Accu-Steel General Manager, John Klehn, recently appeared on RFD-TV’s Rural America live with ADM experts Mike Headlee (Regional Sales Manager) and Brian Flaska (Director of Fertilizer Sales) to discuss on-farm fertilizer and grain storage.
Great advice and insights were shared throughout the episode, so we’re breaking down the highlights for you.
What affects the price of fertilizer?
Many factors contribute to the price of fertilizer, including what your local supplier has on hand and how easily you can get it when you need it.
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Geo-political issues, such as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, impact costs, as commodities may not be as readily available as they normally are.
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Crude oil and natural gas prices impact how fertilizers are made, so there is always a direct correlation between energy prices and fertilizer costs.
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Logistics situations, such as interruptions on rail and river systems, can also affect how much fertilizer is available and at what cost.
The constant marketplace fluctuation affecting the price of fertilizer forces farmers to ask themselves difficult questions, like, “Am I buying at the right time? Should I take advantage of these interest rates or wait and see what happens?”
Watch the first segment of Accu-Steel’s Rural America Live episode to learn more about the fluctuating price of fertilizer.
How can storing fertilizer on my farm help me manage risk?
When you store fertilizer on your farm, you give yourself the power to buy commodities when you need them or when it makes sense for your operation. You can take control of the marketplace by buying outside the peak demand season and storing fertilizer on your farm until you need it. You’re also mitigating logistical risks so that availability becomes less of a concern. This flexibility allows you to make the best decision for your operation.
How do I know if an on-farm fertilizer storage building is right for me?
A common sentiment we hear from farmers is that they feel their operation isn’t large enough to warrant on-farm fertilizer storage. Our solutions are size agnostic – there is no bare minimum or maximum for fertilizer storage. Your decision for on-farm fertilizer storage should come down to your business model and how you want to manage risk.
Ask yourself a few questions:
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Do the long-term benefits of on-farm storage make sense for me?
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Do I want to be able to take advantage of market swings?
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Could I share a storage facility with other farms or agricultural businesses in the area to make on-farm storage even more cost-effective?
Watch the second segment of Rural America Live to hear the full on-farm fertilizer storage discussion with the Accu-Steel and ADM experts.
Why is an Accu-Steel fabric-covered building the right choice for fertilizer storage?
We’re here to help you store things better and make your business more profitable and efficient. We look at each farm operation individually and consult with you to determine what the best storage solution looks like.
Every operation is different, so your needs will be different – and we won’t shoehorn you into a building that won’t work for you.
We’ll work with you to create an on-farm fertilizer storage facility that is built around you. Every building might look the same on the outside, but it’s manufactured differently to fit your needs. And every fabric-covered building will have these features engineered to ensure fertilizer quality:
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Flexibility. And that means several things:
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Flexibility in what you store. Don’t have a need for fertilizer right now? Store your equipment or farm machinery instead.
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Flexibility in capacity. If you find you need more space, we can easily add on to your existing structure.
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Flexibility in how your building works. How do you need to load your building? Do you need a wheel loader or conveyor? Do you want to blend on the inside or outside of the building? Do you need a drive alley for a semi? We can accommodate all those needs and more.
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Natural light. Our fabric buildings allow natural light in while keeping harmful UV rays out, so you and your team are working in a bright, safe environment. You’ll also enjoy low energy costs.
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Wide open space. Our fabric-covered buildings don’t need support beams in the middle, so you have zero obstructions from one side of the building to the other for easy equipment maneuvering and access to commodities.
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Minimal risk of corrosion. Our fabric buildings are made with hot-dip galvanized steel, a chemical bond that reduces or eliminates corrosion. We also treat parts of the building with additional corrosion-resistant materials.
Watch the third segment of Rural America Live to see how we can work with your fertilizer supplier, such as ADM, to create an on-farm storage solution that makes sense for you.
Next steps
We’re ready to answer your fertilizer storage questions and talk about possible on-farm fertilizer storage solutions. Fill out the quote request form to start the conversation.