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[gntlmnrancher]

I bought an old 'Akey' (or something like that, hard to read the writing) and rebuilt it for a total cost of about $600. It's PTO driven as well. It's too much of a pain in the butt (IMO) to un-hook every time I load it, so I actually bug the neighbor to use his tractor and load while I pull it, or have even rented a loader for $250 a day to do it. I really wish mine was bigger as well...multiple trips.

[Joan Deutsch]

Mike spread about 24 yards of compost last Sunday. It took about 6 hours total considering prep work and washing the tractor and spreader afterward. This is such a pain with one tractor that he's retrieving an old 1940s Ford tractor he used to own in an effort to rehab it for this process. Let's hope we don't go broke trying to get it to run. It's amazing what a small area all that compost covered. Here's about half of it.

[booksngardens]

I am going to pay to have my manure pile hauled off to the compost facility this year. Since we don't own a tractor and have very few acres, that is the cheapest and easiest option at this point. I use some in the garden but not all of it any more.

[EasyGoin]

Well, I'm leaning towards the ABI 50G spreader. It's not really what I want but I think I can make it work. http://www.abiequine.com/products/manure-spreader/classic-manure-spreader.html. I think the plan will go kind of like this. Mow the pasture, spread the compost, drag the pasture, then let it rest a bit. I really would have preferred a top dresser, but they just cost way too much. It's about a 2 yard spreader, so it should only take about 5 trips to empty one of the composer bins. They have a better warranty than Millcreek spreaders and cost less.

[Joan Deutsch]

Mike mowed the pastures for the second time this spring. Sure helps keep the weeds down. The grass had started going to go to seed so I hope that won't stunt grass production this year. Joe is our only horse that's been able to graze recently. He's out for an hour and a half a day so just couldn't keep up with 3 acres of fast-growing grass. I'm now slowly introducing the other two horses to the pasture. How long are your horses on grass in spring and summer?

[Joan Deutsch]

EasyGoin,
Have you used your new spreader yet?

[Joan Deutsch]

Anyone else having trouble keeping up with the grass and weeds? Mike mowed last week and it looks like some of it may be going to seed already! With this constant rain, I haven't put the horses out or they'll tear it up.

[EasyGoin]

Have you used your new spreader yet?

Not yet, we've been working on getting a foaling paddock ready. But the plan is to get it ordered pretty soon.

[Joan Deutsch]

We need to spread our compost soon. Usually, we do that around the first of August, but there hasn't been time this year. Below is an excerpt from an email from Alan Shank. I've been thinking for weeks that I better do something about the thistles going to seed. From Alan:

By the way, I've noticed the tansy and thistles are getting ready to go to seed. It's best to remove the whole plant. Even after being cut or pulled, the plant will make a last ditch successful effort to produce it's seed. It's best to dispose of the plant and not try to compost it, because some of the seeds will probably survive the composting process. Cut, dry tansy tastes okay to horses and is still toxic.

[horsepeople2001]

Over here in lovely kitsap county tansy has gone rouge and is out of control every where! I pull and pull and put in trash or burn it and we still get tansy. there are places where whole fields are covered in the stuff it is epidemic proportions over here. The county won't spray it along the roads and the state lets it go rampant on state land but they expect the rest of us to keep it out of our yards and pastures? When they can't get it under control and stop the spread? All I can do is keep it away from my stock and pray seeds don't blow in from state lands next door or from the neighbor who doesn't pull it and dispose of it properly. ok so I am a bit angry with the state and county for not doing their part