Old fert

[ladycrofter]

While waiting for the fert order to arrive, we've been investigating some old stuff left on the farm. Some under cover, some not. Covered stuff has been mostly dry and spun out ok.
Outside stuff - some was dryish, but caked in the spreader so couldn't use it. Other partially open bags have mostly turned to damp silt.
What do folk do with this stuff? As its mostly ground rock/minerals I'd think it's still chemically serviceable. Just can't spread it, short of walking around with a wee bucket for weeks flinging it by hand. Thanks.

 

[Kevtherev]

Smash it up on concrete yard and get someone in with lime spreader.

 

[michael N123]

Why are you buying new fert if you have old fert

and drop it in a slurry tank while it’s mixing

 

[milkloss]

Chuck it in the dung lump and Mix in just before spreading if you don't have slurry.

 

[michael N123]

If some old bags are hard be very very! careful opening them up I’ve seen a bag opened and a single 600kg rock drop into the spreader before would easily break your arm

 

[Bald Rick]

Plenty of Old Ferts on here ........

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Put it in the slurry pit and mix it in , or mix it in with some muck

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I was going to say, drop it in the slurry pit, or failing that I would be inclined to drop it on the yard and break it up a bit with the loader and then try to mix it in with the muck in the muck heap to be spread with the spreader. Dropping the bags on the yard can break up some of the lumps, but as post #5 above, be very careful lifting old bags, they have a tendency to break and one gigantic lump of fertliser to drop out, there has been another tread on here about cutting bags with a blade on the end of a broom handle so you never have to get under the bag.

 

[Highland Mule]

I'm guessing you may not have a slurry tank, as that would be unusual for a croft in the Highlands.

How many bags? If not too big a pile, I'd be tempted to drop it on a pad of concrete, bash it into smaller lumps and then load it into the (fert or dung) spreader and put it out on grazing ground anyway. Use it for over grass by just driving around with it flinging out and don't worry too much about application rates or how even the spread is. So long as nothing gets burned, it will make the grass grow.

Some are advcating putting in with the dung but I have a vague idea that there's an issue with mixing dung and AN such that one can lessen the benefits of the other.

 

[Bury the Trash]

spread on garden = prize winning cucumber

 

[Henarar]

put it on the yard and run the roller over it to break it up them put some on top of each load of dung

 

[DaveGrohl]

Cut the side of the bag open on the yard and give it a good going over with the handler bucket/forks. Tip it into fert spreader with bucket and away you go.

 

[bobk]

Melt it and spray it on , OR sell it to an arable farmer for billions .

 

[ladycrofter]

Correct, no yard as such here, and some of it is slimy. Never thought of throwing it on the midden and then letting the dung spreader churn it up. Thanks!

 

[thorpe]

we cant afford to let fert get in that condition here, part used bags whats that all about? if you have to keep it over ayear keep it in good conditions. we ofteen have 20 tons kept over and rarly any probs.

 

[ladycrofter]

we cant afford to let fert get in that condition here, part used bags whats that all about? if you have to keep it over ayear keep it in good conditions. we ofteen have 20 tons kept over and rarly any probs.

Eh "we've been investigating some old stuff left on the farm". Trying to make the most use of it.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Eh "we've been investigating some old stuff left on the farm". Trying to make the most use of it.

Whoever left it for you must of had too much money!

 

[puppet]

Are we talking about 600 or 50kg bags?

 

[Kidds]

Just can't spread it, short of walking around with a wee bucket for weeks flinging it by hand.

Exactly how I have done hundreds of tons over the years, doesn't take long really. Spread plenty similar stuff through the wagtail too, have it set on max and just open it full briefly when it gets blocked with lumps while keeping it about where it should be most of the time.