As the 2015 growing season come to an end, we start to already prepare for the 2016 season ahead.

As I travel through my territory calling on existing and potential customers, Storage tanks are part of an ongoing conversation.

At the end of the season a good practice when storage tanks are empty, ready to be filled again, this is a good chance to look at a few things.

Things such as leaking valves that need to be fixed.  Or overall placement of storage tanks in a yard.  Always keeping in mind that Storage tanks should be placed in an area that any contamination from things like grain dust or any type of foreign contaminants.

When storage tanks are empty and before freeze up I have growers and or myself have a look inside tanks before they get refilled for next year.  This is a perfect time to catch a small issue and be able to clean a tank and have it prepared to fill again.

A great way to prevent issues in storage tanks is, once they are surely clean, pour bleach into the tank before it is filled.  This again will help prevent such things as algae build up.

Also these practices apply to tanks on seeding equipment and nurse tanks used to move fertilizer around.

And of course, at this time, things like transfer pumps, hoses, and filters should be cleaned and put away ready for the next growing season.

If we start with clean equipment and filter properly, this is one less headache to possibly have for next year.

-Chad