Has anyone else had this problem with Rainbow fertilizer???

We planted our fields this past weekend and we also used bagged Rainbow Fertilizer for the first time. I like the concept, but some bags were hard to spread because there were some occasional 3"+ sized rocks (looked like uncrushed limestone) but most were probably around an inch or two across. It was enough to clog our small spreader. Some bags were also very "clumpy" however some bags were fine.

Don't know if this was isolated or more problematic with Rainbow fertilizer. Anyone else have any experience with it???

Moisture in the bags. Happens all the time with most all bagged fert. Just bust them up as they are being poured into the spreader.

Make sure the ones you buy are under a shed wrapped in plastic. That eliminates most of it. I always load my on, so if I feel a hard bag, I toss it aside. Its not just rainbow, its any fertilizer or bagged lime.

Best thing to do is get a spreader with an agitator. Bust em right up.

Moisture doesn't form rocks!!!!

There were some good sized rocks mixed in with the fertilizer!!!

This was not hard packed fertilizer but actually ROCKS!!! It looked like uncrushed limestone rocks. Some of the bigger ones were probably 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Solid rock.

Never seen that

Not sure what kind of agitator can bust up solid rocks...

I don't need advise on how to spread clumpy fertilizer or even need to know what causes it. I think we all know moisture is the issue.

What I am asking is has anyone else used Rainbow Fertilizer and had ROCKS in it???

No, I've never seen solid rock in Rainbow or any fertilizer.

it can happen just. Something could have been in loader bucket when they scooped it up and then dumped it into the hopper to be bagged or could be deteriorating floor or wall and the loader picked it up. Not say this is what happened. But I have seen it happen before. Where did you buy it at

Take it back to where you bought it so they can let their rainbow rep know

Misunderstood what you were describing. Rainbow is good stuff. Normal 13-13-13 is blend and includes about 60% shot rock (filler). The rainbow is more expensive because it is not a blend. Each granule contains equal amounts on all three nutrients whereas regular fert each element is it's own granule. If it had rocks in it, there was a quality control issue wherever it was bagged. I'd call the rainbow rep, they will probably arrange to give you some free fert for your trouble.

I have had this problem with every brand of bagged fertilizer. I took the shroud off of an old fan and place on top of my spreader and screen the fertilizer and have not clogged a hole since.

Rainbow is a premium product. You pay dearly for it. Let them know

We use rainbow every year and I cant recall getting any rocks mixed in. Id check with them and see if anybody else has had the same issue from where you bought it.

I've also experienced it with different brands. I think the best way to avoid it is to buy from someone who moves a lot of fertilizer. It's been several years since I got a bad batch, but it's extremely aggravating when it happens.

I think it was bought in Fayette. We bought a few pallets. We certainly weren't going to stop and take it back, however, it was aggravating to deal with. I'm thinking around 30%-40% of the bags had some rocks. Most of the rocks were large enough to stop up the spreader. I hope it will be worth the extra expense and effort.

Thanks for all the input

That's a good idea.