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Got Urea?

Posted: August 15th, 2020, 3:42 pm
by andy10917
Now that we're passing the August 15th alarm clock and getting down the wake-up natural/organic fertilizer to get the show started, it's time for a reminder that if you're new around here or have never done a Fall Nitrogen Regimen (and want to), you're going to need to locate a source of Urea in the next 2-3 weeks.

Fast-Release Urea typically comes in a brown-paper bag, without any instructions beyond the words "Urea 46-0-0". It is quite inexpensive as fertilizers go - $15 - $18 a 50-lb bag, and even cheaper per pound if you can lug 80-lb bags around. You won't find it at big-box stores - don't even try. If you try to get it at many places like SiteOne, they'll try to switch you to slow-release (coated) Urea, which is quite a bit more expensive and not right for the job. Your best bet is a place where farmers get it, and those places aren't in malls, etc - it can take some legwork to find them. That's why we wave the flag early - the laggards will be posting with panicked postings of "I need it yesterday" around Labor Day - it happens every year. If you find it and you live in an area where there are other members, post the name/address of your find by responding with your price paid. Kindly do not wander into postings about how to use it - there is a 57-page thread on the topic: Fall Nitrogen Regimens that I am completing final 2020 updates on.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 15th, 2020, 3:45 pm
by andy10917
My contribution is that Nutrien Ag stores usually have fast-release Urea, for folks within traveling distance of their farm-oriented businesses. Price is generally $15 - $18 for a 50-lb bag, and $21 - $24 for an 80-lb bag.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 15th, 2020, 4:43 pm
by mvftw

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 15th, 2020, 7:10 pm
by CPascal
Family Pet & Garden Center
14 Columbia Road
Pembroke, MA

I paid $23 for a 50 lb bag

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 15th, 2020, 7:21 pm
by MorpheusPA
I just dropped a pint or so.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 9:24 am
by mdxers
Is ammonium sulfate a good choice as well? We have a fertilizer plant here that sells to the public. They also sell Urea. Does your lawn pH steer you in one direction or the other?

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 1:17 pm
by MorpheusPA
You can use ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) if the price is right--45% of the price of the urea.

I've seen a lot of numbers thrown around, but if there's a perfect use or complete loss of urea at 1 pound N per thousand, no lime is required. If the average amount of nitrogen is lost, you'll need about 3 pounds of calcium carbonate to cancel it per thousand square feet.

For ammonium sulfate, it's 5.4 pounds of calcium carbonate per thousand square feet.

That's test tube reactions, so of course you'll want to test the soil for the actual numbers. You'll have rainfall, acids and bases releasing from rocks, and so on.

In the case of a mildly alkaline soil, I might be inclined to recommend ammonium sulfate if the price is right. But if not, I'm content with urea. For an acidic soil, the lime will correct it and whatever the person wants to use is fine--just re-test. For a wildly alkaline soil, it doesn't matter. You won't make enough of a difference to shift it anyway.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 1:26 pm
by s1mpl3k1d
andy10917 wrote:
August 15th, 2020, 3:45 pm
My contribution is that Nutrien Ag stores usually have fast-release Urea, for folks within traveling distance of their farm-oriented businesses. Price is generally $15 - $18 for a 50-lb bag, and $21 - $24 for an 80-lb bag.
I'll search for them and hopefully there is one close to zip 60142. Thank you Andy!

UPDATE: There is one about 26 miles from my house. Not really bad!

Do they also sell soybean meal, corn gluten meal, others?

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 4:03 pm
by mdxers
MorpheusPA wrote:
August 25th, 2020, 1:17 pm
You can use ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) if the price is right--45% of the price of the urea.

I've seen a lot of numbers thrown around, but if there's a perfect use or complete loss of urea at 1 pound N per thousand, no lime is required. If the average amount of nitrogen is lost, you'll need about 3 pounds of calcium carbonate to cancel it per thousand square feet.

For ammonium sulfate, it's 5.4 pounds of calcium carbonate per thousand square feet.

That's test tube reactions, so of course you'll want to test the soil for the actual numbers. You'll have rainfall, acids and bases releasing from rocks, and so on.

In the case of a mildly alkaline soil, I might be inclined to recommend ammonium sulfate if the price is right. But if not, I'm content with urea. For an acidic soil, the lime will correct it and whatever the person wants to use is fine--just re-test. For a wildly alkaline soil, it doesn't matter. You won't make enough of a difference to shift it anyway.
I have had anywhere from 7.1 to 7.3 in my last two years tests. I haven't done Logan Labs, but it was from Midwest Labs. Plus, we are technically in a drought, which means most of my water to the lawn this year came from our municipal (alkaline) water supply. Thus, that's why i am in the middle of a renovation.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 5:05 pm
by andy10917
Folks, I was really trying to make a reference list for other members to use to find Urea. Please read the following from the initial posting:
Kindly do not wander into postings about how to use it - there is a 57-page thread on the topic:

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 5:50 pm
by turf_toes
Goods Feed Mill in East Earl, Lancaster County, PA sells it for about $14 for a 50 pound bag. I have not been there this year. So the price may need updating.

It’s an Amish run place, so bring cash. (No credit cards or checks)

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 25th, 2020, 8:02 pm
by edslawn
I get it at SiteOne Harrisburg PA. I think I paid $40 for 50lbs last year. They try to sell you timed release and get a little confused even about what they have, so press them to bring the bag out.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: August 28th, 2020, 8:59 pm
by Smolenski7
Valley Green in Plainville, CT had several bags in stock on 8/22. I paid $21/50lbs.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 2nd, 2020, 3:41 pm
by reverseration
For anyone in the Capital District NY area I picked this up at SiteOne in Clifton Park today...~$35/50lbs.
Incidentally, can someone confirm this is fast release? I asked and they said they were pretty sure. I don't see anything about it being coated but since this is the first time I'm purchasing it I just wanna make sure.

Image

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 2nd, 2020, 4:35 pm
by MorpheusPA
We aren't supposed to wander into other topics or Andy spanks us, so I will (I like it rough).

Yes, that's fast release. Here you can be 100% sure by the "Derived from" line, which says "urea."

Slow release would read "Coated Urea" or "Methylated urea" or "Sulfur-coated urea" or something like that. It's not coming to mind offhand and I'm too lazy to look it up (and I'm covered in red paint), but it'll be listed in that line.

The TOTAL NITROGEN line will list fast and slow release nitrogen as well, in most cases for American products. I'm not sure if it's a law and probably couldn't decipher the law anyway, but there's usually an asterisk identifying the amount of slow-release nitrogen if it's there, at least as a courtesy.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 3rd, 2020, 10:17 am
by mobiledynamics
Paging Andy. Agway, Feed stores around here don't carry this. Passing by Germantown and then will be doing a half day in Hudson (main strip around warren st). Got any recommendations !

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 3rd, 2020, 10:48 am
by andy10917
I don't find them, I help document them.

Your Profile location of "LI/NYC" is far too broad - please name a town so others that live in your area may try to help.

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 3rd, 2020, 12:07 pm
by mobiledynamics
bellport.

Figured with the day trip going north, and much more farms in the general vicinity, route, I'd check in. Closest thing is Agways which doesn't carry much

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 3rd, 2020, 12:57 pm
by andy10917
The stores that would have it up north here generally close at noon on Saturdays, and this is even worse - a holiday weekend. They don't keep hours like a Lowes or HD.

Now a question: why the hell are you coming up north for Urea when you are in Bellport? You have a great place that people have bought Urea from in Riverhead - the Long Island Cauliflower Association (LICA). Give them a call to make sure it's in stock...

Re: Got Urea?

Posted: September 3rd, 2020, 1:14 pm
by edslawn
I called SiteOne in Harrisburg and thankfully they didn't have it. After seeing the great feed mills pricing (thanks MorpheusPA!), I found a nearby mill with it in stock. Hoke Mills in York PA for $12.50 per 50 lb bag. By the way, I just did a search on Google for Feed Mills near me and found this one. It may work for others too.