It is a familiar sight across the Prairies.
Dull grey fuel tanks teeter on weathered wooden stands or spindly metal stands at the edges of farmyards.
Dark patches of spilled fuel stain the ground below the tanks, while a few dented oil cans are tossed under the tank along with red plastic fuel containers for emergency fill ups.
The black hose from the tank to the nozzle is cracked with spiky pieces of metal sticking out of the rubber hose. The nozzle sits on a spike driven into the wood stand or jammed into the metal frame of the fuel stand.
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However, that picture is slowly changing. The old gravity flow tanks
on stands are being replaced with shiny, white double walled, environmentally friendly fuel tanks.
As banks and insurance companies demand environmental audits, farmers are taking a close look at some of the environmental hazards on their farms, including fuel tanks.
Ken Pierson of Meridian Manufacturing in Lethbridge said environmental farm plans were another catalyst for farmers to upgrade fuel tanks.
“People that took the course sat down and did an environmental study on their farm,” he said.
“If you have fuel storage, you have to address those matters.”
Pierson said he has recently seen a big push for modern fuel tanks.
“When I look back five years ago, farmers were just beginning to start considering to move toward double walled fuel tanks.”
Funding through the Growing Forward program was the incentive many farmers needed to change tanks.
“It’s an interesting program,” he said.
“There is such a need out there for updated fuel storage on the farms, especially for safety reason.”
Pierson said fuel companies are also refusing to refuel old fuel tanks that they deem unsafe.
“It’s a massive market that has to be changed over, but with government assisting.”
FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT SUBSIDIES THROUGH GROWING FORWARD
ALBERTA
The On-Farm Energy Management program is designed to help improve energy efficiency on Alberta farms that result in cost savings, energy conservation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The Safe Product Storage project is designed to improve storage and handling of agricultural products, increase farm safety and decrease the risk of spills. The grant will cost share 50 percent of eligible expenses to a maximum of $20,000 in project funding.
SASKATCHEWAN
Funding for petroleum fuel tanks is available through the Canada- Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Program Cost-Shared Incentives for Beneficial Management Practices.
The Improved Product and Waste Management program provides funding for improved on-farm single use storage and handling of agricultural products such as liquid fertilizer, silage storage with proper containment, double walled petroleum storage products and single use pesticide storage facilities. Farmers are eligible for a maximum of $10,000, or 30 percent of the project.
MANITOBA
No fuel funding projects are available.
