Van Brunt drill , fertilizer and hay yields ?

BTW - Fertilizer for 6 acres today - $400 applied . OUCH ! That's just for P and K with a small amount of N . Got soil tests back and found out that my dirt is about dead . But the PH is OK , between 6.3 and 6.8 . I'll put lime and a lot more N on next spring . I'm going to have to put this amount of P and K on again next spring too . And maybe next fall also if testing again shows need . No wonder I only got 460 or so bales off it this year ! The horses are going to eat their fill and still starve to death this winter :>) . I didn't smile out loud did I ? I'd like to get closer to 700 bales per cutting off 6 acres if that's possible . That work's out to be less than 3 ton an acre per cutting . Is that setting my sites to high for Brome , orchard , timothy and rye on 4 acres with about 50% alfalfa on the 2 acres I didn't mess with ? Thanks for all the thoughts ...Randy

the van brunt drill is a real good older drill. i keep one around and use it to drill oats, sudan and new hay fields--if you are over seeding pastures -- a no till drill will work better. but requires a large hp tractor to pull it--

good luck.

On the drill, I suppose you don"t know if it is steel or rubber wheeled do you. I believe they are a standard style drill, someone will correct me if I"m wrong. I"d say if the bottom of the hoppers aren"t rusted out, and it generally looks in good shape, it"d probably be a decent buy.

Yeah , I almost got sticker shock when he said that ! The price is only an estimate you know because until it's loaded on the truck and then weighed they don't know for sure . That's the target price ( weight ) though .

I just saw the flier for the auction yesterday , so , no I haven't seen it ( The drill ) . I don't know if it would do me any good or not . I don't have any inside storage for my equipment . I just don't want the junkers to get it . Do you know if they do a good job with grass seed ? I did a search in the photo section and found one so at least I know what they look like .

I haven't been able to get in touch with the owner of that hoe yet . But I think that the price RickL gave you can't be beat . 50 bucks is a good price if it doesn't need any work . My guess is that the one I saw needs some work and is going to cost much more than that . I'll drive over and look at it today or tomorrow and let you know .

A neighbor I'm finally getting to know ( after 17 years ) is supposed to come over with his backhoe and dig a couple big disc killing rock's out of my field this weekend . I've been over at his house a few times this week after work helping him get some forms put up to pour a pad to put a garage on . Things I know how to do and he doesn't . So I haven't got much time to be on this computer thingy .

Last weekend I spent changing out bent and missing spikes in the spike drag , or did I mention that already ? Not something I'll ever do again ! What a pain - literally ! Blisters , cuts , puncture wounds - lots of fun ! I'm still recovering :-] . And I still have one section left to do . ugh ! I only had to replace 15 spikes and tighten a dozen or so others but it took over 8 hours of solid backbreaking labor . I tried hanging them up ( puncture wounds , cuts ) , on the ground ( backbreaking labor , cuts , blisters ) I can see why they are sold so cheap , nobody wants to work on them ! I still have to put new bolts in the axle pivots too . Then next week I think I'm putting it up for sale at auction . I haven't decided yet . I might wait till next spring .

I need to get moving now , I've been lazing around to long this morning not getting anything done , just means a later night . I'll have all winter to put the fat back on . Good luck with the choice of beans or hay . ...Randy

I"m thinking now about just fertilizing the hay, and see what happens next summer. That work exchange really works well. I usually work in exchange for the green stuff :) Have a good one, Rich

A '96 you say ! WoW ! Sounds good ! I hope it works well for you . I drive a '96 at work sometimes and it's a good , solid , comfortable truck with good power . Good luck with it !

I think that in your situation fertilizer on the field is maybe the way to go considering the potential uncertainty of your ability to harvest beans next year . If you move on you won't lose as much I think . You might think about getting a lease from your Dad on that property . Pay him some rent and get it in writing . After all , it is a learning experience , right ;,] ? No matter what you decide Good luck with it ! ...Randy