I can see where you are coming from, But am far to jaded from NFU meetings where the discussion is going nowhere and some worthy thinks this is the answer to the worlds problems. (appreciate I have gone off topic)
Lime
- Thread starter Hilly
- Start date
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Ive only been to one NFU meeting and im jaded for life, never ever again ever.
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
The current set of regions would be perfect for giving free lime rather than money, region 1 free 1.5 tons per acre region 2 3 tons per acre ! region 3 3 tons plus a plane to spread, imagine the lime quarrys they would have it up to 50 ton next week 
I could sell some as some of our land don't seem to need it, but some would see benefit, I would father have some money thoughThe current set of regions would be perfect for giving free lime rather than money, region 1 free 1.5 tons per acre region 2 3 tons per acre ! region 3 3 tons plus a plane to spread, imagine the lime quarrys they would have it up to 50 ton next week
DaveJ
Member
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I've seen farms ruined with lime though, especially on sand. And basic slag was the worst, they used to throw it on every year and never tested anything. Still a lot of farmers spreading npk every few weeks and they will fudge their farms as well
A farm ruined with lime/slag in Wales? That's a new one on me I have to say.
My late Taid was one of those who used basic slag like we use urea and I have cause to thank him regularly. Virtually no reseeding or lime spread here in the 80s and 90s. But as I'm now 2/3 the way round the silage ground I'm noticing a huge difference in analysis between fields we've owned since Nain and Taid came here in the 20s and the bits that have been bought to the farm over the years. Much of the original ground just needs a tonne/tonne and a half maintenance application and no P and K. Literally the other side of the fence has required a 4 tonne split application.
And the most recently bought field (which was part of a smallholding Dad split with a neighbour) when ploughed was turning up loads of white pebbles which baffled me until the older generation explained it was lump lime - basically waste from the kilns bought cheaply by the less well off farms.
- Location
- East Dartmoor, Devon
We rent some ground in HLS on the edge of the more and have also found the stock do not perform as well. We have found that mineral boluses help
. Re lime spreading I have noticed many lime spreading contractors are now equipped for low ground pressure but not for working on steep ground. A bit of a problem if you have steep ground
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davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
The way i see it is you spend £50 a acre in silage fert and its gone in 8 weeks but you lime will last years and make your ground more productive
Cab-over Pete
Member
- Location
- Kenilworth, Warwickshire
I like you.
No idiots like I used to be about now then ?Re lime spreading I have noticed many lime spreading contractors are now equipped for low ground pressure but not for working on steep ground. A bit of a problem if you have steep ground
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
They are all moving away from driven axels, madness imo, big spreaders total dead pull ok on inby ground useless on my kind of land, fortunately my contractor has a land drive spreader, worth ts weight in gold.We rent some ground in HLS on the edge of the more and have also found the stock do not perform as well. We have found that mineral boluses help
Re lime spreading I have noticed many lime spreading contractors are now equipped for low ground pressure but not for working on steep ground. A bit of a problem if you have steep ground
- Location
- East Dartmoor, Devon
Yeah where has that steady supply of madmen gone?No idiots like I used to be about now then ?
Seriously though I would not send anyone where I would not got myself. It is steep fields where you can turn safely at the top and bottom but cannot pull I dead weight up.
Cab-over Pete
Member
- Location
- Kenilworth, Warwickshire
I've started telling customers what a friend of mine does......
We will go anywhere as long as you ride in the cab with us!
Warwickshire isn't known for steep land and we don't have many big steep banks, but there are some really nasty little banks and corners of fields which I have to treat with respect.
We will go anywhere as long as you ride in the cab with us!
Warwickshire isn't known for steep land and we don't have many big steep banks, but there are some really nasty little banks and corners of fields which I have to treat with respect.
the outfit I drove was six wheel drive, ten if you count the duel wheels, we would do steep land across ways thoughYeah where has that steady supply of madmen gone?
Seriously though I would not send anyone where I would not got myself. It is steep fields where you can turn safely at the top and bottom but cannot pull I dead weight up.
ThatsSomeSheep
Member
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Done that in a little unimog, on 45 degree slope, with a cow track across it.. Was'ent too bad on way down but was interesting on way back up. The Moggy didnt like the idea of crossing the cow track, it got one back wheel over and started waving front wheel in the air.
Now then @Cab-over Pete - what do you suggest I do about keeping the lime status up on this?
I've treated the low pH patches after retesting the areas highlighted by SOYL.
How do I lower the pH to the point of making nutrients more available on my chalk??
I've treated the low pH patches after retesting the areas highlighted by SOYL.
How do I lower the pH to the point of making nutrients more available on my chalk??
don't some ferts lower ph ?
Been chucking AN based fertilisers on for decades. The soil is basically calcium carbonate, so will need something substantial to reduce pH.
Cab-over Pete
Member
- Location
- Kenilworth, Warwickshire
I'm no expert on lowering pH (I'm no expert on raising them either!!) but to my knowledge there is no economical way to lower them.
I've got in-laws farming at Northington near Alresford with high pH like yours and they don't seem to have trouble getting good yields on chalk.
I know one thing, a high pH is less of a problem than low pH
I've got in-laws farming at Northington near Alresford with high pH like yours and they don't seem to have trouble getting good yields on chalk.
I know one thing, a high pH is less of a problem than low pH
Bogweevil
Member
As I understand it free calcium carbonate will buffer against pH change so change is seldom economic. But perhaps adding organic matter will provide at least some alternative routes for nutrients to reach plants? Respiration of microbes in the organic matter is said to reduce, in the chemical sense, iron oxides to soluble forms accessible to plants. Also organic acids from decomposing organic matter if I recall rightly can 'chelate' nutrient molecules protecting them against fixing in the alkaline soil but available for plant uptake. Know any sheep keepers?