DATCP Reminding Farmers to Inspect Poly Tanks Every Spring and Fall

Agriculture officials are reminding farmers to routinely inspect polyethylene tanks used to store fertilizer and pesticides, after several recent failures led to chemical spills. According to Rick Graham, the spills response coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 4 out of the 39 reported agrichemical spills last year were caused by poly tank failures, and so far this year that number is 4 out of 35 spills. Graham says farmers should check the tanks for any obvious signs of weakness, such as cracks or straps cutting deeply when used to hold mobile tanks in place. A less obvious sign of a problem is “crazing” – a network of fine cracks that may not be visible to the eye or noticeable to the touch. You can test for crazing by rubbing a water-soluble marker over small sections of the tank and then wiping it off with a dry cloth. If crazing has occurred, ink will have soaked in and made it visible.