Adding Agricultural Lime to My Hayfields
Like many of you, I care very much about our environment and am always seeking better ways to practice wholesome organic gardening and farming.
When I moved to my home in Bedford, New York, I designated three separate areas as hayfields and planted them with a mixture of timothy, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and clovers - all great for producing quality hay for my horses and donkeys. This summer, we called the experts from Allyndale Limestone Corporation in Canaan, Connecticut, to treat the fields with agricultural lime. Agricultural lime is a soil additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk that works to correct the acidity of the soil, eradicate any noxious weeds, and raise the overall health of the land.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
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- Joe Church is the owner of J.A. Church Farms in Sharon, Connecticut. Brian Allyn, owns Allyndale Limestone Corporation in East Canaan, Connecticut. The team brought several tons of ground limestone to drop on my fields.
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- Here is the back of the spreader, which moves the pulverized limestone and throws it about 20 to 30 feet to its left and to its right as it is driven through the field.
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- Here is the lime already compacted in the back of the truck. It looks and feels like all-purpose flour. Lime consists mainly of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. The smaller the particle size the more effective the stone is at reacting in the soil.
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- These mechanical wheels help to move the lime into the spreader.
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- The lime then drops down onto these spinners. Spinner-style lime spreaders are generally used to spread agricultural lime on fields like these.
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- Here is Brian rolling the tarp cover to one side before beginning the application.
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- The tarp keeps the powder dry in the truck – any amount of moisture will affect the lime.
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- This is one of three large fields at my farm – I specifically wanted to use these fields to produce good, natural hay for my five Friesians, Fell Pony and three donkeys. Noxious weeds affect the quality of hay production, so it was important to get rid of them.
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- Here is another large field across the carriage road. It would take a total of three visits to completely cover the fields with lime.
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- Here is the truck as it comes down one of the fields spreading lime on both sides. It is important to apply only as much as the crop can use efficiently.
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- In addition to correcting the soil’s acidity levels, lime also improves the soil’s water absorption and ability to take up nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
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- The truck will make several passes up and down the field before it is finished. Lime is also good for adding calcium and magnesium for plants. The best way to determine if a soil is acidic or deficient in calcium or magnesium is with a soil test – available at your local extension.
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- This truck can hold several tons of lime at a time. What’s more, treating the field will also improve fertilizer efficiency.
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- Here is a closeup of section of grass that has been coated with lime.
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- And here is a wider view of the area that has been treated – it is easier to see here, where Brian has gone, and where he still has to go.
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- It takes about six-months for limestone to become active in the soil.
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- During one stop, Brian checks to see that the lime is running through the feeder properly.
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- The best day to spread lime is when there is no wind, so the application can be done as evenly as possible.
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- Here he is at the end of the field.
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- It took less than an hour to cover this area – and look, the truck is completely empty.
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- Two fields down – one more to go. I am looking forward to seeing how it works on our fields come spring.
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