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Follow simple rules to stay safe working around anhydrous ammonia.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

August 27, 2014

2 Min Read

Some 500 customers attended the Ceres Solutions field day at Perrysville in far western Indiana recently. They came from as far south as Vincennes and as far north as Rensselaer to hear about how to improve efficiency and get a peek at the next "big" thing ahead for agriculture.

Related: Farm Safety Should Be On Your Mind At All Times

Every farmer who attended had to walk right by a safety exhibit featuring an anhydrous tank, plus get a look at a trailer full of safety equipment Ceres Solutions keeps on hand. Jeff Troike, General Manager of Ceres Solutions, says that his company takes safety very seriously. They train their employees and work with customers so they remain safe as well.

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One thing anyone who attended couldn't miss was an anhydrous tank with a portion cut out so you could see what a tank looks like inside. These pressurized tanks hold anhydrous ammonia, and are transported to the field, where they hook to the applicator. The cut-away tank is used to train Ceres employees, firefighters, farmers and first responders.

Related: Indiana Farmer Turns Accident into Way to Talk About Safety

Here are basic safety rules for handling anhydrous ammonia that you would learn by attending a training conducted by Ceres Solutions.

• Always make sure the five-gallon container on the side of the tank is filled with water. Also carry a squeeze bottle with water. Anhydrous ammonia absorbs any fluid. Water and slushing is the only way to protect your eyes if they are accidentally hit with ammonia.

• Review what procedures you should take in case there is an ammonia leak or escape. Make sure everyone knows what they should do first, and what they should do next.

• Wear vent-less goggles, long-sleeved shirts and gloves when working around anhydrous ammonia. The point is to protect any skin and your eyes from exposure.

• Know how to inspect various parts of the anhydrous tank and applicator, and what to look for to spot potential problems before they result in an ammonia escape.

About the Author(s)

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

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