Fertiliser Spreading

[sleepy]

is it just me who hates fertiliser spreading?

The whole job is just a pita from beginning to end, first tray testing and setting drop point, messing round with half a bag.
Then calibrating the rate if you don't have a weigh cell spreader, test weigh adjust repeat.
Then loading it up, messing around cutting bags open, shaking the last bit out, empty bags blow away, hands stinging and sticky.
Then finally driving to field, and not having tramlines in a grass field it's a pita knowing where to drive at 24m. GPS makes it easier but it still feels like guesswork wondering where to switch the spreader on and off.
Then you inevitable run out just before the end of the field, or if on a hill it all moves to one side and the other side is empty.
Then if you have banks anything like ours you are shitting yourself going across the slope as the back wheel lifts on and off the ground. So you slowdown so you don't topple over but of course then you are over applying so have to speed up again.
Then finally you finish the field (and look at the GPS coverage map and think it doesn't look so bad after all) but realise you did the whole thing with the border limiter engaged.
Then you get back to the yard and spend 3 hours washing the spreader off so it doesn't vaporise before next use.
Then you look at bloody stripes all summer.

 

[mushnt grummmble]

Think you've way over complicated that
Look at charts,set spreader
Cut bag (wearing gloves)
Drive on
Quick swill with the pressure washer and drop it back in the shed

 

[spin cycle]

pansy...forget the tray test.....calibrate in field as you go (based on records/charts)...gps luxery...3hrs to wash down....and not in the yard surely

 

[bert]

Your making hard work of it, just set on and lash it on!

 

[Vernon]

I quite like the job

Vernon

 

[czechmate]

One of my favorite jobs...
Spring is about here

 

[Gulli]

No not just you, if the prills are too big our spreader only holds 500kgs or it all bounces out on the way. Opens on its own so you have to reach out the back window and turn a tap before you start spreading. One side runs out about 25kgs before the other side.
If the grass is short and it's dry you can't see wheel marks so you just have to guess.
Work out the settings and then forget to convert from kgs/acre to kgs/ha which is what the tables for the spreader work on and there's different settings for all sorts of ferts except the one you are using
Sometimes you run out at the end of the field sometimes halfway sometimes you have to go over it again

 

[Jim Jackson]

Dont mind spreading. Easy job. Better than spraying.

 

[RobFZS]

It's real fun when it's a dodgy bag and it's constantly blocking up, not had one do it in 3 / 4 years and had 2 this week

 

[bobk]

You wouldn't be overly impressed loading 50kg bags in to a wagtail then Jake

 

[oil barron]

My favourite job. Keeps your brain constantly engaged thinking about your calibration and driving straight / correct width. And you cover the ground.

 

[sleepy]

No not just you, if the prills are too big our spreader only holds 500kgs or it all bounces out on the way.

I think I would top myself if I could only spread 1 bag at a time, the only good thing about the job is its over relatively quickly 4 bags at a time!

 

[bert]

It's real fun when it's a dodgy bag and it's constantly blocking up, not had one do it in 3 / 4 years and had 2 this week

that's no trouble either, slam it down with the loader onto the floor before you put it in the spreader, all breaks up well then

 

[sleepy]

My favourite job. Keeps your brain constantly engaged thinking about your calibration and driving straight / correct width. And you cover the ground.

I prefer more sedate jobs like rolling with an 8 foot roller. Less to go wrong.

 

[herman]

I don't mind the job at all ! But why do people not wear gloves ? We keep a pair in all of the tractors and handlers sprayer e.c.t. And whenever I get out I put the gloves on , it keeps your hands and the tractor interior clean .

 

[Colin]

No not just you, if the prills are too big our spreader only holds 500kgs or it all bounces out on the way. Opens on its own so you have to reach out the back window and turn a tap before you start spreading. One side runs out about 25kgs before the other side.
If the grass is short and it's dry you can't see wheel marks so you just have to guess.
Work out the settings and then forget to convert from kgs/acre to kgs/ha which is what the tables for the spreader work on and there's different settings for all sorts of ferts except the one you are using
Sometimes you run out at the end of the field sometimes halfway sometimes you have to go over it again

And then some folk complain about striping! After reading that we deserve all the regulation we get!

 

[David.]

No, it's a shite job. trouble is nobody wants to take it on, any number of muck spreaders and sprayers and balers etc, but no fert spreaders, which makes me think my opinion is correct.

 

[spin cycle]

You wouldn't be overly impressed loading 50kg bags in to a wagtail then Jake

actually the wagtails are bloomin easy to calibrate in the yard and 50kg bags ok if on a trailer...good days prior farm assurance bs

 

[More to life]

I love the it,first pass a good look round then you watch your crops grow

 

[David.]

Then there is the month wait to see if your urea/sulphur blend has striped like a bas***d despite being tray tested and patterning perfectly.