Are fert spinners that bad?

[Hampton]

We do use some liquid UAN, but most of fert goes through a top spec spreader.
BUT we do have a large number of in-field obstacles and a lot of small fields (as well as some really decent ones) so a spinner will get a lot done in a day where booms would be a huge hinderance.
Hydraulic disc drive, section control and weigh cells have revolutionised spinners IMO. I run an Amazone TS on a Fastrac 4220

I agree, I still can’t get my head around section control on a spinner, but it works brilliantly. Used it on our Amazone for first time this year, and put it on spring barley. Everything was uniform and nothing fell over. None of our fields are reasonable shapes

 

[Bobthebuilder]

All you people with liquid N what do you use for p&k
With a spare man and tractor you'll be better off with a spreader and making the most of what decent weather windows we get, we have both sprayer and spreader but I can't drive them both maybe should put spreader on front links and sprayer on the back

 

[teslacoils]

Fibrophos.

 

[Brisel]

All you people with liquid N what do you use for p&k
With a spare man and tractor you'll be better off with a spreader and making the most of what decent weather windows we get, we have both sprayer and spreader but I can't drive them both maybe should put spreader on front links and sprayer on the back

Fibrophos, compost and sewage cake, then a 15 year old Amazon ZAM for variable rate to top up the deficient bits with straights.

 

[Al R]

I thought a spinner was no match for a sprayer in terms of accuracy but then I had a KV Geospread, it was more accurate than the sprayer and saved a lot of fertiliser over 700acre each application (75 fields) with 12 sections compared to the sprayers 6 it was so much more accurate, couple it with how much it would hold, telehandler could come to you and poles weren’t a problem it was incredible how much more output me and a handler could do. I’d do high rate 400 acre of fert (200acre N then 200 acre K) onto grassland the day after picking silage up and it was no stress.
I know a few running the KV/Vicon Geospread at 36m and they use it aswell as the sprayers for N

 

[ajd132]

I thought a spinner was no match for a sprayer in terms of accuracy but then I had a KV Geospread, it was more accurate than the sprayer and saved a lot of fertiliser over 700acre each application (75 fields) with 12 sections compared to the sprayers 6 it was so much more accurate, couple it with how much it would hold, telehandler could come to you and poles weren’t a problem it was incredible how much more output me and a handler could do. I’d do high rate 400 acre of fert (200acre N then 200 acre K) onto grassland the day after picking silage up and it was no stress.
I know a few running the KV/Vicon Geospread at 36m and they use it aswell as the sprayers for N

The spinners have certainly come along massively in recent years. I am over the moon with our amazon, it’s so good.

 

[Phil P]

Oh come on guys we all know if your buying a new spreader there’s only one that’s worth getting. KV geo spread , weigh cells, auto on/off, 1m sections, easy to setup, the list goes on

 

[Al R]

Oh come on guys we all know if your buying a new spreader there’s only one that’s worth getting. KV geo spread , weigh cells, auto on/off, 1m sections, easy to setup, the list goes on

Unless the others have improved dramatically and are as accurate I would stay liquid if you didn’t want a Geospread, if you get a Geospread then you’ll see how it’s as accurate if not more than most modern sprayers

 

[Phil P]

Unless the others have improved dramatically and are as accurate I would stay liquid if you didn’t want a Geospread, if you get a Geospread then you’ll see how it’s as accurate if not more than most modern sprayers

My new one landed on Tuesday, this I’ll be my second. There was nothing wrong with the last one I only swapped it for a bigger model. As you say the accuracy is excellent however it is always worth putting a new product over the trays to check the spread pattern. I test everything at the start of the season even if it’s supposed to be the same as last year. Only takes 10 minutes and you know it’s right before putting k’s £ though the machine in a day.

 

[yellow belly]

i have used an amozone za ts since 2014 very accurate spread pattern with a set of calibration trays so do not need scs
saved it cost every year by using urea
every field is now smaller than it used to be so we use less fertiliser
and the fertiliser is 10p per kg of n cheaper than liquid

the down side is bags and shed space is limited

 

[Phil P]

i have used an amozone za ts since 2014 very accurate spread pattern with a set of calibration trays so do not need scs
saved it cost every year by using urea
every field is now smaller than it used to be so we use less fertiliser
and the fertiliser is 10p per kg of n cheaper than liquid

the down side is bags and shed space is limited

We bought a cardboard compactor for baling up bags. It makes a a bale about the same size as a conventional then just stack them on a pallet, saves loads of space.

 

[fudge]

i have used an amozone za ts since 2014 very accurate spread pattern with a set of calibration trays so do not need scs
saved it cost every year by using urea
every field is now smaller than it used to be so we use less fertiliser
and the fertiliser is 10p per kg of n cheaper than liquid

the down side is bags and shed space is limited

The days of unstablised urea are sadly numbered though. Personally I can see us returning to liquid if forced to use a stabiliser. Some suggest further limits to n use because of climate change as well. I can see top dressing going to one application of say 150kg of N plus stabiliser sometime in March. Liquid does have the advantage in this scenario because it won't be anymore expensive and quantities of SO4 can be tailored exactly to requirements.

 

[teslacoils]

We bought a cardboard compactor for baling up bags. It makes a a bale about the same size as a conventional then just stack them on a pallet, saves loads of space.

We use a potato box. Two strands of baler band. Fill with bags. Crush them with a half full ibc. When properly full, tie the band around them under some pressure. Get about 150kg bales that fit nicely in a trailer. Cost = nil.

 

[Phil P]

We use a potato box. Two strands of baler band. Fill with bags. Crush them with a half full ibc. When properly full, tie the band around them under some pressure. Get about 150kg bales that fit nicely in a trailer. Cost = nil.

Cost me less than £150 for this

I bet I’ll get more than 150kg in a trailer

 

[JCfarmer]

Geospread here and they really are that good as are many others probably!
As far as accuracy the only benefit for liquid is the probably the last 1 to 2m by the hedge/boundry but if you have obsticles in the field which many do you lose the other way by having to drive round them even having to create mini headland.
Only liquid fert to go through my sprayer is Nufol. I wouldn't entertain liquid otherwise, besides its more expensive to buy and apply not to mention higher depreciation on the sprayer.

 

[farmerlang]

First 100kg/ha of N applied here as liquid , everything else as solid with a sulky x40 econov . The x40 is an excellent spreader , the only thing I would say against it is it’s harder to wash down than the Kuhn it replaced .

Local dealership trying to sell me the lemken equivalent to the x40/50 econav I take it you would recommend?

 

[Wobblebox]

With everyone raving about these Kev Geospreads, how do they compare to the Kuhn M-EMC spreaders... or would the H version be better?

 

[Brisel]

With everyone raving about these Kev Geospreads, how do they compare to the Kuhn M-EMC spreaders... or would the H version be better?

The hydraulic drive is excellent if you have a good supply from the tractor. Less moving parts to corrode.

 

[Bob lincs]

Local dealership trying to sell me the lemken equivalent to the x40/50 econav I take it you would recommend?

Yes definitely.

 

[ajd132]

love this thing