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Keep safety in mind when transporting anhydrous ammonia

Farmers and retailers are encouraged to keep safety at the forefront when transporting anhydrous ammonia this fall.

KJ Johnson, President of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association tells Brownfield a vehicle pulling ammonia tanks should not go any faster than 25 miles per hour, with all hoses unhooked and valves shut off.

“Do not have a charged system going down the road. That is actually the reason the Beach Park incident happened up near Chicago in 2019, because that farmer did not unhook the hose or shut down that system.”

He says you should have plenty of water on the tank in case of accidental release and, “Check for knicks, cuts, or any abrasions to those hoses so you don’t have some sort of misshape in the field of application.”

“Check for nicks, cuts, or any abrasions to those hoses so you don’t have some sort of mishap in the field of application.”

IFCA and The Fertilizer Institute have published checklists of anhydrous ammonia safety reminders ahead of the fall application season.