Cyber Farming: A Look at How Smart Technology Can Help Agricultural Workers
Technology and agricultural work are becoming more intertwined than ever before in history — and we’re not talking about FarmVille. According to a November 1 New York Times report, today’s farmers are increasingly taking advantage of smart technology — sensors, GPS trackers, irrigation apps, cloud computing systems and communications gadgets — in order to optimize their agricultural pursuits and compete with larger farming companies. The technology is helping farmers who might have been struggling to stay afloat in an increasingly austere industry utilize their land more efficiently, and in turn maximize profits and expand. For Indiana farmer Kip Tom, this means
Possible Unsettling of West Virginia’s Above Ground Storage Tank Act
Just after the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection proposed annual fees for above ground storage tank owners to fund the regulatory structure created by the Above Ground Storage Tank Act (“ASTA”), a bill was introduced on Tuesday to significantly revise the ASTA. The revisions would drastically reduce the number of above ground storage tanks that would be subject to the ASTA. Whether these revisions will be passed remains to be seen, but if the bill exits the House Judiciary Committee a heated debate will likely ensue. Protecting Water Quality The ASTA was the reaction of the West Virginia
How to Handle Winter Salt and Stratification in Your Liquid Fertilizer Tank
The winter cold is starting to break. You are preparing to use various starters and liquid fertilizers for the upcoming agricultural season. It's crucial to consider how winter salting out and stratification impacts your liquid fertilizer tank. Liquid fertilizer sitting in aboveground storage tanks through a cold winter undergoes changes. Cold temperatures can affect liquid fertilizer in two ways: stratification and/or salting out. Understanding Stratification and Salting Out Stratification causes pockets of varying product concentrations within an aboveground storage tank. Cold temperatures cause some liquid fertilizers to salt out, leaving a combination of salted and liquid product in your tank.
West Virginia Senate Bill 423 A Signature Away From Revising the Aboveground Storage Tank Act
A year after the water contamination catastrophe from the Freedom Industries chemical spill and quick enactment of the West Virginia Aboveground Storage Tank Act, West Virginia Senate Bill 423 has been passed by the Senate and House. The Bill greatly scales back the number of aboveground storage tanks that would be regulated by the state program. Despite being passed unanimously by the West Virginia Legislature, the Aboveground Storage Act received much criticism later in 2014 from legislators and tank owners for being too far reaching. Senate Bill 423 is addressing these concerns by to decreasing the approximate number of
Low Steel Prices Make It Buyers’ Market for Steel Storage Tanks
Steel prices have fallen yet again after an already 10% price drop in 2014. In the realm of steel storage tanks, this decrease translates to the price of steel plate material dropping approximately $10 per hundred weight. For an API 650 above ground storage tank compared to prices in 2013, the customer can see a price tag savings from several thousands to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size of the tank. The question on the minds of buyers of steel storage tanks is “What’s the future of steel prices?” Is it worth waiting to see if steel prices
Considerations in Repurposing Liquid Above Ground Steel Storage Tanks
Repurposing and recycling is a common trend as well as ways a company can effectively use its capital resources. An above ground storage tank is an asset that can be repurposed to store a different liquid than originally intended when it was built. Before filling the tank with a new liquid product, several steps need to be taken to ensure a safe repurposing. Those steps include conducting an API 653 tank inspection, determining whether an internal coating is needed, and assessing whether state or federal regulatory rules require the tank to have secondary containment. Verifying Tank
No Impact on Large Liquid Fertilizer Tank Owners from Revised Indiana Tank Bill 312
Indiana Senate Bill 312 addressing above ground storage tank reporting and water threat minimization has gone through several changes since its introduction in January 2015. Bill 312 was sent back to the Indiana Senate for a vote after several amendments were made by the House. Major Bill Amendments The definition of an above ground storage tank (“AST”) has been altered from the original version submitted. An AST is now defined as a device (1) with at least 10% of the outer surface above ground; and (2) can hold more than 660 gallons of a liquid product. The size of
Lightning and Resulting Fire Launch Aboveground Storage Tank into Air
In Greeley, Colorado, lightning struck an aboveground storage tank used for waste water in a hydraulic fracking operation, causing quite a reaction. After the lightning struck around 1 pm, several explosions were heard and a fire broke out. According to an AP report posted by the Weather Channel, one of the aboveground storage tanks was launched into the air by the force of an explosion. (See AP Photo) The liquid storage tanks at the site contain the waste water from the fracking process. After the water mix is injected into the fracking well site, the waste water is recovered and
Crane Needs for Installing Above Ground Storage Tank Liner
Internal tank liners are less expensive options for satisfying secondary containment requirements in many states. For installation purposes, a crane is needed for each install to place the PVC liner in the tank. Many types of cranes exist for transferring significant weight loads to varying heights. For installing PVC liners, a crane with a smaller capacity and reach can be used based on the installation details. Crane Requirements Heartland Tank Services, Inc. normally recommends a crane that has a weight capacity of 5,000 pounds or more and a boom lift minimum between 40 and 45 feet.
Above Ground Storage Tank Leaks 1,500 Gallons of Used Oil in Washington State
An above ground storage tank located in south-central Washington state recently leaked as much as 1,500 gallons of used motor oil into a creek that flows into the Yakima River, a water source crucial to the state’s agricultural status as an apple-growing hub. According to a March 2 Reuters article, the cause of the spill is still under investigation. Steel storage tanks with capacities exceeding 1,100 gallons are required to have corrosion protection in place on the tanks’ floor during storage tank construction. The tank is located at a former feed lot near Sunnyside; evidence of the leak was found in the water as
