We have approx 12 acres in hay, which we sharecrop with a neighboring cattle farmer who has baling equipment. We’ve just baled the first cutting last week, yield sucked, and due to very dry conditions, will not get another cutting this year.
Our hayfield really, really needs some attention to improve yield or it’s not going to be worth even baling. I had the soil tested and the lab recommendation was to apply 3 ton/acre of ag lime to raise pH, 100 units of potash, and fertilize with 50-20-80 NPK.
I know ag lime is usually applied in the fall, but given that the field is essentially done for the year, any reason not to go ahead and apply it now? Any experience to share on choosing pelleted lime vs powder?
For the fertlizer – I’m unclear why the lab would recommend a separate potash application-- I wonder if there’s a limit to how much potash the soil can incorporate in any one application or something. Does the fertilizer application have to be in the spring, or will the soil benefits be durable enough that I could apply it this year?
I’m trying to be creative/flexible, because as a small farm, it’s difficult to get on the schedule when you’re competing with 500+acre crop operations for the same rental spreaders and pile of lime at the co-op. At the same time I don’t want to throw money away on soil inputs if it’s useless to apply them at the “wrong” time.
I’ve been tempted by lots of ads for liquid calcium but I’m glad I found this extension office article debunking the marketing claims.
Ugh, I find soil chemistry really hard and in our ag community the topic seems to be used as some kind of a “Idiot Meter.” You either know it or you don’t. But honestly, the farmers around me do give me good advice when I ask for it. It’s just that sometimes you need pretty thick skin about how the advice is offered. From yesterday:
Me: "So, Joe, I’ve been having a hard time finding someone with a lime spreader who has time to do my field. I saw something about applying liquid urea, do you know anyone who does that?
Joe: "Well, sure, you could give it a try. Be a bit tough to get their boom sprayers through your gates. 'Course it’s all gonna just aerosolize within a day, but hey, it’s your money. "
Me: <sigh. Makes mental note to go research aerosolization time of liquid urea>