Fuel Storage

[gustgd]

Cold miserable day and following up on some paperwork.
Looking at upgrading our on farm fuel storage.
What's making me think about bigger better fuel storage?

a) Modernize, older tanks strung togeather and maybe with small leaks in the hose. Environmental/economic benifit

b)Worries about fuel shortages, not long term, but maybe 2-4 days. What would happen on your farm if you could not move? Almost happened last fall.

c)Better prices on large volumes, straight from refinery or large depots? Are prices lower?
d) Ability to buy and hold at better prices. Will prices be 5%-10%-20% higher in the spring?
e) Perhaps the worst reason is the Environmental farm plan money.
Under the class 8 you are eligible for a 30% rebate, someday Governments will pull this money back.

Things to think about

Which company?
Looking at Meridian, Huge L Steel, Westeel. Are there others? experiences with each?

size If you get bigger the fuel deals may get better.
Meridian over the phone quote I can probably get better.
15000 L $34,120.00
25K $39,317.00
50K $52,000.00 tridum and pup
61K $56492 super b and not have to be empty to order.

These are fully decked out I have not looked at which options to axe.

What are some good ideas or best practices you all have seen?

[gregpet]

Won't qualify for the EFP 30%, but we bought a 12000 gallon fertilizer bin in 2006 for $10000 and it has worked perfectly. Quick unloads since it can be up to a 3" hose to bottom fill the bin. Truck drivers seem to like it and I think building or buying a containment wall would be significantly less than the purchase of these smaller fuel tanks.

[Hopperbin]

Interesting. Will have to check into that. The EFP money can be spent else where just as easily.

[Hopperbin]

The containment would be efp acceptable

[SASKFARMER3]

I have one 3500 gallon and a 1000 tank that's two years old for diesel Built south of Regina their not the new approved ext etc. But hey what dealer wont fill them for you. For gas we use a 1000 tank. We also get a discount for 5000 gallon drop off on diesel.

[JDGreen]

magnum fabrication out of Maple Creek builds some very nice tanks. Saw their display at Agribition. Thousands less than westeel or meridian.

www.magnumfabricating.com

[LEP]

I looked at the fertilizer bin in the past and would think it was a good way to go if your dealer can can bottom fill. One downside we thought of was to add our fuel additive we need to climb to top to put in. Also the lids are not 100% moisture proof. To lock up this storage is a little more difficult because of the sight glass. I would also put a containment system in place. But definitely cheaper.

[gregpet]

Our lid was 100% moisture proof. We put on a lid that seals up completely, a bolt on, and installed our own vent on it. We can put locks on the ball valves at the bottom, dunno how much more you can protect it if you need to? Sightglass, I guess if someone wants to vandalize or steal they will find a way no matter what a person does?

We just put in the required amount of fuel additive into one of the compartments on the truck when they are filling. Leave it in front of the bin when no one is around, not too much climbing involved.

[checking]

I'm not sure if I could sleep at night having 13,500 gallons of diesel in one tank.

[gregpet]

Could you sleep if you had that much or much more liquid fertilizer in one or a few tanks?

[checking]

I saw a liquid fertilizer hopper spill/complete drain. The accompanying hugh hole that was dug out for reclamation was impressive. Much rather have a NH3 valve leak on a 2000 gallon tank than the former.

Thank you for being concerned about my REM pattern.

[gregpet]

I guess the farmers that use liquid fertilizer must sleep with one eye open all winter long after they take delivery of their product.

I once saw a fuel tank leak, what is your point?

[checking]

Size.

The size of the clean up.

The size of the bill.

Won't bother with insurance. Will they cover that in a policy?

All eggs in one basket.

I wonder about 60,000 bushels of flax in one bin. 60,000 in 30 bins, not so much should one begins to heat. Take a half load out, solves the problem. Where do find the rotation room on the 60,000 and how many loads do you draw out before you close the second eye.

Just me. Think I will stick with the row of 1000 gallon fuel tanks.

[gregpet]

checking, I never told you to change your fuel storage. It's only full for about a month in the spring and two months in the fall. I sleep just fine at night, don't know how restless I would be with a bunch of 1000 gal. tanks in the yard or spread around?

Stainless steel ball valves and high pressure hoses with stainless steel fittings on the ends, not too many worries about leaks unless you are concerned about the corrosiveness of diesel fuel?

[checking]

Ofcourse you didn't. Neither did I. Just our preferences of risk/reward.

We have a very active hunting season around here. More interest every year with the range of species available. I don't, for a minute, believe hunters deliberately empty a clip into a grain bin to sight in their rifles, but I've brazed a few holes. I've often wondered how well a liquid fertilizer bin/fuel bin would hold up against a wayward bullet. Likely the same as a small tank, but then I'm back to talking size.