Prefilled fertilizer pumps in gardens
Question
Many gardens have automatic fertilizer pumps that draw when the irrigation functions. I assume this is not allowed during the shemitah year even though automatically programmed and filled before Rosh Hashanah?
Answer
Rabbi Moshe Bloom
There was recently (Tishrei 5782) a discussion on this issue at Torah VeHa'aretz Institute, and the answer is as follows: whatever liquid fertilizer was filled up before the shemitah year can be used during shemitah, but it is forbidden to refill during the shemitah year.
Case in point: Don't assume you can't—just ask!