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Post by sd51555 on May 16, 2017 11:58:48 GMT -6
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Post by Foggy on May 16, 2017 16:57:30 GMT -6
A bit of my problem is that there aren't "good agronomy plants" in the immediate area. I did go up to Bjergas Feed Store in Pine River today. Bjergas sells lots of feed to smaller scale operators.....and lots of lawn chemicals and such. They have a couple of locations.....and they have a fertilizer plant in Motley.
I spoke to the manager at Pine River......and we discussed this blend.....which they would deliver in two loads along with a pull behind spreader (PTO powered lime buggy): I would apply with my tractor.
6000 # Pell Lime $255. 300 # AMS (21-0-0-24) $325 300 # Nitrogen ( 46-0-0-0 ) $355 $973.00 TOTAL
This would cost me $973. - and I gotta wonder if that aint a pretty high price. Perhaps $250 acre for lime and some fertilizer. Likely would last about 5-6 years or so....on the lime. (I did ask about gypsum.....and he said it was not available)
I figure this would get all my land up to a good PH and I would have some nitrogen to help decompose the remaining chips / slash. I would then plant these acres in buckwheat and some rye for this year to build the soils.
I would then plant my remaining 3 acres in soybeans and oversees with brassica in fall. I'd have to add a little fertilizer to get the beans going.
Hard to want to spend that much per acre. Maybe I should do some shopping. Olson's AG could be a solution? Thoughts? Advice?
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Post by sd51555 on May 16, 2017 19:29:17 GMT -6
Those prices seem alarmingly high. It could be because of the amount you're getting or your distance. In farm country, those prices would get you damn near an entire ton vs 300 pounds.
You could almost buy a couple plastic stock tanks and throw them on a trailer and go pick up your urea and AMS, buy your own three point cone spreader, and be money ahead. I'd maybe revisit the bulk lime quarry and see about just paying their minimum and having them spread it for whatever their minimum charge is. As far as your nitrogen needs, you might be able to save a lot of money if you'll drive a little ways south and haul/apply yourself.
**I would definitely get a second opinion and ask about options to get the cost down.
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Post by sd51555 on May 16, 2017 20:03:49 GMT -6
I hope some others chime in on this too. I'm ok on this stuff, but certainly no expert. Whip should be all over this.
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Post by Freeborn on May 16, 2017 20:05:08 GMT -6
A bit of my problem is that there aren't "good agronomy plants" in the immediate area. I did go up to Bjergas Feed Store in Pine River today. Bjergas sells lots of feed to smaller scale operators.....and lots of lawn chemicals and such. They have a couple of locations.....and they have a fertilizer plant in Motley. I spoke to the manager at Pine River......and we discussed this blend.....which they would deliver in two loads along with a pull behind spreader (PTO powered lime buggy): I would apply with my tractor. 6000 # Pell Lime $255. 300 # AMS (21-0-0-24) $325 300 # Nitrogen ( 46-0-0-0 ) $355 $973.00 TOTALThis would cost me $973. - and I gotta wonder if that aint a pretty high price. Perhaps $250 acre for lime and some fertilizer. Likely would last about 5-6 years or so....on the lime. (I did ask about gypsum.....and he said it was not available) I figure this would get all my land up to a good PH and I would have some nitrogen to help decompose the remaining chips / slash. I would then plant these acres in buckwheat and some rye for this year to build the soils. I would then plant my remaining 3 acres in soybeans and oversees with brassica in fall. I'd have to add a little fertilizer to get the beans going. Hard to want to spend that much per acre. Maybe I should do some shopping. Olson's AG could be a solution? Thoughts? Advice? Yep, those prices include delivery and buggy rental. Are they mixing all 3 items together? I did not buy Lime or Urea but I did buy AMS; 450 Lbs for $76.08; FOB Pro-Ag Parker's Prairie. Pro Ag is probably 70-75 miles from your land. I know they have pell lime and if you call them they will quote you a price. Proag has a shoot and can lower to close to trailer height. Your welcome to use my material box and it will hold 1200 Lbs of material. Strap it down to your car trailer and drive it under the shoot and your ready to go. Only problem is you need to scoop it out by hand. I used a flat sided horse bucket (probably 3 gallon) and dumped it into my spreader. Its a little work but if you pace yourself it goes pretty well.
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Post by Foggy on May 17, 2017 18:26:23 GMT -6
decided to just put on a hundred # per acre of pell lime this year (on the land I want to plant) and call it a day for the PH issues. I will add some nitrogen to the slash areas to help them decompose......and seed them into buckwheat. Next year I may think longer term on the lime. Too much other to tackle this year.
Planting beans on my best ground......and rye and clover on the trails. Rye on some of the magical land to build the soils this year. Later I will plant a brasica mix into the beans.
I stopped over to MO"s place in Mora today......and bought some seed, lime and chemicals from him. Nice operation.....and he has nearly everything on hand for guys like us. Fun time visiting and swapping stories over a brew. Good way to spend a rainy day. Work to do tomorrow thru Sat.
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Post by Sandbur on May 17, 2017 20:05:36 GMT -6
decided to just put on a hundred # per acre of pell lime this year (on the land I want to plant) and call it a day for the PH issues. I will add some nitrogen to the slash areas to help them decompose......and seed them into buckwheat. Next year I may think longer term on the lime. Too much other to tackle this year. Planting beans on my best ground......and rye and clover on the trails. Rye on some of the magical land to build the soils this year. Later I will plant a brasica mix into the beans. I stopped over to MO"s place in Mora today......and bought some seed, lime and chemicals from him. Nice operation.....and he has nearly everything on hand for guys like us. Fun time visiting and swapping stories over a brew. Good way to spend a rainy day. Work to do tomorrow thru Sat. Mo has a good reputation with real farmers in my area, IF they pay him!
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Post by Foggy on May 19, 2017 18:49:59 GMT -6
Today I did about an hour of pick-up-sticks. ( man I hate picking sticks)....before putting down 1000 lbs of lime, 5 bags of rye, 10 bags of fertilizer, 3 bags of buckwheat, 30 lbs of clover, and two bags of soybeans. (and a little egyptians wheat) My wife sprayed a couple of acres with some gly......and helped pick up sticks and do some seeding and dragging, and so much more. (bless her soul!)
This is the first time i have gone "no till" in some bean plots. My wife sprayed a few hours before I panted. I hope this works out. My JD 71 planter very well handled planting in some plots with an excess of wood slash and stumps. Rode right over the stumps and never plugged up with trash. I was very impressed with this. Now......I hope the beans will grow.
I could use two more bags of beans to finish my spring planting. We ran out of time to do anymore today.....so maybe I can get 'er done tomorrow - if it doesnt rain. In any event.....we busted our fannies today....and it feels pretty good to be this far along.
Pics to follow.
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Post by Foggy on May 19, 2017 18:53:29 GMT -6
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Post by Foggy on May 19, 2017 18:54:43 GMT -6
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Post by Foggy on May 19, 2017 18:56:26 GMT -6
Oppps....the last one is the wood slash. The others are of previously tilled ground and some no-till ground that was sprayed prior to planting.
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Post by Freeborn on May 19, 2017 19:55:55 GMT -6
Looks Great Tom, you guys do nice work. I have thought about trying to no-till with just my planter discs, glad to hear it worked for you.
Your beans will come up great and be a great draw for you. I think beans outdraw corn until it gets really cold. I find deer love to be on an edge between cover (Woods or maybe corn) and beans.
You guys should have good hunting this fall!
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Post by nhmountains on May 19, 2017 20:12:10 GMT -6
Nice work Foggy. It won't be long when things start to grown and those new fields turn green. I'm sure it'll be rewarding to yiu when that happens. To think you went from pines to fields in just a short time.
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Post by Foggy on May 19, 2017 20:57:17 GMT -6
Thanks guys! At this point most of the hard work seems behind us. Been busting my fanny to get this far....and not sure how many more of these projects I want to do. I am blessed to have all the implements and gear I have to get this work done. ......and my wife gets so much done with me as well. WHAT A GIRL!
Next year things should go much smoother......and I doubt I will have the level of physical work that we had this year. I suppose I should not complain.....this work is good for me and keeps us in better shape than going without.
FORE!
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Post by sd51555 on May 19, 2017 22:15:14 GMT -6
Damn fine work there Foggy.
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