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My 8 acres farming lot only has PH 4 5 -

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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-04-25          153249


When I be suggested to spread lime. I am scared about the price, 500/ton. Need 2 tons per acre. $8000+$50/acre spread fee.
(My fault. Re-check the price, $500 perload. It is $800 for 16 ton include spread.)
Base fertilizer 10-28-28 is $700+/ton as well.
I just wondering, how can farmer make money this days. :-(




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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
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2008-04-25          153250


Quote:
Originally Posted by kangaroo31 | view 153249
I just wondering, how can farmer make money this days. :-(


Our family has been farming the same lands for well in excess of 200 years, I wonder the same thing.

Best of luck.

....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
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2008-04-26          153272


I don't mean to question your math but eight acres at two tons 16 ton not 500 ton. Yes raising a crop of corn is a big dollar operation now days. Cash corn at the local elevator is around 4,50 per bushel right now. For those who stored their last years crop that had a production cost of probably 3.00 per bushel they did right well. Now todays real world costs have arrived. I haven't farmed since the 04 crop year and have sold the bulk of our farml;and and now rent the remaining part farm to a neighbor. I still keep abreast of crop prices and input costs, so you are right it is a struggle to make it even with high corn prices of today. The Friday April 25'th close on the Chicago board of trade for Last Half October 08 corn was 5.42 less .55 basis means that delivered to Cedar rapids a farmer who contracted at that price on Friday will recieve 4.97 per busel for #2 yellow corn. Ok now the reality comes in. I'll list the expenses involved to grow one acre of corn now in eastertn Iowa.
Land cost 250.00
Power and machine costs, ( fuel, depreciaton on eqiopment, intrest, taxes, repairs.) 175.00
Nitrogen 80.00
Phosphate + potash 70.00
Seed 100.00
Herbicide 65.00
Crop insurance 35.00
Intrest on input costs from April till December 30.00
Total input cost for one acre of corn 805.00

805.00 input cost divided by 4,97 per bushel sale price means it takes the first 161 bushels to pay the input costs. With a realistic yield per acre of 185 bushels means tha farmer has 24 bushels at 4.97 per acre for profit. that comes to 119.00 per acre net, so a five hundred acre corn farmer could net 59,500.00 for his years effort. Nuff said. Frank. ....


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harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000
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2008-04-28          153289


There is no one in Central NY paying 500 a ton for lime. The trucking cost is your most expensive cost. Not sure about lime sources in your area. But you can buy it in the east west thruway valley cheap trucking probably $35 a ton 34 ton load to get it there. Rent a spreader from a farm supply.

A 16 ton load could come in on a tri axle whole load should only be 500. ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
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2008-04-28          153290


Those lime quotes can't be right. Obviously lime and delivery prices will differ between your location and mine. But but before diesel went over $4/gal, I paid about $450 to lime 15 acres of pasture. His truck spread 15 tons at a time, and he made three trips. All I had to do was open/close the gates, then pay the guy when he was done.

Fertilizer prices are another story though. Can't speak to them, because the price per ton is linked to individual soil sample results.

//greg// ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-04-28          153292


Hardwood, don't disagree with your input cost. Here land is less but so is yeild. That Iowa dirt is special as to yeilds.

Kangroo, did you have your soil tested? Did you have it tested for the crop you will be planting? If not do that first. As to cost of lime, ask around for options. I found a local mine that produced lime as a by product for a much lower cost. Spreading it was then the issue but $10 per ton verses $30.

As how a farmer makes money...believe Murf and Hardwood about covered it. You must pay attention very carefully. For some reason I thought you were growing for a speciality market. Be carefull watching big farmers operation. Your money crop may not be of same importance to them and not get the same care and attention as their primary crop(s). A produce farm may also have field corn but will take care of the produce first as it is a most costly and potentially profitable crop.

As to when you spread lime, my limited experience is when it is needed and when you can do so (no crop in, ground dry enough to support weight and so forth). Here the best time to have such done is when everbody is having it done but near the first of that rather than the end when supplies and such can and will run out. kt ....


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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-04-28          153299


Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey | view 153289
There is no one in Central NY paying 500 a ton for lime. The trucking cost is your most expensive cost. Not sure about lime sources in your area. But you can buy it in the east west thruway valley cheap trucking probably $35 a ton 34 ton load to get it there. Rent a spreader from a farm supply.A 16 ton load could come in on a tri axle whole load should only be 500.
Harvey, thanks. I did check one lime company in Central NY. For this small amount lime their price is less than 300/ton. But my farm is in the south orange county, NY. It is over 200 miles for them to deliver. I am checking the price from PA now.
....


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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-04-28          153303


Quote:
Originally Posted by hardwood | view 153272
I don't mean to question your math but eight acres at two tons 16 ton not 500 ton. Yes raising a crop of corn is a big dollar operation now days. Cash corn at the local elevator is around 4,50 per bushel right now. For those who stored their last years crop that had a production cost of probably 3.00 per bushel they did right well. Now todays real world costs have arrived. I haven't farmed since the 04 crop year and have sold the bulk of our farml;and and now rent the remaining part farm to a neighbor. I still keep abreast of crop prices and input costs, so you are right it is a struggle to make it even with high corn prices of today. The Friday April 25'th close on the Chicago board of trade for Last Half October 08 corn was 5.42 less .55 basis means that delivered to Cedar rapids a farmer who contracted at that price on Friday will recieve 4.97 per busel for #2 yellow corn. Ok now the reality comes in. I'll list the expenses involved to grow one acre of corn now in eastertn Iowa. Land cost 250.00 Power and machine costs, ( fuel, depreciaton on eqiopment, intrest, taxes, repairs.) 175.00 Nitrogen 80.00 Phosphate + potash 70.00 Seed 100.00 Herbicide 65.00 Crop insurance35.00 Intrest on input costs from April till December 30.00 Total input cost for one acre of corn805.00 805.00 input cost divided by 4,97 per bushel sale price means it takes the first 161 bushels to pay the input costs. With a realistic yield per acre of 185 bushels means tha farmer has 24 bushels at 4.97 per acre for profit. that comes to 119.00 per acre net, so a five hundred acre corn farmer could net 59,500.00 for his years effort. Nuff said.Frank.
Thanks, Hardwood. I am growing vegetable, majorly is oriental celery. It is a fall crop, I have to prepare everything before June. To me per acre the cost is like:
1. Equipments ( It is my first year, 7 year depreciaton) is $500.
2. Power and machine costs, ( fuel, repairs).$250
3. Property Tax $200
4. Insurance 50.00
5. Lime $100/2 year=$50
6. Base Fertilizer 10-28-28 0.5ton=$350
7. 3 times Nitrogen 28-10-10 =$900
8. Harvest Box 400 count=$500
9. Hire people to harvest let said $2/box or $10/hr =$800
10. Rent truck to deliver $100/day, 2-3 times, $300
11. Seed $50

The total cost to me is $4000 at least per acre.Of couse the celery price is higher than the corn. I believe I can make some money if no big pest or weather issue. Follow this cost rate, I thought the farmer can not make money from corn or soy bean before. But looks they are fine.
:-)


....


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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-04-28          153305


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153292
Hardwood, don't disagree with your input cost. Here land is less but so is yeild. That Iowa dirt is special as to yeilds. Kangroo, did you have your soil tested? Did you have it tested for the crop you will be planting? If not do that first. As to cost of lime, ask around for options. I found a local mine that produced lime as a by product for a much lower cost. Spreading it was then the issue but $10 per ton verses $30.As how a farmer makes money...believe Murf and Hardwood about covered it. You must pay attention very carefully. For some reason I thought you were growing for a speciality market. Be carefull watching big farmers operation. Your money crop may not be of same importance to them and not get the same care and attention as their primary crop(s). A produce farm may also have field corn but will take care of the produce first as it is a most costly and potentially profitable crop. As to when you spread lime, my limited experience is when it is needed and when you can do so (no crop in, ground dry enough to support weight and so forth). Here the best time to have such done is when everbody is having it done but near the first of that rather than the end when supplies and such can and will run out. kt
Kthompson, thanks a lot. Yes, soil test show everything low. PH only 4.5. Can not grow anything without lime. :-(
This is my first year. Looks my connections are very limited. The price is local CPS give to me. They are more like you said have to take care big shot farmers first. They are all onion growers. Over one hundred acres at least.
....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-04-28          153306


Are you saying the lime is $500 per ton or $500 for all you need? $500 for 16 tons spread is probably a good price. It does not seem possible you could spend $1200 per acre in lime as your math shows. There has to be a misunderstanding. Kangroo, you are not pricing BAGGED lime are you? You want to buy bulk lime and bulk fertlizer if having it spread. Bagged lime and fertlizer cost more and there is no reason I know of to buy bagged and then pay to have it spread. At this minute can not think of the lime some use in there lawns that is very expensive and it comes only in bags. THat is not what you want. It is suppose to be stronger but the price is way higher than normal agriculture lime.

I would get my lime out as soon as possible. It needs time to work in the soil. You need to disk it in. Here, they want the field disk before they spread it so it will be soft and smooth for their truck to run over it. You need to ask. kt ....


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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-04-28          153308


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153306
Are you saying the lime is $500 per ton or $500 for all you need? $500 for 16 tons spread is probably a good price. It does not seem possible you could spend $1200 per acre in lime as your math shows. There has to be a misunderstanding.Kangroo, you are not pricing BAGGED lime are you? You want to buy bulk lime and bulk fertlizer if having it spread. Bagged lime and fertlizer cost more and there is no reason I know of to buy bagged and then pay to have it spread. At this minute can not think of the lime some use in there lawns that is very expensive and it comes only in bags. THat is not what you want. It is suppose to be stronger but the price is way higher than normal agriculture lime.I would get my lime out as soon as possible. It needs time to work in the soil. You need to disk it in. Here, they want the field disk before they spread it so it will be soft and smooth for their truck to run over it. You need to ask. kt
Kthompson, yes it is a misunderstanding. My fault. I just check with them, it is $500 per load. 16 ton cost me about $800 including spread. But I count 3 times Nitrion fertilizer wrong. it should be $900 instead of $300.
I updated that calculation. Around $700 per ton for fertilizer is reasonable to you these days?

....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-04-29          153333


The ratio of fertilizer you are using I have no idea on as it is not used here, but $700 per ton seems high. I looked back at your cost input and don't follow it. It looks like you are using a 10-28-28 fertilizer and then you say you will be using 28-10-10 nitrogen. The first number in these numbers is the nitrogen. The second and third number is the phosphate and potash. I believe there is another misunderstanding here. You may need to do a second or later application for your crop of 28-10-10 but that is a fertilizer and not just nitrogen. If it were just nitrogen it would be say 28-0-0 if it even gave the 2nd and 3rd numbers which normally they just say 28% nitrogen.

Kangaroo, if you have 8 acres and need 1,000 pounds or .5 tons per acre of 28-10-10 that would be 280 pounds of nitrogen, 100 pounds of phosphate, and 100 pounds of potash. No way will I say that is not correct, but that is a lot of each of these. But if this is correct, you still need only 4 tons of "base" fertilizer. You may be getting hit with an extra fee due to how little amount of fertilizer you are buying.

If you are comfortable with the business you plan to buy the lime and fertilizer from, and I understand you have had soil test preformed, take the soil test results there and ask them to figure the lowest price way for you.

If your soil test results look like those used here they are easy to read. They will give you the amount of each nutrient you need per acre. Then simple math to figure out how much fertilizer it takes to reach that based upon the ratio of fertilizer you use. If you can post those test results we will be glad to help with the math. kt


Kangroo, I edited this to include a site to do the math. It may solve it for you. ....


Link:   

Click Here


 

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kthompson
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2008-04-29          153334


Kangroo, your probably know this and someone else may have mentioned it and I missed it; be sure you are keeping good records for income taxes. Your cost will need to be kept seperated for chemicals, seeds, fertlizer and so forth. kt ....


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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-04-29          153340


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153334
Kangroo, your probably know this and someone else may have mentioned it and I missed it; be sure you are keeping good records for income taxes. Your cost will need to be kept seperated for chemicals, seeds, fertlizer and so forth. kt
Thanks kt, I am using Quick Book categoried them to the business categories I used in Turbo Tax this year.
Orient Celery is a kind of new crop here. CPS and Extention can only suggest to follow the European Celery. They told me the base fertilizer contain less N, because N is easy to loss with water. Then following applies need focus on the leaf weight, so it needs to be mainly N and less P.
I will use that tool you give. Thanks a lot.

....


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kthompson
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2008-04-29          153342


Kangroo...new crop, new farmer? Have you got a market? You will have a lot of celery there? Are you planting for the timing the market wants the crop? Are you planting to match your harvesting ability? I raised some produce for a few years, learned a lot. Enough I NO LONGER raise produce.:) Before you plant, know where you will sell. Before you plant, know how you will harvest. I had a back up for my market, cows! You can make money in produce, if you do all your homework and then work the crop. kt ....


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kangaroo31
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2008-05-01          153364


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153342
Kangroo...new crop, new farmer? Have you got a market? You will have a lot of celery there? Are you planting for the timing the market wants the crop? Are you planting to match your harvesting ability? I raised some produce for a few years, learned a lot. Enough I NO LONGER raise produce.:) Before you plant, know where you will sell. Before you plant, know how you will harvest. I had a back up for my market, cows! You can make money in produce, if you do all your homework and then work the crop. kt
The crops are suggested by one of my fiend's buddy. He is an big oriental distributor in the NYC. He picked celery because lots of oriental supermarkets in the City need it all the time (we have 0.7+ million oriental population in NYC metro area). I visit him twice, and he show me what the quality need meet and how to pack. Market part is fine, growing is the big adventure to me. I will only plant 2-3 acres this year. Other 5-6 acres will be prepared for next year.
But I need apply lime to all of them.

KT, do you know what kind of dry fertilize spreader is suitable for nerrow row (6" apart) when crop grow to 0.5-1'?


....


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kthompson
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2008-05-01          153369


Quote:
Originally Posted by kangaroo31 | view 153364
KT, do you know what kind of dry fertilize spreader is suitable for nerrow row (6" apart) when crop grow to 0.5-1'?


Kangroo, the rows are 6 inches apart, how wide is the crop on the row? You probably would be best off with a spreader that has drop tubes to place the fertlizer in the ground beside the row. Then if there is no issue with the fertlizer burning the crop, any type of spreader probably would work. As narrow as these rows are you would not loose fertlizer to nonplanted area between the rows.

Is the dry fertlizer you want to apply your extra nitrogen? If so you may wish to check on the liquid.

If possible, I would ask someone else who plants the same crop what they use or your county agent at same time the fertlizer store probably knows.

For the most part dry fertlizer spread directly onto a growing small plant will burn it if the leaves are wet as it will stick but if the leaves are dry, normally roles off onto the ground. If you time it right before a rain or irrigate right after think you would be very safe. kt ....


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kangaroo31
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Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-05-01          153371


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153369
Is the dry fertlizer you want to apply your extra nitrogen? If so you may wish to check on the liquid.
Thanks KT. Yes, it is. I consider the liquid fertilizer as well. But looks they are all for short period, 14-21 days. The oriental celery is a long growing type about 80-90 days. At the end It suppose to be 2' high and only occupy less than 25 square inches. Slim type, like crowed and partial shed.
If I use liquid fertilizer, I have to try to build a 500gl tank trailer, with 4' wheel space and 14" ground clearance.
....


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kthompson
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2008-05-01          153372


I am sure it may vary but the fertlizer dealer I buy from will loan or rent you the sprayer for liquid bought there. You may find someone who does this for hire also. Depending on your needs rental or hiring may be better than owning. Also depending on your need there are sprayers that mount on the tractor's 3 point hitch for nitrogen.

I think you may be trying to time your fertilizer to your crop too closely. Frequent applications will give you a better result, but the cost of the application could be more. There are many crops grown across this county that receive a sinple application of fertlizer and most corn (also a high nitrogen crop) normally gets only one late application of nitrogen. Some farmers here apply all the nitrogen within 30 days of planting a 120 or so day crop.

On the conversation of sprayer, do you spray celery for insects? Have you a sprayer for that? Be carefull what herbicides you use in that sprayer as some can leave a very small residue that could harm other crops. kt ....


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hardwood
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2008-05-01          153375


Kangaroo and Kt; If you apply liquid N (28%) after crop emergence with a broadcast sprayer significant damage can occur to the crop from the N going directly on the leaves, it is always best to inject it into the soil between the rows. Significant loss of N can occur when sprayed on the soil surface especially during hot wet periods of weather. KT is correct in that frequent low rate applications can be more benifical to crop growth, but usually the machine cost to do that overwelms the benifit. KT; Here in NE Iowa probably 95% if the nitrogen for corn is applied preplant as anhydrous ammonia, and maybe 5% in 28% liquid is sidedressed during crop growth at probably 12-18 inch tall corn. Frank. ....


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kthompson
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2008-05-01          153376


Frank, I have never broadcast liquid nitorgen.I think the sprayer the dealership has drop tubes on it, right off not sure. It is done here some and I have seen corn burnt up in doing so but have been told it works fine. (it seems it would have to hurt yield) To me it shows lazy or poor technique. I have broadcast dry nitrogen across corn with very little damage just doing so when the corn was dry. kt ....


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kangaroo31
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2008-05-01          153377


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153372
I am sure it may vary but the fertlizer dealer I buy from will loan or rent you the sprayer for liquid bought there. You may find someone who does this for hire also. Depending on your needs rental or hiring may be better than owning. Also depending on your need there are sprayers that mount on the tractor's 3 point hitch for nitrogen. I think you may be trying to time your fertilizer to your crop too closely. Frequent applications will give you a better result, but the cost of the application could be more. There are many crops grown across this county that receive a sinple application of fertlizer and most corn (also a high nitrogen crop) normally gets only one late application of nitrogen. Some farmers here apply all the nitrogen within 30 days of planting a 120 or so day crop. On the conversation of sprayer, do you spray celery for insects? Have you a sprayer for that? Be carefull what herbicides you use in that sprayer as some can leave a very small residue that could harm other crops. kt
Thanks KT and Frank. I just figure out how to calculate how many fertilize for celery based on your input here.
For oriental celery, for ideal final product, let's say 30000lb/acre, need 60lb N, 30lb P2O5 and 120lb K2O only;
So the "base" fertilizer CPS suggested 1000lb/acre 10-28-28 is too much, right? especially P2O5.
If it is correct, I need ask for 10-7-28. It is still double higher than need. But consider the PH lower than normal even apply lime. Then apply light N only liquid fertilize as many times as it need. Correct?

So far as I known if the dirt not too dry, oriental celery usally no pest/fungus issue.


....


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kthompson
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2008-05-01          153381


I believe the 30000 nunmber is a typo.

If you need 60 lb N, 30 lb phosphate, and 120 lb potash. If you used 10-28-28 you would need:

600 lbs per acre to get the nitrogen.

Only about 107 lbs per acre to get the phosphate.

Only about 429 lbs per acre to get the potash.

If the 60 units of nitrogen are all you need and you will apply a late application you need to reduce it here. A lot depends on the fertlizer you are able to buy. If bulk many places mix it and can do a custom mixed ratio. If that is possible they can meet you needs better balance than the 10-28-28. If bagged is what you are buying your options will be limited.

Kangroo, if you are only planting 2 - 3 acres this year, that is all you should fertlize. If that is all you need fertlizer on, if you have a spreader to use with your tractor do it yourself. They will have to charge you extra for this little load as it will be less than a ton. You probably could buy a spreader for $400 to $500.

If you will be putting out 3 acres with a tractor and spreader you will cover it in like 30 minutes. If you are needing no more fertlizer than for 3 acres price it like at Wal Mart and large home supply stores. If there is a tax benefit to buying farm supplies there take that into consideration but I have found for less than a ton they can often beat the ag dealer. They often will use fertlizer to bring in the flower buyer so keep price low. Also can be good place for bagged nitrogen for same reason. Does not hold true every year.

On the nitrogen, bagged here you find two ratios, price all raios and then figure the unit price. I find the highest ratio has been my best price almost always. Same with fertlizer. Shipping of filler cost the same. kt


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kangaroo31
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2008-05-08          153552


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153381
I believe the 30000 nunmber is a typo. If you need 60 lb N, 30 lb phosphate, and 120 lb potash.If you used 10-28-28 you would need:600 lbs per acre to get the nitrogen.Only about 107 lbs per acre to get the phosphate.Only about 429 lbs per acre to get the potash.If the 60 units of nitrogen are all you need and you will apply a late application you need to reduce it here. A lot depends on the fertlizer you are able to buy. If bulk many places mix it and can do a custom mixed ratio. If that is possible they can meet you needs better balance than the 10-28-28. If bagged is what you are buying your options will be limited. Kangroo, if you are only planting 2 - 3 acres this year, that is all you should fertlize. If that is all you need fertlizer on, if you have a spreader to use with your tractor do it yourself. They will have to charge you extra for this little load as it will be less than a ton. You probably could buy a spreader for $400 to $500. If you will be putting out 3 acres with a tractor and spreader you will cover it in like 30 minutes. If you are needing no more fertlizer than for 3 acres price it like at Wal Mart and large home supply stores. If there is a tax benefit to buying farm supplies there take that into consideration but I have found for less than a ton they can often beat the ag dealer. They often will use fertlizer to bring in the flower buyer so keep price low. Also can be good place for bagged nitrogen for same reason. Does not hold true every year. On the nitrogen, bagged here you find two ratios, price all raios and then figure the unit price. I find the highest ratio has been my best price almost always. Same with fertlizer. Shipping of filler cost the same. kt
Thanks, kthompson.
30000 sounds crazy. But think about 1 sf can have 4. Usally 1 cell may more than 1. Each of them if the best result can grow close to 3' and near 0.8lb. Of cause I don't expect I can even close.

CPS applied 8 ton lime on the <4 acres area this Tue. Charge $400. Sounds a fair price to me in this area. Plan to apply "base" fertilizer by myself. 2 pieces Total 2.3 acres need to grow this year. One is 1 acre, the other is 1.3 acres.

Consider the base of my tractor only 44in, I will made 3.5'x300' each line, 2.5' apart. In each line has 6 rows. I check the CPS, they do have 80lb bag 15-10-30 fertiilizer that is very close to the what I need for "base". <$35 each.

I will set 7-8 batches to plan all the celeries. Two weeks between two batches. Like 5/10, 5/24,6/7, 6/21.... Each time only need plan 5-6 lines (30-36 rows). And use liquid Nitrogen later for extra N.

Any major things I missed? Thanks,




....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-05-09          153569


See the 30,000 is not a typo, have impression it is either plants per acre or expected pounds per acre.

If they give fertlizer recommendations there as they do here and if they knew what crop you were going to plant, they gave the needed fertlizer for the recommend planting per acre. If that is true, not sure why it would be any part of your calculation the fertlizer needs.

The 2.5 feet left between rows, why that width? Will you need to get between the rows of celery to harvest it? If so you probably need to make at least every other row wider for tractor or truck. Here you would find about the rear tractor width between the rows and then they will skip a row or two every so many rows to allow for driving through the field for harvesting. That being said, if you totally clear a row as it is harvested with no second harvest, you can always drive down the row just harvested with tractor or truck to load the next row and would not need a row skipped for that. (even if room at each end, 150 feet to tote a green crop is a long way.) I think you said earlier there was no need for any spraying for insects or weeds but if there is, be sure you have room for that between the rows (tractor will not clear the crop quickly) but you must do this to match the length of the boom arms on the sprayer. On the liquid nitrogen, will you be putting it out while the tractor still clears the crop, or will you be running beside it?

I am sure you are both excited and nervous with your first crop. One other suggestion from a just retired farmer here who grew many acres of watermelons: keep a crop journal, anything that affects the crop record it with date with the amount. Limed May 6th, 2008 and amount. Even type of lime. Be sure to record your yields. That way you have a great reference as the years go on. Even the oldest of farmers only plant for say 50 or so years or 50 or so times. Not many businesses out there where you put so much money on the line with so many things you can not control with so few opportunities to get it right. That is a big reason you need to find and develop a good realitionship with others growing what you are. kt ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-05-09          153571


KT; That is great advice on keeping a journal of ANYTHING you do pretaining to raising a crop. For eaxample when spraying a pesticide, record tempreature, wind speed, wind diredtion, humidity, and of course rate of application. The Mrs. and I grew 46 crops and always recorded all that sort of thing, it would come in handy more times than you'd think. We finally threw most of that stuff away a couple years after we retired, but did pass any of it that would help our tennant on to him. ....


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kangaroo31
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 120 Orange County, NY
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2008-05-09          153588


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153569
See the 30,000 is not a typo, have impression it is either plants per acre or expected pounds per acre.If they give fertlizer recommendations there as they do here and if they knew what crop you were going to plant, they gave the needed fertlizer for the recommend planting per acre. If that is true, not sure why it would be any part of your calculation the fertlizer needs.The 2.5 feet left between rows, why that width? Will you need to get between the rows of celery to harvest it? If so you probably need to make at least every other row wider for tractor or truck. Here you would find about the rear tractor width between the rows and then they will skip a row or two every so many rows to allow for driving through the field for harvesting. That being said, if you totally clear a row as it is harvested with no second harvest, you can always drive down the row just harvested with tractor or truck to load the next row and would not need a row skipped for that. (even if room at each end, 150 feet to tote a green crop is a long way.) I think you said earlier there was no need for any spraying for insects or weeds but if there is, be sure you have room for that between the rows (tractor will not clear the crop quickly) but you must do this to match the length of the boom arms on the sprayer.On the liquid nitrogen, will you be putting it out while the tractor still clears the crop, or will you be running beside it?I am sure you are both excited and nervous with your first crop. One other suggestion from a just retired farmer here who grew many acres of watermelons: keep a crop journal, anything that affects the crop record it with date with the amount. Limed May 6th, 2008 and amount. Even type of lime. Be sure to record your yields. That way you have a great reference as the years go on. Even the oldest of farmers only plant for say 50 or so years or 50 or so times. Not many businesses out there where you put so much money on the line with so many things you can not control with so few opportunities to get it right. That is a big reason you need to find and develop a good realitionship with others growing what you are. kt
Thanks, kthompson & hardwood. I will make a farm journal as clear as possible.
Kt, 2.5' apart is based on tractor rear wheel. since the spray arm is 16 ft wide, it can cover 3 lines. Only the path line has that 2.5' space on both side. The line pattern is like
A sp Z sp A A sp Z sp A B sp B B sp Z sp B C sp Z sp CC sp Z sp C

A, B, C are the first couple batchs celery
sp is that 2.5' space
Z is the last batch celery or other less than 10" crops like Pak Choy.

I am thinking not to use real spray, instead of it I try to make 3 groups, each group has 5 soft rubber pipes and 6" apart. Connecting with a 200-300GL tank with a height adjustable arm in a 12" ground clearance cart. When I apply extra Nitrogen, let the soft rubber pipes sweep the ground between each row to apply liquid fertilizer.

Agree, it is the hard to me to make the all the things under control. Just want to do my best and give a try this year.

....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-05-29          154048


Quote:
Originally Posted by hardwood | view 153375
Kangaroo and Kt;If you apply liquid N (28%) after crop emergence with a broadcast sprayer significant damage can occur to the crop from the N going directly on the leaves, it is always best to inject it into the soil between the rows....Frank.


Frank, Thank you for pointing this out. If all goes well tomorrow I will be putting out liquid nitrogen. Your comment caused me to talk with two people who have vast experience in this. They offered the same local solution of drop tubes and then such as bicyle inner tubes cut to slip over them so the liquid dribbles onto the ground and no possible leaf damage. kt ....


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