3 pt Rotary Spreaders - Good for Anything???

We've got an old 3 point rotary spreader setting in our barn - that has been setting at least 35 years. It's been out of the weather and probably could be put in service with not much effort.

I remember back in the day my Dad and an Uncle using this thing behind a Ford 3000 - probably fertilizing, maybe grass seeding.

My question is - are these 3 pt rotary spreaders useful for anything, i.e. spreading fertilizer or seed? I know lime is not necessarily a good fit for them. If you've got one, what do you spread with it?

Trying to figure out if this thing has a place on our farm, or would be better suited with a for sale sign and freeing up some barn space.

Thanks!
Bill

Are you talking about a Cone shaped one? They are very common, around here. You can buy them brand new for 3 or 400. Neighbor made one out of a 55 gallon drum!

They use it for spreading fertilizer pellets that slowly dissolve with rain and "melt" into the soil...

They work well as long as you pay close attention as to where you have and have not been! Other wise there will be lots of strips and spots where you missed! Bryce

Without seeing what you have most of them around here were used for seeding hay, grass, buckwheat, etc.

For the first 12 or so years of my life. Every acre of hay, Oats, & wheat we sowed was spread by a Herd Spreader. Probably held about 3.5 - 5 bushel. I can remember what it looked like; but not exactly how big it was. Herd Spreaders are still made today although a few small changes. We quite often put down the fertilizer as well. The first year we didn't use it Dad filled a 6 ton broadcast spreader from the local co op after spreading the fertilizer. Wheat was skyhigh that year & we planted 60 acres.

If You don't have a tremendous amount of acerage to cover, & You don't mind filling up every 5, or 10 minutes the answer is yes! I farm 400 acres, & I occasionally still use one today! Herd says they work to spread road salt as well, & being made in Indiana (where I live) I see them on the back of 3/4 ton trucks with a snowblade on the front. Saw one just Sunday night.

I wish I had one once a year. I always have a little bit of fertilizer left in the auger wagon when I'm done planting corn. All I can do with it is dump it on the ground then load a little bit at a time on top of a load of manure and take it out on a pasture or hayfield. If I had a spreader like that I could top dress the corn that I'd just planted and get rid of it that way.

They also work good for filling in spots in the spring for frost seeding.

We initially bought a Howse 3pt spreader to spread fertilizer on our 3 acres in Hutchins, TX.

We now use it to spread grass seed on new fields.

Hey Randy,I have a nice 3 point HERD spreader,but you would need a better tractor to use it because it is rated 32 Bu.seed or 2200# of fert.CASE 830 did fine,but don't know on them OLIVERS.Might have to get another JD.

I think I could risk it.

My Brother uses one to sand his driveway after he plows It also adds ballast = When full of sand it must weigh about a thousand Lbs.

I have one mounted on an old 3 gang IH rotary hoe that has the gangs strap welded together and an added 3 point hitch, also have a 350 gallon water tank for weight. I plant all of my winter grazing, rye grass, oats, wheat, clover etc. plus all of my summer annuals for grazing and hay. I have been meaning to get another one and mount them side by side because the main drawback is it only holds about 300 lbs of rye grass or wheat and less of oats.

Yes very handy, You can use them to spread fertilizer, hay seed, sand, ice salt, etc. Even lime pellets can be spread but is has to be the lime pellets and not plain ole lime (the pellets cost a bit more though).

Some of the cheaper cone spreaders do not have the best of control drop rate on really fine seeds. Many users willingly accept the waste and simply overseed when the seed is of the cheaper varieties. However when the seed gets expensive then a better Herd seeder is sometimes used. Alternatively and even better yet a precision seeder would be on a drill when the seeds are really expensive.

Bryce, the same applies when "Fiddling"...

You need to know the Wind and how fast to crank and where to walk and how far each type of seed will spread..BUT, a Fiddle can and will do a very nice job..(but not, if you only Fiddled around)...!!!!

Ron.

I have this little Garber Seeder GL 1 or 3, do not know which:

Great little 3 pt seeder, very accurate seeding rate, also can use it to top dress my sweet corn, before the last lay by plowing.

key factor is keep them inside, wash all fertilizer off and well oiled, will last a life time.

Great little tool to have for the small hobby farmer.
will hold 50# of fertilizer, no problem.

I 've been thinking about getting one to spread lime with on my small organic farm. Every time i see and old drop type spreader like i used to have they are sky high.I saw my old one advertised for $950.oo online! Wishi i hadnt sold it now but didnt have new farm at the time and had to move.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Sounds like I should keep this thing. I might try to get it out of the barn and take a few pics and identify the make. I'll post that info when I get it.

A few more questions.

Lime: From what I read, it's not a good idea to spread bulk lime in a rotary spreader as it tends to be somewhat damp-ish and will clump above the discharge. Also the requirements per acre - 1 ton vs say 50 lbs of nitrogen per acre make it less than ideal for lime - I guess? Also - pelletized lime is very expensive vs bulk.

Fertilizer: What about bulk fertilizer? Is that something you folks with small acreage like me (12ish acres) do? That is buy your fertilizer in bulk and spread it with your 3 point spreader vs having the co-op's truck do it? Or is bagged fertilizer similarly priced as bulk? Anyone applying bag fertilizer vs bulk with their 3 point spreader.

Here's where I'm going. I'm prepared to pay through the nose to have the co-op haul-in and spread whatever I need, but to the extent it makes sense to use my own equipment and time to do so - I will. After all - isn't life good when you are riding around on a tractor...

I'd like to spray my fields for weeds this spring (got a 50 gallon sprayer with booms that go out maybe 16 ft) and top dress with 50 lbs of nitrogen of some sort to get a little growth out of the grass - but also to help wake-up the weeds to have a swallow of the weed killer and get a more effective kill.

My sprayer's, I don't think, pump is suitable for liquid nitrogen, so I'm looking at having the co-op put it down (and maybe spray) or using the 3 point spreader to do it in a granular form of some sort.

Recommendations?

Thanks!
Bill

I have used this wheel spreader to spread line, but it was hard on it. most time the lime is wet and that does not spread well.
also lime is very heavy dense.
this one works good for fertilizer
but that is old school

better way:

most ag stores have spreader trailers you can borrow or rent, if you buy the product from them.

load it, pull it home with the pickup, hook to tractor and spread away, then take it back, if it breaks, call them.!!!!!!!!!

I think you need to get the truck to spread your lime, then just pay the guy and be through with the project.

Recommendation is you going to pay the piper either way.

Buy enough stuff from the co-op so their spreader rental is free or minimal charge. That said you have to make sure you keep the load small enough that your tractor can handle it if you have small tractor hp. This can be make getting the spreader rental for free or cheap much more difficult as tiny loads mean the co-ops spreader is tied up longer and you may not qualify for the cheap rentals at small loads (evryones policies likely differ).

Pay more for the lime pellets and spread it with a little ole cheapo cone spreader behind a small tractor like you already have. Any small tractor can handle a small cone spreader.
The disadvantages is that you will be handling more material with manpower (i.e. 60 lb bags usually). And some products will cost more this way.
Pencil it out and see which way is most cost effective.