Broadcast Seeder?

[LarryBud]

I'm going to seed 10 acres with a pollinator mix this winter. My plan is to burn and broadcast seed.

I have both a L3130 for a tow or 3 point or an ATV for a tow or hitch mount. Cost of purchase and storage are factors ( don't think I'll use it much in the future ).

Finally, I think it would be wise to have an agitator in the hopper for the seed mix which probably puts one in the fancier spreader mix.

Any ideas / experience? I have a few months before its go time.

 

[Magicman]

Since this sounds like a kinda 'once and done' situation, could you borrow or rent a seeder or have it commercially done by your 'Co-Op'.

 

[1badDart]

One of my local farm supply store rents three point seeders. Check around, there may be one near you that does the same.

 

[Creature Meadow]

Guy that hunts with me bought a spreader to go on his utv, to spread seed with. He elected to mount it on the front as opposed to the rear so he could see the seed as it was being thrown out.

Actually yesterday we planted our food plots using oats. The spreader has no agitator, which is far from ideal. I spent most of the time leaning out the front shaking the spreader to get the seed to fall through the slot to the spinner. Early we discussed mod 1 being adding a cotter pin inside and mod 2 to add a longer handle to open and close the feeder gate. It worked but was a 2 person operation, it was a cheap spreader and wil lonely be used couple times a year, with the 2 mods it will work fine.

If we had been seeding with wheat results may have been better, but wheat is what we use for food plots.

As for application an idea for you to consider. Spray to kill grass, weeds, and brush. Once brown and you are ready to plant, spread seed, and fertilizer then bush hog it down. The cuttings will cover the seed and germination will soon follow.

I do similar in soybeans. I'll throw my seed once the leaves start falling off the beans. The leaves fall off and or the farmer combines the beans and the slash covers my seeds. I get decent results this way.

Best of luck.

Jay

 

[Magicman]

Yup, our seed store rents all or any item needed to bushhog, till, and plant including the tractor.

 

[BAP]

Seed is pretty expensive to throw on top of the ground and hope it germinates before the birds eat it. Better off with sod to rent a drill and put it into the ground and get a better stand.

 

[Magicman]

Very good suggestion BAP, field mice are also foragers and will take their portion.

Ryegrass is one of the few seed that will reliably germinate without cover.