Lime spreader again

Connemara Farmer · 04-11-2014 09:55AM #1

So, this again.

Got hilly, rocky land that's filled with stone walls and open drains so unsuitable for conventional ground lime spreading machinery, and the associated large tractors.

Idea has been to get a vicon wagtail, maybe with a couple of modifications like extra bits on agitator and attach wheels to frame of spreader as I saw done on YT.

Now I spot something across the pond:
http://www.wikco.biz/Spreader.htm
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=6624

Both methods will be slow.

I'm not in favour of granlime due to cost. Ground lime significantly cheaper and works better IMO, spreading it is the issue.

kay 9 · 04-11-2014 10:31AM

We find gran lime great. Works faster too. But, every man for himself. If you're hung up on the other stuff and prepared for the hardship of shoveling it, then the old style spinner with the round tub and an agitator will put out ground lime. Its empty in a couple of minutes and shoveling tonne after tonne of the stuff gets very tiresome and tedious after a couple of days of it. Been there, done that mate. I've even convinced the old man in the granulated stuff. Try some, it does exactly what it says on the tin (I mean bag)

_Brian · 04-11-2014 10:38AM

Isn't there a new from of Gran Lime just on the market that competes near par for par with ground lime??

td5man · 04-11-2014 10:44AM

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

So, this again.

Got hilly, rocky land that's filled with stone walls and open drains so unsuitable for conventional ground lime spreading machinery, and the associated large tractors.

Idea has been to get a vicon wagtail, maybe with a couple of modifications like extra bits on agitator and attach wheels to frame of spreader as I saw done on YT.

Now I spot something across the pond:
http://www.wikco.biz/Spreader.htm
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=6624

Both methods will be slow.

I'm not in favour of granlime due to cost. Ground lime significantly cheaper and works better IMO, spreading it is the issue.

If the lime is damp it will stick in the wagtail and it will break off.

onyerbikepat · 04-11-2014 11:15AM

I put out Aglime (ground limestone) this year for the first time in a long time. What really struck me about it, was how heavy it is. It is just ground stone, at the end of the day. I tidied up the yard where they dumped it with barrow and shovel. About 6 barrows and it was tough going.:D I would hate to shovel a few tonnes of it.
It also needs to be kept bone dry. Any moisture at all and it just cakes together.

Username John · 04-11-2014 02:40PM

Those 2 links are $1200, so not far off €1000 mark...

Would it be worth it, for the use you might get from it?

Could you use it for fertiliser? Would you be spreading more fertilzer than lime, and so would getting a fertilzer spreader be better, and using this as a lime spreader a few times a year?

There is a part of me that thinks a transport box (or link box as the missus calls it) + shovel would be as good for lime. Back into the load o lime to fill, and spread with a shovel - you'd still be handling the lime once with a shovel, but you'd have 1000 in your pocket.

Or am I just being too 'mane' again?

bogman_bass · 04-11-2014 03:08PM

TBH Con I dont think you have any choice but to use Gran-Lime on your land. Anything else id just being difficult for the sake of it

lakill Farm · 04-11-2014 03:20PM

if I wanted to put out a few ton of lime and have a method of loading it anyway with a digger what type of fert spreader would I need?

I have an amazon 804 (I think) twin spinner approx. 1 ton capacity

I wount mind making up a spreader as uncle you get me in for a bit also

Bleating Lamb · 04-11-2014 03:40PM

:cool:......Havnt seen or heard of it done local to me but have heard from a reliable source that some operators hire out Helicoptors.....yes Helicoptors in Summertime up North of Ireland to spread Lime on hilly untrafficable ground.Charge is something like 40 euro per tonne to spread it.....they pick it up with a grab type bucket to spread....you would need a good calm day doing it but you could enquire at Galway Airport if any of the helicopter men there would look into it for you.

rangler1 · 04-11-2014 04:36PM

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

So, this again.

Got hilly, rocky land that's filled with stone walls and open drains so unsuitable for conventional ground lime spreading machinery, and the associated large tractors.

Idea has been to get a vicon wagtail, maybe with a couple of modifications like extra bits on agitator and attach wheels to frame of spreader as I saw done on YT.

Now I spot something across the pond:
http://www.wikco.biz/Spreader.htm
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=6624

Both methods will be slow.

I'm not in favour of granlime due to cost. Ground lime significantly cheaper and works better IMO, spreading it is the issue.

There y'are Con but you'd want to stay driving in to the wind or you'd be smothered, you'd probably get one small enough for the 35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvbItOYBJg4

It'll spread the sheep dung as well

Connemara Farmer · 04-11-2014 04:45PM

I realise I've had this thread before BUT as for Granlime, look, it's too expensive for me to use. It has to be used every year and I haven't the money to be throwing away like that when another product is available, while having it's own difficulties, is significantly cheaper and lasts longer.

Yes a spreader for bulk like will cost money, but it can also be sold on if it's not up to the job, where as once granlime is spread your money is gone. I has to mind me pennies (every one a prisoner) as well as me pounds

. I would only consider using granlime in small quantities, like for a reseed.

Done a bit more research on that American spreader, unfortunately it seems to be the same story, lime has to be dry as a cork. So not any better than other fert spreaders in that regard unfortunately.

As for me buying a spreader for fert, I won't because of the ground being so hilly it will not spread well and will burn one side and spread another too thinly due to tilting. Land around here is like the inside of an eggbox, I won't mind lime being spread inaccurately but fert would be a disaster.

Helicopters

see above re cost

(Dad did have land fertilized by helicopter in the late 80's or early 90's, I believe that was grant aided - when grants weren't fiddled like they are today).

A top dresser has been suggested to me on another forum. Think they can spread wet sand, used on golf courses I think, con is that they will only do their own width and I haven't seen any for sale in Ireland, only UK. Imagine damp sand would be similar to damp lime? Or not? Transport box like UJ said could make up the difficult areas.

Trying to think outside the box

Connemara Farmer · 04-11-2014 04:54PM

rangler1 wrote: »

There y'are Con but you'd want to stay driving in to the wind or you'd be smothered, you'd probably get one small enough for the 35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvbItOYBJg4

It'll spread the sheep dung as well

I'd be like Casper the ghost with that :cool: I have seen that video before and it's an idea if it'd work as it'd take most of the shovel out of the job. Though I likely would rent a little machine for loading any other implement.

onyerbikepat · 04-11-2014 05:26PM

BREDAL make a 3 pt mounted type lime spreader. It's similar to the trailed ones with belt on floor, twin discs etc. I remember seeing one on Donedeal a while back.

AntrimGlens · 04-11-2014 05:37PM

Con is there any chance you could get liquid lime? I don't know how renowned Mayo is for limestone quarries, but a guy beside us gets to clean out the sludge from the limestone mills and spreads it with a 2500 gal tanker. We've used it before and would have a better residual effect than gran lime, but still a bit more diluted than pure ground lime. You could then work with a smaller tanker if you could get your hands on it.

Greengrass1 · 04-11-2014 05:38PM

Con we spread bag like here every yr does a brilliant job.
1 bag=1t of line per acre
Works out at 14e/bag
We spread a bag oer acre. I think its only option for you tbh you'll be giving yourself hard ship spreading ground lime yourself.
Say you need 2t/ac thats alot of work

Muckit · 04-11-2014 06:07PM

Username John wrote: »

Or am I just being too 'mane' again?

John, meet connemara Farmer. Connemara Farmer, meet John.

sh1tstirrer · 04-11-2014 06:27PM

onyerbikepat wrote: »

I put out Aglime (ground limestone) this year for the first time in a long time. What really struck me about it, was how heavy it is. It is just ground stone, at the end of the day. I tidied up the yard where they dumped it with barrow and shovel. About 6 barrows and it was tough going.:D I would hate to shovel a few tonnes of it.
It also needs to be kept bone dry. Any moisture at all and it just cakes together.

6 barrows, tough work. I moved 10 tonne of topsoil with two other men last year we had to take it around the back of a house we had it done in 2.5 hours even though there were plenty stones roots and sods in it. Moving 6 barrows of lime would be a breeze.

bogman_bass · 04-11-2014 06:28PM

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

I realise I've had this thread before BUT as for Granlime, look, it's too expensive for me to use. It has to be used every year and I haven't the money to be throwing away like that when another product is available, while having it's own difficulties, is significantly cheaper and lasts longer.

I dont think you've worked out the cost's correctly. As said already, 1 bag granlime=1 tonne ground limestone

granline is working out at €14
Ground limestone is about €21 a tonne spread.

I cant see how buying in a machine especially could possibly work out cheaper.

Ok it needs to be reapplied but so does lime every few years

sh1tstirrer · 04-11-2014 06:38PM

Somehow I doubt 1 tonne of ground limestone could equal 1 bag of gran lime .

Greengrass1 · 04-11-2014 06:58PM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

Somehow I doubt 1 tonne of ground limestone could equal 1 bag of gran lime .

The effect is

onyerbikepat · 04-11-2014 07:02PM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

6 barrows, tough work. I moved 10 tonne of topsoil with two other men last year we had to take it around the back of a house we had it done in 2.5 hours even though there were plenty stones roots and sods in it. Moving 6 barrows of lime would be a breeze.

The field was over a mile away. :rolleyes:
Seriously, I was only making the pt that spreading lime with a barrow is only hardship.

rangler1 · 04-11-2014 07:35PM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

Somehow I doubt 1 tonne of ground limestone could equal 1 bag of gran lime .

I think over 5 years it's supposed to have the same effect, ie one ton of ground limestone every five years is about the same as putting out 1 bag every year for five years.....or something like that, gran lime doesn't last

kay 9 · 04-11-2014 08:43PM

Wet sand is a different story to wet lime lad. Wet and will still separate, whereas lime just cakes. What acreage are you looking to dress? I think gran lime is your only man. We have no problem with putting out the ground stuff and only few miles from http://www.mcgrathsquarries.ie but still opt for the granulated as it's handier and the boss finds its cheaper. It's all good

Miname · 04-11-2014 09:21PM

connemara if im right about your location would lime not just open up the soil, have you have it tested yet? i definately ant see a specific type spreader being cost efftive enough to justify buying one or even fabricating one.

just do it · 04-11-2014 11:41PM

Are you ordering 20t? If not my experience is they won't want to hear from you.

tabby aspreme · 05-11-2014 12:14AM

Would a side spreader throw out ground lime if it was mixed with water or slurry to make it sloppy.

Lime spreader again

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