Buying Agricultural Oil in the UK: What Farmers Should Look For

When you go to buy agricultural oil in the UK, you will not only search for a reasonable price, but you will also cheque that the fuel you have purchased is efficient for your farming machinery. The fuel you will buy should have reliability and it should be compliant with the current regulations. In the UK, there are vast ranges of farm oils available to use in tractors, harvesters, and many of the irrigation structures. Some suppliers serve you more than you need. With this, there are also people who can sell forged fuel to you. So, if you buy the wrong fuel it can lead to the overconsumption of oil and sudden failures of the equipment.

Farmers in the UK also face issues related to the sustainability, cost of the oil, and downtime of the machine. In the UK the climate is changing continuously and the schedules of farming are also changing accordingly. Thus, the choice of the fuel should be able to match such conditions. In addition, the price transparency and effect of the newest technologies should be linked with fuel delivery whether the farming is done for a small and/or large level.  

Be equipped with the ideas of what should be taken care of to buy a reliable level of agricultural oil in UK. 

Key Considerations While Buying The Agricultural Oil

While buying agricultural oil there are many considerations that should be taken care of. It should be linked with the machine and/or equipment where the fuel will be used and the basic needs of applications.

The fuel type: While buying the fuel you need to cheque what the type of fuel you need to buy is. They can be like kerosene, heating oil, diesel, the types of gasoline, and/or red diesel. Among all, the red diesel is mostly sold as it has low rates of various taxes. Farmers also use red diesel for heating and generating power and/or electricity.

The quality of the fuel: The quality should also be verified when you go to buy agricultural oil. It is linked with various laws and standards. They are like the standards of EN590, the ratings of Cetane and Octane with the standards of BS 2869. The fuel should also be linked with the fuel quality control law.

Oil viscosity: Before buying you also need to cheque the viscosity of the farm oil. This can be checked by a viscometre. Here the oil is checked by the time it takes to pour within a tube which works under gravity. The viscometres can be Capillary Tube Viscometres and/or Rotary Viscometres.

Suitability for the new machines: The fuel should be suitable to be used in a new machine. This can be described by its density and cleanliness. It should be checked for the contents of sulphur, water, and FAME. The oil should be able to manage the TFC and/or the Theoretical Field Capacity with the Effective Field Capacity of the machine. The fuel used in a standard kind of tractor should make it run for 25 mph or 40 km in one hour.

Compatibility with old machines: Some tractors and harvesters are old but are used in the process of farming. Thus, the fuel that you will insert into it should be familiar to manage its age with its wear and tear. The fuel should be more effective when used in an old machine than in a new machine. The fuel in an old kind of tractor should make it run for 20 mph or 32 km in one hour.

The reputed supplier: The dealer of agricultural oil in UK should be reliable and reputed. There are various suppliers like Compass Energy, 123 Oil, Nationwide Fuels, NWF Fuels, etc who have fuel depots in many regions of the UK. Here you can get the fuel with better quality and better price. They also have better delivery options.

Multiple-purpose usage: In the process when you go to buy agricultural oil you need to cheque whether the fuel can be used for multiple purposes and needs. They can be like the process of powering the pumps of irrigation, running the threshers and harvesters, and carrying various forms of crops from one place to another.

Premium Alternatives: Different forms of agricultural oil in UK also have some premium levels of alternatives. These are like the renewable and synthetic forms of fuels. Like for example bio-fuels and/or renewable diesel like HVO and synthetic fuels like e-fuels. There is also the availability of modern hydrogen fuel cells.

The services of delivery: You need to cheque what the services of delivery of the farm oil are. There are companies in the UK that work for nationwide and local delivery of white diesel and/or red diesel. They also deliver various kinds of lubricants. The delivery can also be done on the same day and/or the next day of making the order.

Pricing structure: In the UK when you plan to buy agricultural oil you need to cheque the pricing structure of the dealer. This structure is based on many factors like the market price of farm oil, the rates of VAT, and the fuel duty. Among all, the price of red diesel can show ups and downs.

Terms of contract: In the process of selling and buying agricultural oil in UK the terms of the contract should be checked. Contracts like FOSFA 26a are mostly done here. These kinds of contracts mention the duties and rights of the sellers and the different buyers.

Real vs. forged oil: You need to verify whether the fuel you are buying is real or not. In the market, you can also get various forms of forged oil. The oil that will be real will have a consistent level of colour with the best level of viscosity, and texture. On the other hand, the oil that will be fake can have a cloudy appearance and can have an unusual level of odour.

Technical support: When you go to buy agricultural oil you need to cheque what technical support it has from the dealers. This will be added with the guidance for tank installations, testing for contaminants, and use of fuel monitoring systems.

Purpose and Functionality: The different forms of agricultural oil in UK are also based on their purpose of usage and various functionalities. These fuels should be supportive for managing the supply chain and should work better in a system of fuel management. The fuels also give backup to many of the generators and other machinery.

Availabilities of fuel for bulk buying: When it is an off-season the farmers generally want to buy the fuel in bulk. In the UK the fuel is generally red diesel which can be purchased in bulk. The fuel can be delivered from 500 litres to 36,000 litres to the farms. The bulk buying will depend on the standard and emergency level of delivery options.

Sustainability concerns: The oil for farming should go through various sustainability concerns. They should work to release less GHG emissions and improve the energy level. People are now being encouraged to use renewable fuel sources.

Storage and handling: There should be a better arrangement for storing the farm oil. The specific needs are added with the use of officially-recognised containers and the use of bunded tanks. The container should be placed in an area that will have the proper level of ventilation. The tank should be 10 metres away from the sources of water.

Needs for additives: You need to cheque whether you need any additives and/or how much of them are needed when you buy agricultural oil. The additives can be Gas Oil Extra, the form of Anti-Wax additives, and diesel power restorers. These additives can also be AdBlue and GTL Fuel & HVO.

Record-keeping: In the process of farming in the UK you need to have the proper level of record for the usage of fuels and their types. This is needed to cheque the source of fuel and the particles of moisture it has. You also need to find what standards and policies the dealers follow. This can be done by using spreadsheets, digital methods of record-keeping, and various software for farm management.

Considerations as per the weather: The condition of the weather in the UK has a significant effect on farming and the use of farm oil. If the heat of the weather is extended it can reduce crop yields and there can be a need for more processes of irrigation. On the other hand, if it is too cold and there is an expanded level of flooding and rainfall, there will be more need for fuel to dry the crops.

Maintenance of the machine: There should be proper maintenance of the machine of farming for the wise use of fuel. The machines like the tractors and combines should be checked within the time-frame of 6 months or 12 months to have smooth operations and manage the downtime. The maintenance of the machine is more important if it is old.

Packaging and labeling: The various forms of agricultural oil in UK should be checked for their quality by their packaging and labeling. The package should inform you about the type and capacity of the fuel and should be marked well if the fuel is hazardous.

Training for staff and users: The users and the staff of the fuel stations should be trained well about the best process of delivering and handling the farm oil. They should be aware of how to handle the fuel container and how to manage the sudden risks.

Guarantees and warranties: You need to cheque what the guarantees the fuel and the storage container have before you buy agricultural oil. This is needed to cheque whether there are any defects in the workmanship.

Emergency response plans: The dealers and the users always should have plans to face an emergency. In the UK there is NEP-F or National Emergency Plan for Fuel. They work for the guidelines of managing the emergency or crisis for farmers. The dealers and the farmers also need to follow the Energy Act of 1976.

Needs of farming: There is a necessity to verify how the farm oil is needed to manage the farming operations. The fuel can be used for planting, and heating buildings and barns with fueling various off-road vehicles.

Future needs: The use of agricultural oil in the UK will also be required for future operations. This is needed for managing the cost-effectiveness of the technology and infrastructure of farming. Different forms of alternative fuels should be able to deliver a range of power and energy in various operations of farming to bring limitations in the use of fossil fuels.  

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, it can be said that there is a need to have a proper comparison of prices and an evaluation of all the relevant issues before you buy agricultural oil in the UK. These issues will be linked to the quality of oil and the reputation of the supplier. The reliability of the delivery and support after the sales from the dealers also matter. There is a need to have the compatibility of storage and to be compliant to regulations.

You need to cheque how you can get the bulk quantities of fuel and what the different fuel options the dealers have are. When you work with a smart approach you can reduce the sudden breakdowns of the equipment. The best choice of agricultural oil in UK will also be helpful for you to have a growth in the levels of productivity.

If you want to have long-term success in your agricultural activities you should know how the fuel should be stored and handled and how the farmers should be trained for its better usage.