The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: Penninehillbilly on February 03, 2015, 12:29:18 am
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We are thinking of buying some 'Calcifert' lime granules, for which it says you can use a standard fertilizer spreader.
The 5 acre field will be divided into 4 'paddocks', and as heavy machinery has damaged drains in the past I'm wondering the best way to spread it.
Has anyone tried these small walk behind spreaders? (the type which spins the granules out). the ones I've looked at online sound a bit TOO cheap, thoughts please?
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I have seen them used on tennis courts but not in fields.
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We have one but it doesn't cope with going over very rough tussocks grass.
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Don't know if you have one , but you can get spreaders for quad bikes
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I SO want a quad - OH says no-it would just get stolen, as I'd probably need his mechanical skills at some point, not much point in going against him :-(.
But thats the sort of spreader I been looking at just now, may show him some tonight, hopefully change his mind. Thanks
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Whatever you use, be aware that lime products can corrode the spinners.
It does depend on the quality and thickness of the spinners though.
A push spreader - that would be a lot of work and time to do 5 acres as the spread width wouldn't be that wide. Furthermore, you wouldn't get a lot of lime in the spreader either.
A contractor with wide wheels on the tractor would be much quicker, more efficient and it would be done in next to no time.
Or see if there are any neighbours with a quad bike spreader.
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We bought a quad spinner .... OH and I love using it!
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Should be able to hire a quad bike from a dealer for a day or 2
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...and you can tow a quad spreader behind another vehicle ;-) our berlingo has been known to get the hay in.... And our scudo van (can you tell we havnt got a tractor!). we have now got a £400 quad and have been looking at calcifert too (sadly no one near stocks it). If your fields are up to it (flat enough, dry or frozen enough) use your car!
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I SO want a quad - OH says no-it would just get stolen, as I'd probably need his mechanical skills at some point, not much point in going against him :-(.
But thats the sort of spreader I been looking at just now, may show him some tonight, hopefully change his mind. Thanks
Looks like I've found the trigger - OH has agreed to look at quads :thumbsup: :excited: . We have to think about how to keep it secure,
I was thinking a push spreader over 5 acre would need time and patience, I thought if it was in 1acre+ parcels I'd do it one at a time. Thanks for the warning about corrosion, I'll make sure it's washed down. It's contractors (local) who have damaged our fields in the past, we have a lot of drains to repair in other fields. (bought the land a just a few years ago)
We have a Berlingo as well, also use it for bringing hay in, and transporting goats, SO useful, but field too wet in spring for a normal vehicle.
We have to ring up to get the nearest Caldifert dealer, but OH was told at LAMMAS they'd get the 600kg load in the Berlingo for us (apparently that's the minimum for the bulk price).
Now putting a request for advice on quads in 'Equipment'
Thanks all, looks like we may get somewhere with it this spring :fc:
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...and you can tow a quad spreader behind another vehicle ;-) our berlingo has been known to get the hay in.... And our scudo van (can you tell we havnt got a tractor!). we have now got a £400 quad and have been looking at calcifert too (sadly no one near stocks it). If your fields are up to it (flat enough, dry or frozen enough) use your car!
FiB do you not have a Wynnstay somewhere there?
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I SO want a quad - OH says no-it would just get stolen, as I'd probably need his mechanical skills at some point, not much point in going against him :-(.
But thats the sort of spreader I been looking at just now, may show him some tonight, hopefully change his mind. Thanks
Treat him to the mistake I made. Local agri merchant lent me one for a few days 'free-just to see what i think'. My dog fell in love with chasing quad bikes so i had to buy him one.
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I SO want a quad - OH says no-it would just get stolen, as I'd probably need his mechanical skills at some point, not much point in going against him :-(.
But thats the sort of spreader I been looking at just now, may show him some tonight, hopefully change his mind. Thanks
Treat him to the mistake I made. Local agri merchant lent me one for a few days 'free-just to see what i think'. My dog fell in love with chasing quad bikes so i had to buy him one.
:roflanim: :roflanim:
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Another option to consider -You could probably buy a mf 135 type tractor and normal fert spinner cheaper than a quad bike and the fancy fert spinner it will need. It will do a host of other tasks is less knickable, and will be still going strong long after your quad bike has gone to the recyclers. Insurance miles cheaper too I'd imagine. Vintage tractor insurance £45 a year....quad bike anyone know ?
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We have looked at tractors, but he's looking at 70-100hp, which I think is far too big for me, I used to drive an old Super Dexta, I liked that. He also wants something newer, so less problems.
He's now talking of a mule type vehicle instead of a quad, it appears I don't have much say in things, trouble is, he'll be still talking about it in autumn, I want to get this field tamed this spring.
If we did get a smallish tractor, I suppose I could get a mower for the rushes, don't suppose there is a mowing machine that pulls behind a 'mule'?
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your super dexta woud be spot on , the old machines are far more reliable, cheaper on parts if you need them , simple technology you see. You don't need 70/100 hp to spread fert, chain harrow and mow grass. A mule will cost a fortune and you wont be able to get parts next month,... I have a 1956 ferguson 35, almost every single part can be bought for it , dirt cheap next day delivery. Not that I can remember the last time I had to buy anything for it other than diesel.