Spreading fertalizer with a 560

[Kyle Koehler from Dunkirk]

Hi I'm 18 and looking to start farming. I have 2 farmall 560 tractors To work with. I have a a 455 IH planter with dry fertalizer boxes I can use and I think I have enough horse manure to spread also. My question is if all that and putting down anhydrous before I plant would be all the fertilizer I need or if I will need to have it sprayed.also what Are the different methods of putting anhydrous in the ground and will my 560 have enough HP? thanks a lot for the help. Ps the ground around me isn't very hard. in northwest ohio
 

[Kyle Koehler from Dunkirk]

And I'm talking about planting corn.
 

[steve_in_mo]

Corn likes a lot of nitrogen!

Before you do anything, invest in some soil testing. Then you will have a better idea how much of what you need. We used to apply anhydrous with a Super M so I know a 560 will pull a reasonable sized knife-type anhydrous applicator. Most fertilizer places can arrange custom application at a reasonable rate.
 

[Roger Tomfohrde]

Kyle, we farmed 240 acres for years with a 560 as the largest tractor. We put anhydrous on with it but the tank was small and did only a few rows. I don't know if your supplier would have the small rig for putting it on anymore with the scale that the farmers are now. We went to Urea as it was easier and safer to do for the N. Anhydrous really got rid of the gophers though.You might want to get someone else to do it custom for you because the equipment now is so large.There are other sources of N if you look. Broadcast spreaders are larger now than when we used them but you don't have to fill them all the way up either. Depends on how soft of ground and how many hills you have, just watch the gross weight and you will be safe.Hope this helps and good luck.
P.S. I have a 560 too and have always liked them.
Roger
 

[Kyle Koehler from Dunkirk]

when you guys say a custom job would it be any better than me doing it myself if i have samples taken? and around what price am I looking at for 20 acres? and how exactly do you apply urea ? sorry just trying to wrap my head around all this haha
 

[Tim(nj)]

What kind of bedding is in that horse manure? Wood shavings will actually remove nitrogen from the soil when they start to break down . . . the nitrogen will eventually be released back into the soil, but it takes a long time. I'd suggest composting the manure if it has shavings in it instead of direct spreading.
 

[rufus80]

First off get your soil tested. The only way to apply anhydrous is by tank and toolbar. Horse manure does not have the nutrients like cow, hog, and chicken manure does. Personally I would use 28% instead of anhydrous, it is safer. I pull an 28% toolbar/tank combo six row with a 706 gas and it has plenty of power, same motor as your 560, 263ci. With corn I use a dry fertilizer planter and apply 200 pounds per acre of 10-20-20 with zinc added. Corn likes zinc.
 

[paul]

Corn will use about 120-200 lbs f N, and 30-50 lbs of P and 30-50 lbs of K. (Actually it uses almost double that, but uses that amount to create the grain, the rest is returned to the soil....)

Depends how big a yield you are trying for, and what your soil has in it now, as how much you need to add.

Urea is a granular, spread it on the ground and work it in the soil so it doesn't eascape.

A 560 is a fine tractor for 20 acres; your trouble will be in renting fertilizer equipment, lot of places only have stuff for 150hp tractors any more, so you gotta see what works in your area.

Anhydrous is a rather dangerous gas that you need to inject into the soil with shanks. It is not dangerous at all after you get it injected, just as it comes out of the tank it is _very_ interested in absorbing all the water it can find, and if it comes in contact with your skin, eyes, or lungs it will damage or kill you. I think you would need a bigger tractor and a cab to use anhydrous yourself? Be sure you understand how dangerous it is for the 5 minutes it comes out of the tank as it seeks water - I got a drop on my thumb years ago, it took 4-5 years before the skin on my thumb was back to normal. A neighbor got a wiff in his eye, it messed up his vision a bit since. Treat the stuff with respect.

It costs a tad more - not much tho, and you could rent a spinner to put down a mix of all 3 - N, P, & K with the spinner spreader. It woulde be safer & your tractor would handle it.

Horse manure is good fertilizer. We don't know how much you have... What was the previous crop, soybeans, corn, or what? Makes a difference on the amount of N you need....

-->Paul
 

[paul]

Cost I put $250 worth of fertilizer per acre down this past year, they expect it to cost a bit more this coming year. I have low P values, so I am building a bit, and trying to fert for next year's soybean crop a bit too, but - fert is not cheap.

That would be $5000 if you needed the same level of fert I did.

--->Paul
 

[Kyle Koehler from Dunkirk]

It had beans 2 years in a row
 

[DeltaRed]

If you're going to use annhydrous,first and foremost get EDUCATED on it!Safty procedures,appicating,.....and,a 560 is not enough tractor for a rig.Last time I used annhydrous,I had it custom applied at a cost of $18/acre.Go with dry program.Your fert guy should have a cart for you to use to spread grannular.I have pulled a cart with aSuperM in 4th gear.You said you have a dry fert,box on your planter-Perfect!ues it.I am currently useing liquid side dressed at cultivation.Use a 706 pulling a 6r cultivator with a 200 gallon tank up front.Good luck with your corn project!
 

[Cooney Minnie]

Something is being left out here... if you do a soil test, and you should, one for every five acres or so, then test the manure as well.

Horse manure, if it doesn't have too much bedding, can be a great source of P and K. K values can be 2 t 3x dairy cow manure. A horse is a very inefficient animal when it comes to removing nutrients, so most comes back out!