November Newsletter
From The Manager’s Desk
We try to keep this a customer friendly coop. The board, employees, and I keep our ears open to the customers to see what their needs are. As a small coop we can not do everything, but have a lot to offer. Our cooperative is a long term player. Our coop is here thru good times and bad. Cooperative earnings are returned back to the shareholders. If the market gives us a successful year, we do return earnings to the shareholders. All of you who were shareholders in the last fiscal year will see a good example of this as we will be sending out patronage checks soon.. Just a reminder-you will only receive a form 1099 for the amount of the check you received if it is $10 or over. This check is 100% of your patronage for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. If
you are not a shareholder and wish
to be, contact our office for an application.
Your Coop will be CLOSED November 26th for Thanksgiving.
In just a few weeks, families across the nation will be
gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving. I would like to take
this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to you, our
customers, for the opportunity to serve your needs. We know that
without you we cannot be successful; that is why we are dedicated to offering you only the best in service to help you reach your profit goals. We appreciate
your business and look forward to many more years of working together to create better
opportunities for your business that will strengthen the community we share. We wish all the best for you
and your family during the holiday season and hope that this Thanksgiving finds you and yours with much to be thankful for.
Your co-op has lost one member, Bekka Geu, of Peetz, CO. Our sincere sympathies go out to her family. She will be missed.
On October 30, 2020 wheat was $4.85 bu., corn was $4.14 bu. and millet was $22.00. Iliff corn $4.19.
RUBY/FIELDMASTER DIESEL
This is the fuel your Coop sells at our pumps and off the truck. If you are purchasing fuel from us, there is no need to add any fuel additive. That would be throwing money out the window. We now have a #1 with the Ruby package in it which has all the additives you already need.
PREP YOUR FUEL TANK FOR WINTER
Part of operating a farm or business includes the challenge of equipment maintenance. For agricultural and construction firms it means more than packing a warm down jacket and driving carefully on ice-slicked roads.
Cold weather can cause specific and serious problems to your valuable diesel equipment- like plugging filters and fuel lines and forming ice crystals in fuel containing water. These problems are preventable. You’ll save time, frustration and money by doing your due diligence now before winter comes calling.
The key issue is to remove water from storage tanks, vehicle fuel tanks and filter bowls.
A QUICK CHECKLIST FOR WINTER READINESS
1) Tilt tanks to direct water and debris away from the outlet.
2) Pressurize tanks to keep vapor and air inside.
3) Drain and remove all contaminants every three months.
4) Install proper filtration systems on bulk tanks.
5) Replace fuel filters according to manufacturer recommendations; if filters have a drain valve, periodically drain water that may accumulate from condensation.
6) Clean pump screens regularly.
PROPANE SAFETY IN LIVESTOCK BARNS & GREENHOUSES
Propane heating systems are great solutions for maintaining temperature control in a variety of structures, especially on the farm. But it’s important to encourage your customers to properly maintain propane heaters to ensure optimal safety.
Confined structures on a farm can spur corrosion in metal components of propane heating systems due to humidity or even ammonia exposure from animal waste. So how can you help your customer’s stay safe?
Your customers should conduct yearly inspections of all parts o f propane supply and heating systems, both inside and outside structures. But because pipes are often enclosed behind walls or the ceiling, visual checks are not enough on their own. That’s why its important to also conduct leak checks to ensure the system holds pressure. Leak checks will verify that the system is sound – and leak free. Ideally, leak checks are done every year or two. It’s also important for any debris to be removed from the inside cover of the vaporizer annually. This debris could cause a fire or prevent the vaporizer from operating efficiently. It’s important that you customers follow all manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations when doing this.
It is the responsibility of the livestock producer or greenhouse manager to train new employees about all aspects of the structure, including the heating system. As the propane supplier, we can provide safety information that educates the customers about all parts of the heating system, do’s and don’ts for working around it and any warning signs that could indicate something is wrong.
USING COLD FLOW IMPROVERS
Using cold flow improvers extends the operability of fuels in cold winter weather. They change the wax structure of diesel fuel so it passes through filters more readily. They also keep wax crystals dispersed longer when congregating in the fuel. Cloud point is the temperature at which paraffin in fuel begins to form cloudy wax crystals and reduce flow. When blending fuels, biofuels and additives, the components must all be at least 10 degrees above their cloud point. If lower, the additives will not blend in and may clog filters. To avoid problems, take a proactive approach to proper tank maintenance and blending down your current fuel supply before cold weather blows in. Take note - #2 diesel fuel typically has a cloud point of 14 degrees F. Every load of diesel is different.
Sincerely yours,
Phillip M. Schumacher
President/CEO
