Goodland Seeing The End Product

After many months of anticipating once erected how the tanks may look we are finally getting a peak at what that will be, have to admit it's a good looking complement to an already eye-catching facility.

Dome Is Going On

As mentioned in the prior post using the bolt method has many advantages, here can see the quick progress of this morning's work with the dome taking shape.

Kansas Tank Erection Started

The tanks are starting to go up in Kansas.  This is one of the advantages of bolted tanks.  Weather is not as much of a constraint as there is no welding or painting necessary.  The project is still on schedule to complete around the end of January.

Farm Guy Sighting

Farm Guy continues on his debut tour across the country communicating the benefits of using a first-rate fertilizer, his latest appearance is along I-70 in western Kansas.

This is a first for the company to market its brand with a billboard. Thanks to all those involved for making this possible.   



ASHLEY

Yesterday the loading portion of the new rail manifold was completed

Eric Dunkle is attaching to the first car using the manifold. Prior to the manifold loading a car could of required 3,4 or 5 sections now no matter the distance a car is spotted from the Rail office a single section of hose will do the job.   

This pump will drive the unloading side of the manifold. This past week the electrical componets were accomplished. Ron Andrews and Randy Harris need to be recognized for their meticulous work.   

Farm America at Kansas Speedway

Do you recognize the familar faces on pit row at Kansas Speedway. Fortunately for the Farm America race team prior to the race credentials were checked and imposters were asked to leave.  

Spc. 4th Class Charlie Krauch served a tour of duty for the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Today, Krauch (far right) is proud that America is recognizing veterans and active personnel alike. Krauch serves multiple tasks for Farm America & Furniture Row race team. 

Agro Culture Liquid Fertilizers is honored to be a partnering sponsor. 

Latest at Goodland and Ashley

GOODLAND, KS.  

All 3 tank slabs have been completed. Next is tank wall assembly

completion for this segment is 24-26 days                    

 

ASHLEY, MI.

Rail manifold is near complete. Two Guys Mechanical will be back on Tuesday to finishing up the fabrication. Once that is done the last few items of connections within the containment and electrical out to the pump will be made.

 

  

Williams, IA Facility to Expand Spring 2012

Beginning spring 2012 the Williams, IA facility also will be expanding with 3- 500,000 ga tanks along with installation of a rail spur, truck load-out building and scales.

 Aerials depict the present look at the Williams facility

Concept drawing illustrates the intened expansions to occur. Highlighted borders show current operations in brown and blue for the upcoming new development.  

First foundation floor complete

Yesterday the foundation slab was completed on the first tank

Plan is for the second tank to be completed today however the looming forecast is for 5-10" inches of snow.  





Snow Day

Snow has brought progress to a halt in Goodland, fortunately forecast predicts 57⁰ tomorrow.

 

New project begins in Ashley

This week work began at the Ashley site preparing for 3- 500,000 gallon tanks to be installed spring 2012. Trench was dug that runs to the 3 tanks for the muliple lines to supply fertilizer, electric , air and water hydrant.

LIQUID's Ron Andrews and Randy Harris work at installing the electrical service to each tank. Also able to see sections of 4" stainless lines welded and placed. Once all welds are complete a pressure test will take place checking for leaks.  

Also in this project a rail manifold will be constructed. The pads seen running along the spur will support the piping, in all the trunk line will span 600 feet reaching 10 cars.     

Crew from Two Guy's Mechanical are preforming the welding fabrication. Excavating by Miller and Son's. 

Goodland Tank(ing) Shape

Progress continued yesterday, here the outer ring for the foundation is completed

A self leveling slurry is poured prior to foundation floor



Rebar is laid and outer wall formed ready for cement.



Back at it in Goodland

Crews arrived this morning to the faint greetings of winter

Digging right in clearing the area to begin setting forms and pour the foundation slabs

Disappointed time will not permit Robert had given thought of decorating each of these pylons as candy canes for Christmas

Thank you Robert for the pictures and updates

Goodland, KS. Tank Update

All 189 concrete pylons have been completed for the three tanks

Next stage is pouring three concrete slabs for the tanks, each slab is 24" thick with a 50' diameter

This stage is expected to be completed November 11

Seeing the Differance

The Agronomic Sciences folks held their potato fertility training in Idaho last week. Alan Pakinson (ACLF Field Agonomy Manager) did a great job providing good information.  
                                                                             
                                  
                                                Good team building opportunity

 ACLF's Jim Mills

  

 Hurrying to stay ahead of the weather

Kansas Progress

The pier drilling company set up there test this morning to check the load test on the individual pier. They drilled and installed 4 piers (2 on each side) of the actual test pier  (center). After setting for a week they installed a pressure test apparatus over the center pier and applied pressure (up to 100 ton) to check for stability.

 They Passed.

Ashley Open House

Below are some pictures from the Ashley Open house. 

 Radio Broadcast Interview

 Keith Creigh, Director of Michigan Department of Agriculture

 Farm American

 Area Manager Tour

 Farm American Race Team Tour

VIP Dinner

Check out Farmer Guy!!!

Nutrients Not Numbers

Click on the link to check out Farmer Guy - Stay tuned for the animated version!!

Potato Grower Article

Another online story from the potato grower.
http://potatogrower.com/news/display.cfm?ID=1760&utm_source=conveyor&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=agroculture_new_plant_092211

Ashley Open House

Follow the link below for the article on the Ashley open house published in the Michigan Farm Bureau Paper.  I suppose that I should post some of the pictures from the event also.  Somehow I missed doing that amongst everything else.  Stay Tuned!

http://www.michiganfarmbureau.com/farmnews/transform.php?xml=20110915/fertilizer.xml

Kansas Project Commenced

We are installing 3 - 500,000 gal tanks at the Goodland, Kansas plant.  The amount of product that they are shipping in a year and the growth that the area is experiencing has made this a necessity.  In addition to the three tanks, they will recieve a rail loading manifold to help them load railcars faster.  They will also recieve upgrades to thier loading technology.  This will make thier load times similar to that of the new Ashley plant.  We are upgrading thier outside loadout so that they can drive through.  They will be able to load both inside and outside the building at much faster speeds once the project is completed. 

 The soils at this location required that holes be drilled and columns of cement be poured to support the tanks.  It is a friction footing method as the tanks will be supported by the friction on the sides of the columns.

 These go down around 50 feet.  That means that more than your average auger was required.

 Here you can see them ready to start the drilling.

 Here you can see them pouring the cement into the holes

They will finish the holes with a large rerod to connect the columns to the tank base.  Thanks to Robert for the pictures.  He will be sending them to me on a regular basis so - stay tuned to watch the progress.