Anyone using something like this?
https://www.ruralking.com/king-kutter-poly-fertilizer-spreader-s-400-p
Says it will work for salt, fertizer and seed. I want something that will work for pelletized lime and will also be able to seed in my plots.
Thoughts? Is there a better way that is more cost effective? A decent walk behind seems to be about a third of the price, but the more I plant the more this looks attractive.
Says it will work for salt, fertizer and seed. I want something that will work for pelletized lime and will also be able to seed in my plots.
My concern with all 3 point spreaders is the same. For pelletized lime and fertilizer, I’m sure it would be fine.
I would be worried however that it will not have enough precision for some types of seeding, especially fine seed like clover, rape, and brassicas. Clover seed is like pepper and the seeding rates for clover is going to be about 10-14 pounds per acre. So you need very precise control over the dropper gate to be able to lay down about 12 pepper flakes per square foot. Does this seeder have that kind of precision? That would be my concern for food plot use.
Spreading too much seed produces big problems in food plots. It stunts growth. Here’s an article on my blog about what happens when some dummy (me!) seeds too heavily. In this case, I ruined about half of that plot because by the time I realized my mistake there’s nothing that can be done and there wasn’t enough growing time to start over.
A 3 point would be fine for big seeds like grain, soybeans, etc I’m pretty confident. That stuff is easy to spread because it’s so big.
Finding the right combination of capacity and precision in a broadcast spreder has been quite a challenge for me. I finally settled on one of the Agrifab ATV tow behind models that has a wide enough stance and enough precision to do fine seeds. But it took 3 tries to get it right.
The downside of a pull behind is capacity for bulky stuff like lime pellets or fertilizer. My spreader only holds 200 pounds, so spreading a ton of lime takes quite a few refills. I found I can speed up the process a little by throwing 4 bags on the back rack of the ATV in addition to the hopper, then I don’t have to run all the way back to the pile to fill, but it is still slower than I’d ideally like.
Also, the rim height can make filling some 3 point spreaders challenging. Lots of heafting 50 pound bags up high to dump them in the hopper. You can engineer ways around this of course and it depends on your spreder model and your tractor as to how high the lip of the hopper is.
Grouse
I agree with Grouse about how easy it is to over seed with these. Mine is very similar to the one you shown from Rural King. Works excellent for fertilizer and large seeds like sunflower.
But on the fine seeds we use in our plot, my hand broadcaster has still been the best
Thanks for the opinions. I was optimistic about getting one tool for both lime and seeding. Hadn’t thought through the height for filling up the hopper, I’ll do some measuring on that. Thanks again!
I have that 3 point spreader. I use it for lime and fertilizer. The only thing I will seed with is my Earthway bag hand spreader. I’ve tried to plant with the pull behind style and lose too much seed.
DT
The only thing I will seed with is my Earthway bag hand spreader.
Me too. I use the bag spreader for everything. The control is so much better and it’s easier to see your spread width so you don’t overlap too much. I do seed grain with the tow-behind because the seed is cheap and it’s more difficult to spread too much with grain seed because of the size.
Also, I know it’s extra work, but I always set the seed rate at 1/2 of the recommended per acre rate and then I go over the plot twice. Once north/south and once east/west.
It is a little more work to walk the plots with the bag seeder, but realistically I only seed each clover or alfalfa plot once every 3-4 years. So the only thing I’m planting on an every-year basis are Eagle Forage Soybeans and brassicas. I can handle that much walking, in fact it’s good for me.
A 3 point spreader would be nice for lime and fertilizer, however.
Grouse
I have a 3pt spreader like that and love it for fertilizer, lime, and seeding rye. If I didn’t have a planter I would broadcast corn and beans with it. I use a small front pack spreader for small seeds like clover.
I would buy a seeder and a fertilizer spreader for lime and fertilizer. You can’t do it all with same. Just not effective. Most will not adjust down to handle small seeds so won’t be able to plant most wildlife mixes.
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