Lime Question

[deerhunter5555]

I own a farm in Lewis county and have been planting food plots on it for a couple of years. I understand the importance of lime but have only been able to find it in small bags (40 lbs) and on some of my larger food plots it gets expensive buying it that way. Is there someone I can buy it from in bulk and cut some cost? Most of my food plots are very remote and not very accessable by truck. I'll have to spread it with a 4-wheeler. I'm no farmer so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Erich

[GSP]

Call your local rock quarry. Bulk lime is very cheap. The haul bill is what is expensive

[deerhunter5555]

When you say "haul bill" I understand they charge to deliver it. But where do you put it then until you can spread it? Thanks

[Valley Station]

--555555,

Have you had a soil sample tested to determine how much lime you need?? If not , contact your county "ASC office" and they will advise you on how to collect sample and test it for you.
It's nothing unusual to need 3 to 4 tons of agricultural lime per acre for planting clover. They can deliver to your property and dump in a pile . Cover with a tarp to keep dry till you can spread it.
Around here a truck load of 10-ton will cost about a $100.00, if you are not to awful far from the quarry.

[Multidigits]

I had the local seed/mill co-op haul and spread 14 tons of AG lime on 3 small place for $96. Pay up and it's done, waiting on rain to disovle it, which takes awhile

If you want an imediate fix, you'll want pulverized pelleted lime. My co-op sells it for $73 a ton or in bags for about $2 a bag.

They can mix it with fertilizer and you can spread it with hand seeders, or pull behind spreaders on a tractor or ATV.

Pelletized lime will disolve quickly, but doesn't last as long. AG lime is cheaper over all, but dissvoles over time.

For very small remote places, I normally skip the soil test($8-12) and buy bagged limed with the savings. Extra lime doesn't hurt. For a big patch the soil test will tell you exactly how much lime and fert. you will need.

The AG lime is nothing other than limestone finely ground at the quarry. You can get it by a dump truck or a spreader truck. Remaot places would have to have a road and be big enough to turn the truck around.

[deerhunter5555]

Multidigits- When you say "seed mill\ co-op" are you referring to Southern States? Will they spread lime?

[Multidigits]

If they can't they can tell you who can. I use an independant co=op near my farm. These are generally the places that farmers sell their grain and other goods, and also but their supplies. You'll have one close by somewhere.

[P. Beyer]

[:D]TTT, Finding out alot on this one!

"It makes no difference whether I got anything; it has to do with how the day was spent"

Fred Bear

[perry_max]

I got 10 tons delivered and spred last year in washington Co. for $150.00.The lime is only $6.00 a ton.You'll have to spred it about 6 months before planting to get any benefits from crushed limestone.That's why lime is useally spred in the fall.Get a soil test done,it's free.

[raktrakr]

where do you get a free soil test

raktrakr
>>----->

[Multidigits]

I take mine the the FSA office but they cost $8-$12 each depending on the the test done. Haven't seen any freee ones yet. You can buy a kit to check for PH from several sources.

[perry_max]

University of Kentucky cooperative extention service.I use the Bullitt co. extention in Shepherdsville,but I assume there's one in every county.I thought it was free.If there's a charge it must be small,because I don't remember paying anything.It takes about 2 weeks to get results back.Just put a little dirt in a ziplock bag.