Lime question

I see discussions where farmers are liming every 2 or 3 months? Is this agriculturall lime or household lime and what is the purpose of the liming that often.

I also have 1 question if somebody has some knowledge about liming. After you lime should you keep the deer off of it for a period of time, if so how long?

This was in an earlier discussion. Liming helps with parasite control as well as stabilizing the Ph of your soil.



Dave, others asked the same Q you asked and I believe most said they haven't had any problems with liming and letting the deer on it right away. This is what I remember from the earlier discussion.



Tom

I use dolomite for insect/parasite control - along with guinea fowl. No problems with pests, flys, wasps, snakes! If it moves the guineas get it!!

Lime I use on my pastures based on a soil analysis. Adjusts the pH of the soil to make grasses grow better. Certainly a soil analysis is cost effective, because to lime blindly is probably a waste of money.

I see the wild deer population on the pastures after we have added lime and they don't show any ill effects.

When we lime our pens we like to use pelletized lime as there is less dust and the pellets fall through the folage and onto the ground. I have let deer right back into the pen with no ill effect what so ever. You can usually get it in 40 or 50# bags for about 3.50 a bag at your local tractor supply,farm n fleet, or rual king(which ever you have in your area. We add about 250# per acre 3 times a year. By spreading out the application I am told you get better results. We are located in central Illinois and thats what it takes to keep our soil PH as near 7.0 as we can. Clover,alfalfa,and other legumes prefer a PH in this range to insure good growth and nutition. Rick

In the winter months when some areas in the pens are almost always muddy, such as allies, feeding areas or where the deer just like to hang out, it is a good practice to put lime in those areas and put it heavy like a couple of inches thick. This will help keep their hooves dry. If they stay wet for a period of time the hoof will soften and become more succeptical to getting cut which inturn could cause hoof rot. It takes a long time to heal and is very painful to the animal. A lot of cattle farmers use this method with great success. I dump it thick around feeders and in the allies and force them to walk through it. Has not harmed them at all. Jeff

Agricultural lime is used to neutralize the the soil. Neutral is a PH of 7. When the soil is close to neutral the plants can better utilize the fertilize and minerals in the ground. But you should not have to lime most pastures but every 2-4 years once the PH is corrected. Some Plants do not like a PH over 7 an very few like it less than 6. As far as I know agricultural lime does not aid in pest control.

Household lime is used in pest control for thing like lice or fleas but is not real effective in maintaining the PH in the soil.

The reason I ask what the lime is being used for is because if PH is the target then 2-3 months is to often. And if pest are the target then agricultural lime will not work as far as I am aware. Household lime is used for pest.

Also, as far as letting the deer on it after liming if you using ag lime then it is not necessary to take them off. It will not harm them, it is just crushed limestone.

Wow I sure wish what you said about PH being established you don't need to add more but unfortunatley here where I live frequent soil test shows the PH levels do not stay constant as the lime leeches away over a period of about 3 to 4 months. I imagine it depends largely on your soil type. Rick

I have put calcium/ lime in my feed for years. i run 20 lbs per ton. I feel it is good for all the deer bones and bucks for antlers. I cannot see any problems with liming pastures and having deer there and grazing on what you put down. Lime and do not worry about hurting deer.

I am sure that soil type plays a role in the leeching. We tryed pelletized lime and found we got quick results but it did not last. Dolimite lime, which I think is just the stone type, does not fully activate here until we get 6-8 inches of rain. We only need it every few years but we put a ton per acre when we put it out.

I am still wondering about the pest control people are using lime for. Is there an ag lime that works for pest control? Or will household lime raise the PH.