—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 23,1978
24
Tips
in bulk fertilizer blending
By DIETER KRIEG
LAMAR If a bulk blend
fertilizer dealer expects to
offer his customers good
quality products, he must
have efficiently blendable
ingredients, appropriate
mixing equipment, accurate
scales, properly designed
hoppers, and trained people.
“Any of these factors could
affect the quality of the
product,” says AI Truby,
fertilizer quality control
manager for Agway, Inc. He
made the remarks during a
Fertilizer Quality Workshop,
held here last week under
the sponsorship of PennAg
Industries Association.
Cooperating in the
educational effort were the
Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture, the Tennessee
Valley Authority and The
Fertilizer Institute.
The goal of the workshop
was to better acquaint
Pennsylvania fertilizer
dealers with the fun
damentals and importance
of quality standards. Laws to
that effect were toughened
earlier this year despite
objections from the industry.
According to Homer
Kimbrough of the Tennessee
Valley Authority, the in
dustry can rid itself of much
of the quality problems by
simply installing vertical
baffles in storage bins. This
would avoid serious
separation of particles, due
to size, shape, and weight.
He and others in the industry
consider this to be one of the
prime problems in quality
control. It is especially acute
i 'hen the material is allowed
to cone in any of the holding
hoppers or bins.
Kimbrough says that there
are three mam causes for
off-grade blends with fer
tilizer. They are: 1. incorrect
analysis of raw materials, 2.
incorrect weights of the
materials, 3. segregation of
the materials. The latter is
caused primarily by the size
of the particle but is also
influenced by density and
shape.
“The greater the
mismatch in particle size,
the more careful you have to
be in blending them,”
Kimbrough said.
Ed Huber of Agnco
agreed. He told the
assembled agnbusmessmen
that the size of the particles
making up the blend fer
tilizer “is most important.”
Using a senes of screens he
demonstrated how senous
misrepresentation can result
if particle size is ignored.
But overcoming that
problem isn’t easy. The
ingredients which bulk
fertilizer blenders use to
Fertilizer
LAMAR - Pennsylvania’s
fertilizer industry has the
best record in the nation for
delivering the exact fer
tilizer blend ordered by their
farmer customers, ac
cording to a recent study
completed by PennAg In
dustries Association and
released at a Fertilizer
Quality Control Seminar
held here recently.
revealed for quality control
w
make their products do not
come in standard form. They
vary from manufactuer to
manufacturer and carload to
carload. Therein lies the
problem.
Fertilizer manufacturers
say that it would cost
millions of dollars to stan
dardize the industry. On the
other hand, they admit that
it is a very costly thing to be
caught with deficiencies.
Pennsylvania’s penalties for
short analysis fertilizer are
the highest in the nation.
State law mandates that if a
dealer is caught with a short
analysis, he is obligated to
pay a fine based on ten tunes
the value of the nutrient
deficiency, but not to exceed
the value of the fertilizer as
charged to the customer.
Even the changes m the
plant, procedures, and
possibly personnel will cost
plenty of money. Following
is an outline, as presented by
Truby, on what fertilizer
dealers can do to minimize
problems in quality and
guaranteed analyses.
APPROPRIATE EQUIP
MENT
A well designed fertilizer
blending plant is necessary
with respect to materials
receiving, storage, mixing
and loading out finished
product, bagged and/or
bulk. Some features of a well
designed plant are:
(a) bucket elevators,
chutes, and conveyor belts
for materials handling
rather than augers.
(b) suitable material
storage bins that prevent
contamination of materials.
(c) specially designed
holding bins or hoppers to
prevent coning and
segregation.
(d) accurate scales with
easy maintenance.
(e) efficient mixing
equipment
(f) suitable bulk product
loadout equipment that
industry rates No. 1
Data is based on Penn
sylvania government
reports of inspections for the
period ended June 30, 1977,
but not released until the
spring of 1978. Similar
reports were then obtained
from other states and com
pared.
The only states which
equalled the low three per
cent deficiency rate
A 1 Truby
prevents coning and
segregation. In the case of a
bagging operation, specially
designed hoppers that feed
the bagger are needed.
All of these factors can
affect the quality of the final
product.
APPROPRIATE
MATERIALS
Some factors to consider
on material selection are:
(a) availability and cost
(b) chemical analysis
(c) particle size
(d) compatibility with
other materials in the for
mulation chemically and
particle size-wise. TVA
paper will deal with these
specifically.
TRAINED PEOPLE
The benefits from a well
trained operator are many,
in terms of a quality product.
In the final analysis, it is the
operator who manages the
quality control for his
operation. To accomplish
this, he needs tools in the
way of instruction manuals,
proper sampling equipment,
and some source of sample
analysis.
The three main areas of
operation are: 1. Receiving,
2. Blending, 3. Shipping.
RECEIVING - The following
check list should be a matter
of routine. Before unloading
car, check bill of lading
against the shipping in
formation and actual
numbers on the car. Inspect
car for leaks and check
appearance of product or
dered. There are fairly
simple tests available for
product identification.
Check unloading equipment
to be sure it is set to direct
the product to the correct
bin. Check for spillage when
unloading commences,
particularly where material
being unloaded passes over a
bin containing another
material.
Sampling incoming
materials on a routine basis
is a good habit. It is a most if
the material is “suspect”,
chemically or physically.
Sampling must be done
according to prescribed
procedures, using proper
equipment, in order for the
sample to truly represent the
lot sampled. Generally, the
stream sampling cup can be
used at locations where
there is a free falling stream
of material such as from a
chute or conveyor belt head
pulley.
BLENDING - This is a vital
part of the quality control
program. Formulations
should be carefully
calculated and rechecked.
Actual scale settings should
be double checked no matter
how familiar the operator is
achieved in Pennsylvania
were Maryland and
Wyoming. This result was
the culmination of a con
tinuous series of declining
deficiency percentages in
the Keystone state since
1972. Ironically, it was
achieved before amend
ments to Pennsylvania’s
fertilizer law increasing
penalties were being con
sidered.
with the operation. Scales
need to be cleaned
frequently and kept in good
working order. They should
be checked with known
weights on a regular basis.
It is important that
material storage bins are
clearly and correctly
labeled. The operator should
not assume a material is in a
particular bin because it was
there last week. The mixer
should be checked
frequently for possible build
up. In humid conditions,
product can build-up on
flights and cause the
material to slide rather than
to roll and mix properly. The
mixing cycle should be
predetermined. There are
methods available for this
procedure that involve
sampling and chemical
analyses. One method is
presented in the TFI bulk
blending manual. Again,
caution, sampling has to be
done correctly. The proper
location for sampling to
evaluate a mixer per
formance is one as close to
the mixer discharge as
possible so that material
handling equipment does not
distort the sample.
SHIPPING - The shipping
operation can undo the ]ob a
good blending process has
accomplished. This holds
true for a bulk or bagged
operation. Proper handling
of the finished blend is im-'
portant. Coning m bulk
trucks and spreaders should
be avoided. This can be done
by using movable loading
spouts or moving the vehicle
at intervals while loading.
Holding hoppers shculd be
specially designed; other
wise, the blended product
will be allowed to cone and
separate as it is emptied
from the hopper. For the
bagging operation, the
specially designed hopper is
a must The “egg crate”
design developed by T.V.A.
is an accepted version.
Finally, there is
Housekeeping. Throughout
each operation in the
blending plant good
housekeeping is imperitive.
It is good business and helps
to make a safe business A
clean plant is an indicator of
a good operation.
In summary, quality
control pays off in at least
three ways:
(A) It assures you that
customers get what they pay
for, no more - no less.
(B) It assures you that
your business is operating
efficiently. Efficiency can
increase profits.
(C) It encourages more
business through a good
quality record.
Grange
meets
RED LION - An open
meeting was held during the
regular meeting of the Red
Lion Grange No. 1781. Forty
five members and five
guests were in attendance.
The literary program
featured the Master Mup
peteers from Calvery Bible
Church, Hanover, who en
tertained with their muppet
show relating to Bible
Stories and Parables.
LOOK FOR
ADAMS COL
O.C. RICE, INC.
Biglerville, PA
717-677-8135
YINGLING’S IMPLEMENT
RDI Gettysburg, PA
717-359-4848
N.H. FLICKER & SONS, INC
Maxatawny
215-683-7252
STANLEY A. KLOPP, INC.
Bernville, PA
215-488-1500
MILLER EQUIPMENT
Bechtelsville, PA
215-845-2911
SHARTELSVILLE
FARM SERVICE .
ROl, Hamburg, PA,
215-488-1025
H. Daniel Wenger, Prop.
ZIMMERMAN'S
FARM SERVICE
Bethel. PA
717-933-4114
BRADFORD
ALLIS HOLLOW EQUIP
RDI,
Rome, PA
717-247-2601
CARL L. PIERCE
RD2,
Columbia Cross Roads, PA
717-297-3513
WYNNE'S GARAGE
Canton, PA
717 673 8456
BUCKS CO,
C J. WONSIDLER BROS
Trumbauersville Road
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-1935
PAUL HISTAND CO , INC
397 North Mam Street
Doylestown, PA
215-348 9041
CHESTER CO.
CHAS. J. McCOMSEY
&SONS
Hickory Hill, PA
215-932-2615
STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE
Cochranville, PA
215-593-5280
M,S. YEARSLEY & SONS
Westchester. PA
215-696-2990
CLINTON CO.
DUNKLE & GRIEB
Mill Hall, PA
717-726-3115
COLUMBIA CO.
ORANGEVILLE
FARM EQUIPMENT
Orangeville, PA
717 683-5311
WILLIAM F.WELLIVER
Jerseytown, PA
717-437 2430
CUMBERLAND CO.
ERNESTSHOVER
FARM EQUIPMENT
19 West South St
Carlisle, PA
717-249-2239
DAUPHIN CO.
SVVEIGARD BROS
RD3, Halifax, PA
717-896 3414
FRANKLIN CO.
CHAMBERSBURG
FARM SERVICE, INC,
975 S. Mam St.
Chambersburg, PA
717-264-3533
MEYERS
IMPLEMENTS, INC,
Greencastle, PA
717-597-2176
LEBANON CO.
HEISEY
FARM EQUIP!., INC.
RDI, Jonestown, PA
717-865 4526
UMBERGERSMILL
RD4, Lebanon (Fontana), PA
717-867-5161
LANCASTER CO.
ROYH. BUCH, INC.
Ephrata, RD2, PA
717-859-2441
A.B.C. GROFF, INC.
New Holland, PA
717-354-4191
A.LHERR&BRO.
Quarryville, PA
717-786-3521
LANDIS BROS., INC.
Lancaster, PA
717 393-3906
LONGENECKER
FARM SUPPLY
Rheems, PA
717-367-3590
N.G. HERSHEY & SON
Manheim, PA
717-665-2271
LEHIGH CO.
C.J WONSIDLER BROS.
Jet. Rt. 309 and 100
Pleasant Corners, PA
215-767-7611
/
LYCOMING CO.
RICE FARM SUPPLY, INC.
Jersey Shore, PA
717-398-1391
MONTGOMERY CO.
WENTZ FARM SUPPLIES
Route 29
Palm, PA
215-679-7164
NORTHAMPTON CO.
GEORGE V. SEIPLE & SON
Easton, PA
215-258-7146
lORTHUMBI
MECKLEY’S LIMESTONE
PRODUCTS, INC.
Herndon, PA
717-758 3915
SCHUYLKILL CO.
L.L. ECKROTH
FARM EQUIP., INC.
New Ringgold, PA
717-943-2367
STANLEY S FARM SERVICE
RD, Klmgerstown, PA
717-648-2088
SNYDER CO.
ROYER’S FARM SERVICE
RDI, Winfield, PA
New Berlin-Middleburg Hwy.
717-837-3201
TjQ_GA CO.
CANYON IMPLEMENT, INC.
Mansfield, PA
717-724-2731
WAYNE CO.
MARSHALL MACHINERY
Honesdale, PA
717-729-7117
WYOMING CO.
ACE-JURISTA, INC.
Tunkhannock, PA
717-836 2610
YORK CO.
AIRVILLE FARM SERVICE
Airville, PA
717 862-3358
GEORGE N. GROSS. INC.
RD 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
M&R EQUIPMENT, INC.
New Park, PA
717-993-2511
CARROLL CO..MD
WERTZ GARAGE, INC,
4132 E. Main St
Linboro, MO
301-374-2672
CEfIICQ.MP
AG INDUSTRIAL
EQUIPMENT CO.
Rising Sun, MD
301-658-5568
FREDERICK CO.. MD
KNOTT N.GEISBERT. INC.
RD2, Frederick, MD
301-662-3800
HARFORD CO.. MD
WALTER G. COALE, INC.
Churchville, MD 21028
301 734 7722
ENFIELD EQUIPMENT, INC,
Whiteford, MD21160
301 452-5252
301 838-0480