really doesn’t, soil temp high, grass growing so go

Birdnuts

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Really doesn’t, soil temp high, grass growing so go

They can go quickly into reverse though - it was pretty benign this time last year, then the beast paid a visit!!

larthehar

30kg/ac out on any ground that had a bit of grass cover.. got a small shower this evening to wash it in.. bring on the mild weather!!

Say my name

Birdnuts wrote: »

They can go quickly into reverse though - it was pretty benign this time last year, then the beast paid a visit!!

That's why farmers themselves always always always pay close attention to the forecasts themselves before making decisions that'll cost themselves in their pocket.

*The same as this time last fortnight. There's not a bit of a sign of a beast from the east atm only mild southwesterlies.

You snooze you loose in this game.

Green farmer

Birdnuts wrote: »

They can go quickly into reverse though - it was pretty benign this time last year, then the beast paid a visit!!

Farming by the calendar has gone out the window since global warming has thrown everything upside down. I think all you can do is farm what’s in front of you. Forecast says mild weather for next week and beyond with high pressure in charge, so that’s all we can go on.

charolais0153

Green farmer wrote: »

Farming by the calendar has gone out the window since global warming has thrown everything upside down. I think all you can do is farm what’s in front of you. Forecast says mild weather for next week and beyond with high pressure in charge, so that’s all we can go on.

Any weather evemt whether good bad or indifferent is being attributed to global warming these days.

Bass Reeves

Went out with 20 units of N/acre the start of 3rd week in January. I have had good covers. These covers stayed green and have kept growing. I am calculating that I am using 0.5 units of N/day at least. At a guess I am ok until the end of the month. I will go again the last week in February and hit farm with 30-40 units of N/acre weather permitting. Expect to start turning out around then as well. I have one very heavy cover on a small paddock near the shed.

I will consider letting 3-4 out on this the end of the week. I have a big HO 3yearold bullock over 600kgs and two heifers that are a bit behind the better 4-5 so will target them to see if I can get them to catch up to finish in mid late june.

Mooooo

Will be going this week on ground that didn't get slurry. Will go on ground that got slurry then in a week or 2. Hope to let out the weanlings or at least the smallest of em at the end of the week

SuperTortoise

Winter is only starting around here! Serious amount of rain in the last two weeks so not a hope of traveling on ground yet, turnout here is usually first to second week of may, if weather permits will spread early April.

uck51js9zml2yt

Called the local contractor this morning to get some urea and lime spread this week based on my reading here. He flat out refused saying save my money and do nothing till first week of march
This smallholding experiment is proving interesting. Only another 3 weeks.

Timmaay

Ha more sounds like he wasn't arsed sending you down a tractor and spreader...

uck51js9zml2yt

Timmaay wrote: »

Ha more sounds like he wasn't arsed sending you down a tractor and spreader...

I'm on a mountain , he's at the bottom of it. I'm new to the area and he's here all his life so I assume knows the local weather.

I can wait 3 weeks.

Say my name

Maia Shy Paddle wrote: »

Called the local contractor this morning to get some urea and lime spread this week based on my reading here. He flat out refused saying save my money and do nothing till first week of march
This smallholding experiment is proving interesting. Only another 3 weeks.

Nothing to do with time of the year.

But don't spread lime and urea together or else you definitely without doubt will be wasting money.
If your minds set on it, spread the urea first and wait 3 weeks then spread the lime.
Urea might not be even suited to the farm. A compound might be better suited.

Urea doesn't work well unless the land has adequate carbon in the soil be it plant root acquired or applied slurry and dung.
Spent out land can usually see no benefit from urea.

Bass Reeves

Maia Shy Paddle wrote: »

I'm on a mountain , he's at the bottom of it. I'm new to the area and he's here all his life so I assume knows the local weather.

I can wait 3 weeks.

There are a few checks to see if it is ok to spread. First ground temperature if it is above 6C the plants can take up the nitrogen so if ground temp is above 5C and outlook is good as at present it is ok to spread . The second is trafficability that is if the ground is capable of taking the spreading method whether tractor and spreader or quad and spreader.

Most contractors fall will not want to hitch up anything for a few hours work. If you have only a small area to spread a few acres you can spread by hand. I often did this my spread was about 30-35kgs/acre. You either have it in the wrist or not.

Finally as the Beast's from the East and North found out over the weekend there is a bit of a kick in the ould wind from the Southwest and West again.

uck51js9zml2yt

Bass Reeves wrote: »

There are a few checks to see if it is ok to spread. First ground temperature if it is above 6C the plants can take up the nitrogen so if ground temp is above 5C and outlook is good as at present it is ok to spread . The second is trafficability that is if the ground is capable of taking the spreading method whether tractor and spreader or quad and spreader.

Most contractors fall will not want to hitch up anything for a few hours work. If you have only a small area to spread a few acres you can spread by hand. I often did this my spread was about 30-35kgs/acre. You either have it in the wrist or not.

Finally as the Beast's from the East and North found out over the weekend there is a bit of a kick in the ould wind from the Southwest and West again.

He's worried about frost. I'm 180 m asl.

simx

Maia Shy Paddle wrote: »

He's worried about frost. I'm 180 m asl.

170m above sea here and will go with urea Tomorrow, know lads higher spreading

uck51js9zml2yt

simx wrote: »

170m above sea here and will go with urea Tomorrow, know lads higher spreading

Unfortunately I don't know where he keeps his keys and I know nothing about using a spreader , never mind hitching one up.

Only 6 months ago my biggest concern was traffic congestion as I left home in Dublin to go to work.

I can wait. Unfortunately I don't have time to spread by hand unless I can get out on Saturday. It's 4 acres so probably a bit big for hand spreading.

I took a walk out in the field before dinner and some of the ground is still wet so probably no harm in letting it dry out.

Mortelaro

Maia Shy Paddle wrote: »

He's worried about frost. I'm 180 m asl.

Urea is fine with frost anyway in my experience ,you could get that up to June
What matters is will there be periods of ground temperatures high enough for growth to justify spreading(earlier) or get you the value you want
Try another contractor!

Buford T. Justice XIX

I'd be going with waiting as well. The best response to early fertiliser is in ground that's fairly recently reseeded and with P, K and pH at or heading towards optimum.

There will be a response to fertiliser on all ground now though, IF, and that's a big if (:pac:) you can get out on it without bogging the tractor.

farisfat

larthehar wrote: »

I have urea here and talking about mild weather during the week.. would low temps do it any harm if i was to go with it today?

Alot depends on your stocking rate and when you plan on finishing your first round.
I dropped the sr here and will only spread on ground that's grazed

larthehar

farisfat wrote: »

Alot depends on your stocking rate and when you plan on finishing your first round.
I dropped the sr here and will only spread on ground that's grazed

This year it is more about what silage is left!!

Lambman

Urea out today.... Paid €390 a tonne up €15 on last year... How's that compare. Donegal

Jb1989

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Went out with 20 units of N/acre the start of 3rd week in January. I have had good covers. These covers stayed green and have kept growing. I am calculating that I am using 0.5 units of N/day at least. At a guess I am ok until the end of the month. I will go again the last week in February and hit farm with 30-40 units of N/acre weather permitting. Expect to start turning out around then as well. I have one very heavy cover on a small paddock near the shed.

I will consider letting 3-4 out on this the end of the week. I have a big HO 3yearold bullock over 600kgs and two heifers that are a bit behind the better 4-5 so will target them to see if I can get them to catch up to finish in mid late june.

Where did 3 Yr old ho come out of? what price system will he come into?

Bass Reeves

Came in Autumn 2017 in a lot of 20 cattle. Killed the rest last September but he was the poorist coming in. Was always very loose and poor to thrive. No point in pouring ration into him so last August left him with the stores. He has finally started to thrive.
It's is important to get him out when numbers are scarce less chance of him being cut too much in price. Last Autumn he have struggled to kill 280 kgs and would have been brutal on FS . He wouldhave struggle to get much beyond 900 euro maybe after eating 130 euro or more of ration. At a guess he should hit 380 DW in June after eating maybe 40 euro of Barley and hulls. He was on grass until early November and has only got silage since. At a guess he will gross between 1300 and 1400 euro

Last year the base was 4.1 in early June as I have only one of him he might squeeze off at the same base as the U30 month cattle. He be about 30c off the base IMO

Bass Reeves

Came in Autumn 2017 in a lot of 20 cattle. Killed the rest last September but he was the poorist coming in. Was always very loose and poor to thrive. No point in pouring ration into him so last August left him with the stores. He has finally started to thrive.
It's is important to get him out when numbers are scarce less chance of him being cut too much in price. Last Autumn he have struggled to kill 280 kgs and would have been brutal on FS . He wouldhave struggle to get much beyond 900 euro maybe after eating 130 euro or more of ration. At a guess he should hit 380 DW in June after eating maybe 40 euro of Barley and hulls. He was on grass until early November and has only got silage since. At a guess he will gross between 1300 and 1400 euro

Last year the base was 4.1 in early June as I have only one of him he might squeeze off at the same base as the U30 month cattle. He be about 30c off the base IMO

Jb1989

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Came in Autumn 2017 in a lot of 20 cattle. Killed the rest last September but he was the poorist coming in. Was always very loose and poor to thrive. No point in pouring ration into him so last August left him with the stores. He has finally started to thrive.
It's is important to get him out when numbers are scarce less chance of him being cut too much in price. Last Autumn he have struggled to kill 280 kgs and would have been brutal on FS . He wouldhave struggle to get much beyond 900 euro maybe after eating 130 euro or more of ration. At a guess he should hit 380 DW in June after eating maybe 40 euro of Barley and hulls. He was on grass until early November and has only got silage since. At a guess he will gross between 1300 and 1400 euro

Last year the base was 4.1 in early June as I have only one of him he might squeeze off at the same base as the U30 month cattle. He be about 30c off the base IMO

Well that's fair enough, he'll be over 36 then come killing? You'll be doing well to get anything over stock bull price to a certain extent.

Bass Reeves

Jb1989 wrote: »

Well that's fair enough, he'll be over 36 then come killing? You'll be doing well to get anything over stock bull price to a certain extent.

Most I ever got cut for a bullock over 36 months is 20C below normal base. If I had a bunch I be in trouble but one in every 9-10 and if numbers are tight you can usually shift.

Jb1989

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Most I ever got cut for a bullock over 36 months is 20C below normal base. If I had a bunch I be in trouble but one in every 9-10 and if numbers are tight you can usually shift.

Yes one will pull through alright, tho factorys very choosey, atm, even today they penalising now by 20 cent for non QA cattle,

I've one odd thing left,

What's a 500 kg Bull worth in mart?
Lean with shape, 30 month old on Friday.
Need another few weeks feed,

Over 30 month on bulls is far from ideal.

Bass Reeves

Jb1989 wrote: »

Yes one will pull through alright, tho factorys very choosey, atm, even today they penalising now by 20 cent for non QA cattle,

I've one odd thing left,

What's a 500 kg Bull worth in mart?
Lean with shape, 30 month old on Friday.
Need another few weeks feed,

Over 30 month on bulls is far from ideal.

80-90c/kg

trabpc

Off Topic, but what ever you get will never compensate you for keeping him 3 winters and all the associated costs. Pity prices are on the floor at the moment too. 500kg maybe a touch over €1000

Jb1989

Bass Reeves wrote: »

80-90c/kg

Maybe tho be hopeing 1.50 if right factory man there

Jb1989

trabpc wrote: »

Off Topic, but what ever you get will never compensate you for keeping him 3 winters and all the associated costs. Pity prices are on the floor at the moment too. 500kg maybe a touch over €1000

Every man been screwed alright let's hope your right thanks

Back on topic it is

Bass Reeves

trabpc wrote: »

Off Topic, but what ever you get will never compensate you for keeping him 3 winters and all the associated costs. Pity prices are on the floor at the moment too. 500kg maybe a touch over €1000

Had him for only two winters. When you but bunches of cattle 1-2 may always have something wrong with them. I had him half spotted so had allowed in the buying price. Thaught a dose might sort him as it did 2-3 other dodgy lads in the bunch. IMO it is a lessor of two evils letting him go over 30 months. Often trying to chase an age target will cost you more been there done that. I was where I was last August with him. I just considered the outlook too poor to feed him for slaughter.

There si no way a bull going over 30 months of age in a few week will make 1000 euro. i presumed he was a Fr and gave my price

simx

Lambman wrote: »

Urea out today.... Paid €390 a tonne up €15 on last year... How's that compare. Donegal

€370 kk

ellewood

simx wrote: »

€370 kk

Where?? Tks

mengele

How long does urea take to work.

Mooooo

Approx 5 days til the plant is using it, can be a bit faster depending on conditions