Knowledge Base 〉 Target Topics 〉 IBCs and Agriculture 〉 How IBC Totes Can Help Improve Farm Productivity
In a world where demand for farm products is rising and agricultural methods are changing, being able to maximize productivity on the farm is becoming more and more important. Every tool and strategy used on the farm can make a significant difference in the final results. One such tool that has helped improve farm productivity is the intermediate bulk container, which is commonly known as an IBC tote.
IBC totes are large containers used to store and transport liquids, solids, or granulated materials. Their features and use abilities make IBCs incredibly versatile in agriculture. Built to be durable and efficient, IBC totes can play an important role in applications around a farm. The increase in IBC tote use across agriculture points to their value and ability to maximize farm productivity.
What is an IBC Tote
An IBC tote is a large, sturdy container designed to store and transport bulk materials. IBCs are typically built from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) — a tough plastic that can handle long and strenuous use. IBCs come in different sizes, but the most common storage size is 275 gallons (or around 1,000 liters), which allows for significant storage without taking up too much space. Important features of the caged IBC tote include a metal support frame, a built-in valve for easy dispensing, an easy on-and-off lid, and a pallet base for quick transportation using forklifts and pallet jacks.
Agriculture Advantages of IBC Totes
There are many advantages of IBC totes when it comes to agricultural applications. In addition to their strength and reliability, IBC containers have the following benefits:
High Storage Capacity
The high storage capacity of IBC totes can contribute to improving productivity. Imagine the amount of time and work effort that could be saved by reducing the number of trips needed to move around goods or materials. With IBC totes, farmers can store more water, fertilizers, agrochemicals, or feedstock in a single container that can be moved around as needed on a truck bed or trailer to make work more efficient and let productivity grow.
Durable and Reusable
IBC tote containers are designed to last and are tough enough to withstand the daily stresses of farm life. IBCs can be cleaned, reused, and refilled, sometimes many times over, especially if for the same use. The durability and reusability of IBCs remove the need to constantly pay for replacement containers — this keeps work moving and helps keep long-term costs down.
Built for Transport
Moving work materials around the farm can be tedious and repetitive. IBC totes are built for transport and can help streamline the job. IBC’s unique pallet base design allows them to be easily moved by forklift or pallet jack, and the IBC’s metal frame also allows the tote to be easily secured to a vehicle with straps or anchors. These features make transporting goods with an IBC simpler and more productive as it saves both time and energy.
How Can IBC Totes Improve Farm Productivity
Using IBC totes can help farmers speed up their workflow across jobs that need to handle bulk amounts of materials and reduce the amount of labor as well as costs connected to the work. Whether you’ll use IBC totes to store feed, DEF, or transport agrochemicals, the containers are engineered to transport larger volumes more easily, cut down overall work times, and improve productivity.
More Storage, Better Storage
IBC totes are a real game-changer when it comes to storing things on the farm. With 275 or 330 gallons of capacity, significantly more work materials can be kept on hand for when and where they’re needed. Their capacity also helps to limit the amount of repurchasing as work products can be bought in bulk or delivered and filled into the IBC.
Also, as IBCs are box-shaped and designed to stack on top of each other, workspaces can be kept more organized, and more materials can be stored in less space, so more room is available for everything else. Such ideas are useful and can be important, such as when more space on a truck bed or trailer is needed for equipment or when square footage in a building is limited.
Less Work Effort, Shorter Work Times
In addition to their storage benefit, IBC containers also make farm work much easier. The IBC design is simple to move, load, and unload. They are weatherproof and secure so an IBC can be left outside without fear of pests, spills, or anything else (such as rain, dirt, or dust) contaminating what’s inside the tote. A 6-inch screw-top lid is easy to remove and tighten back when filling the tank. The 2-inch ball valve allows the release of the tank’s contents in as simple as turning a lever. The IBC valve’s camlock coupler capability streamlines plumbing hookups and allows totes to be directly integrated into mix-and-fill setups such as sprayer induction systems.
Time is always valuable on a farm, and IBC totes help save plenty of it. With their easy-to-move design, larger storage capacity, and built-in valve, tasks that used to take hours can now be done in a fraction of the time. Therefore, less time is spent on tedious work so more time is available for the important jobs.
Examples of IBC Totes Improving Farm Work
IBC totes are used in many different agricultural applications. From storage and transportation to pest control and crop performance chemicals, IBC totes offer a safe and efficient way for farmers to get more done with less effort. Here are some case studies on IBC totes improving farm productivity:
Brown’s Dairy Farm
IBC totes made a big difference to workflow on Farmer Brown’s Dairy Farm. The farm switched to IBCs to store milk and found that their productivity levels shot up. The volume and easy-to-move design of the IBC tote helped move large quantities of milk around the farm quickly, saving hours of work time every day. Also, the box-like shape meant more milk could be stored in less space, freeing up room for other equipment and tasks.
Sunnyside Chicken Farm
At the Sunnyside Chicken Farm, IBC totes were used to improve productivity in a different way. Instead of carrying feed bags by hand to each chicken coop, the farm filled an IBC with chicken feed and moved the container around using a tractor. This kept their workers from the heavy lifting, and it also made feeding the chickens much quicker. With an IBC tote, the farm was able to care for more chickens and increase their egg production.
How to Select the Right IBC Tote for Your Farm
Choosing the right IBC tote for your farm doesn’t have to be difficult. When it comes to the poly caged tote, there are three main types: new, rebottled, and reconditioned.
- Material: All three caged IBC tote types are made from the same materials: high density polyethylene (abbr. HDPE). The base resin used is FDA approved, BPA free, virgin grade material with UV stabilizers added to protect against sunlight damage. HDPE plastic is commonly used to make milk cartons and to handle chemical solutions.
- Size: All three IBC types come in the same storage sizes of 275 gallons and 330 gallons. Square dimensions are the same for each capacity and only differ in height.
- Certification: New and rebottled IBC totes are ANSI/NSF Standard 61 certified meaning they are safe for storing and providing drinking water. Reconditioned IBCs should not be used for drinking water as the tote has been previously used.
New IBC Totes:
New poly caged totes are brand new container products and have never been used before. New IBC totes have the highest purchase price and are the best choice when quality is a concern and when you want to make sure the tote lasts as long as possible.
Rebottled IBC Totes:
Rebottled poly caged totes have a used steel pallet frame and a new storage container. The old tank was removed and replaced with a brand new tank. The steel frame is inspected and certified safe for further use but may have some normal wear. Rebottled IBC totes have a lower price than new, and are good for all the same uses as a new tote. This option is a great choice when wanting to save on cost and help contribute to sustainability by keeping materials and products in use.
Reconditioned IBC Totes:
Reconditioned poly caged totes have a steel pallet frame and storage container that have both seen prior use. For this type, an IBC is returned after use, inspected, cleaned, and approved for further work. Reconditioned IBC totes have the lowest purchase price and are best for chemicals and alternative applications that will not involve drinking water, feedstock, or other uses resulting in consumption.
Takeaway
Here we have looked at the ins and outs of the poly IBC tote and how it can benefit agriculture and improve productivity on a farm. By investing in an IBC tote, you can maximize efficiency while still meeting safety requirements. Whether you choose a new, rebottled, or reconditioned, the choice to use IBC totes will help make work faster, safer, and easier, and also help to save costs over time.
Poly IBC Totes
