Protecting on-farm diesel performance

MANAGING fuel supplies on-farm has been a concern for crop and livestock farmers since the invention of the first tractor by John Froelich in 1892. 

While technology in tractors, harvesters and spray equipment has jumped forward in leaps and bounds over the past 100 years, the same level of innovation has also been applied to fuel storage and transport products. 

Gone are the days of buying only steel tanks, which were perched high on thin steel stilts to aid the gravity feeding of fuels. The steel would rust and corrode over time, contaminating the fuel and reducing its lifespan.  

Fuel theft was also a massive headache for farmers as the gravity feeding enabled thieves to easily drain the tanks. There is now a broad range of diesel storage and transport options that fit effortlessly with farm operations, which assists with forward planning and budgeting and increasing profits. 

Taking advantage of fickle crude oil markets 

The ability to make regular, scheduled diesel purchases gives greater insight into the amount of wholesale diesel fuel to stock up on annually. With the recent delays on diesel imports due to Covid19 restrictions, ensuring a guaranteed source of easily accessible, high-quality fuel all year round has never been more important. (Link to website catalogue) 

The effects of sweeping travel restrictions and extended lockdowns throughout the world brought on by the ravaging effects of Covid19 led to a massive reduction in the demand for oil. As the price of crude is volatile at best having an on-farm diesel tank storage system is a fantastic opportunity for farmers to capitalize on the extreme price fluctuations. https://offers.coerco.com.au/agriculture-catalogue-download

During times of historically low diesel prices, a polyethylene tank can be ordered, manufactured and delivered on-site in a matter of weeks, further enhancing the uptake of cheap fuels. 

The Brent crude price took several hits from December 2019 when oil prices were at a healthy $67 per barrel. But all the gains accumulated were lost once the Covid19 outbreak began to heavily influence oil demand due to travel restrictions and decreased entertainment spending.  

This coupled with OPEC and non-OPEC partner countries failing to reach an agreement on oil production cuts in March 2020 led to a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The market was flooded with cheap oil just as Covid19 outbreaks developed into a pandemic.  

As a result, oil prices fell a 22-year low of $9.12 per barrel by April 2020. A successful deal between OPEC countries to cut oil production led to a rebound in oil prices to $52 per barrel by the end of 2020.  

Oil prices have continued to grow on the back of vaccination uptake and greater global economic activity to reach $69.95 by March 2021. With a sturdy polyethylene storage tank placed on a site with truck access, many farmers will be able to easily capture the opportunity to purchase bulk diesel when prices are low.  

During times of historically low diesel prices, a polyethylene tank can be ordered, manufactured and delivered on-site in a matter of weeks, further enhancing the uptake of cheap fuels.

Maintaining diesel tanks  

Diesel storage tanks manufactured with polyethylene are now more durable than those of twenty years ago. The tanks don’t rust, corrode or leak, which extends the life of the fuel. However, reducing evaporation and condensation is often not an easy task to achieve.

Maintaining fuel stores and having a reliable refuelling service is then essential to ensuring diesel supplies remain clean and effective.  

Travel restrictions caused by Covid19 or other factors like increased machinery usage due to fertilizing in periods of high rainfall or geopolitical issues can all effect the availability of diesel. Maintaining fuel stores and having a reliable refuelling service is then essential to ensuring diesel supplies remain clean and effective.  

During times when tank levels drop below 90 percent there is a chance petroleum-eating microorganisms can start to grow. In this situation a scheduled cleaning service every five years, which can be adjusted for areas in marine or high-humidity conditions, can reduce the amount of fuel contamination.  

Tanks can be cleaned easily on-site with a biocide agent and a fuel polishing rig or cleaned mechanically using a scrubbing medium to remove stuck-on contaminants. 

Find a bulk diesel fuel supplier 

Another important way of staying on top of fuel usage is with a record management system, which includes enlisting specialist services like fixed tank refuelling sites and on-site refueling. Some farmers can spend large sums money every year and most of it during seeding and harvesting times. 

As a result, it is critical to keep detailed records of fuel usage particularly during times of peak machinery usage. This includes diesel that is being held in a smaller transportation tank. These tanks should also include a fuel filter that will remove any water particles that may have gathered in the tank. 

Coerco has been developing and manufacturing cutting-edge polyethylene liquid management products for decades that are easy to use and install.