The best plant growth will occur when the pH of the soil is such that the required elements are dissolved and readily available and the toxic elements are poorly dissolved or tightly bound to the soil particles and so are unavailable. These optimal conditions occur when the pH of the soil is maintained between 6.0 and 7.0. Also in this range other organisms, such as the bacteria responsible for fixing nitrogen for clovers are better able to thrive. This, then is why we lime, to make the good elements available and to bind the toxic ones out of the way. The narrowness of this range also explains why a soil test is so important.
Lime is too vital to do without and too expensive to waste.
As a result of this summer's adverse weather, beef producers may again be faced with a shortage of winter feed similar to last winter. Now is the time to evaluate winter feed supplies vs. requirements and develop a plan of action. If the feed supply is inadequate then additional feed must be acquired, or cattle numbers reduced. The number of days that feed is required must be determined. This will vary from around 90 - 150 days, depending on the climate in your area and the amount of stockpiled forage available.