Not looking for a debate on ag lime vs pelletized- I have some areas where pelletized is more convenient to spread and faster acting, thus worth the extra cost

All things being equal -I'm seeing a wide range of pricing for a 40lb. bag of Pelletized Lime, anywhere for $4.44 per bag to $14.00 per bag. Its pulverized limestone ,,, pelletized- or am I missing something beyond marketing hype? My propensity is to buy the cheapest I can find. Any thoughts?

Buy the cheapest

Big difference between Ag lime and crushed limestone, first is water soluable, other is driveway gravel.

I am pretty sure the pulverized lime is cheaper than pelletized . I prefer pulverized lime. It's a powder not gravel.

ag lime is crushed limestone, It is just the fine particles that are screened out when processing limestone for roads etc.. The ENM ( effective neutralizing material, how ag lime is rated) is mostly a result of how fine the limestone is ground. Sure clay and other materials in the limestone has an effect but the finer you grind it the faster it react. Coarser limestone will have a lower ENM but in an acid soil it will eventually break down. For my pastures I don't mind a little slower breakdown. If you have a really low pH and need a quick fix get the highest ENM you can find. ENM often range from 400 to 700# per ton of ag lime.

I spread some pellitized lime last fall. It's faster acting than ag lime that takes longer to break down. I was paying $240 a ton I think.

Limestone is Limestone, the difference in grade or granulation is where the varied costs are typically applied. The finer the lime, the more it costs. The finer the lime (gradation, granulation), the quicker it reacts in the A & B horizons of the soil to adjust soil pH upward.
Most, if not all Limestone in Wisconsin is dolomite (magnesium based) Limestone. Calcium (calcitic) Limestone is better, but more expensive in WI.

I bought it in bulk from the farmers coop. It was much cheaper than buying bags.

Vic- I have not seen bulk pelletized lime for sale or I didn't look hard enough... any Wisconsin sources for bulk pelletized? I don't want to get laughed at- at the Co-Op

Howdy Bob,
Pelletized lime is a specialty product, which typically runs higher in cost. Not knowing what your soil test suggests for lime, I'm not sure what to suggest. Are the pellets slow or fast release ? What's the acreage size and how quickly are you wanting/needing to raise the pH ? PM or text me if you want.
Regards, Vic

Out here dolomite lime is always more expensive than regular ag lime.

Absolutely

Great thread by the way. Always fun to read about lime.

I was told it takes longer for the pellets to break down vs powder so took longer?

I was looking for pellets becuse I could put them in my seeder on my tractor and spread them myself very paying to have it spread.

At this point I have done nothing. I will likely just call the co-op and have then do the entire job but break it down to individual fields a year ve doing it all at once.

Interesting......here in the Upper Midwest it's just the opposite, calcite lime cost more than Dolomitic lime. Calcitic lime is a better quality lime here.

pellitized will work in a fertilizer spreader aglime will not

Good article.....

https://deerassociation.com/how-to-shop-for-food-plot-lime-to-maximize-deer-nutrition/

We spread ag lime with a spreader. It all depends on what size spreader you're talking about. We get semi loads dumped in the field and load it into a gravity box spreader and go to it. You can see the dust cloud across the vineyards for half a mile

Ask for Pell lime, or use some Gypsum

Ag lime is kiln fired limestone to change the chemical composition.