Why Your Poly Tank Colour Is More Important Than You Might Think

So, you’ve decided to buy a water storage tank. Once you have chosen your tank size, type and location on your property, it’s time to choose the tank colour. It turns out, there is so much more to poly tank colours than just the aesthetics; although these are important. 

In fact, there’s plenty of science involved in poly tank colours. Tank owners can leverage this science to their advantage when it comes to their water storage. 

We want to help you make an informed, well-rounded decision when choosing your poly tank colour. So, we’ve put together this comprehensive list of considerations to help you choose the best poly tank colour for your property. We’ve broken it down – first diving into how poly tank colours work, then functional considerations and lastly the aesthetic considerations of poly tank colours. 

Read on if you want to make an informed decision when choosing your poly tank colour. 

How Do Poly Tank Colours Work?

Let’s first dive into how poly tank colours are made. 

What Poly Tank Colours Are Made Of

The colours that are used in poly water tanks come from either one pigment or a mixture of pigments. There are two main sources of colour pigments: chemicals created in a lab, or mined minerals. Each production method yields different pigments. The pigment can then be combined with uncoloured polyethylene which is then eventually utilised in rotational moulding.  

How The Colours Are Added 

The polyethylene, colours and additives are initially processed through an extruder. This creates a masterbatch or encapsulated colour. This colour is then added to a carrier resin. 

To create a colour compound, the masterbatch is again combined with the natural coloured polyethylene in an extruder. After, the mix is processed through a mill. This results in a coloured polyethylene powder, which is utilised in the roto-moulding process. 

When adding colours to polyethylene, they must be durable enough so they will not fade when exposed to the high temperatures that occur during the roto-moulding process.

The colours must adhere to the following requirements:  

  • Maintain colour at high roto-moulding temperatures.
  • Resistant to fade in harsh outdoor environments.
  • Must not bleed out onto the mould.
  • Food and water grade plastic where necessary. 
  • Contain no heavy metals.
  • Economical price.
  • Sustainable impact on the environment.

What Poly Tank Colours Are Available

Tanks made from polyethylene generally accommodate the widest range of colours. At Global Rotomoulding, we offer tanks in plenty of colours across the COLORBOND colour range. 

Regulations

Many paints may contain solvents and other materials that could leak into the water supply. Therefore colours used in tanks need to comply with government standards for the safe storage of water.  

Functional Considerations

Now we’ll dive into why you should care about your poly tank colour from a practical perspective.  

Algae Contamination

Algae thrive in sunlight. If a tank was painted with an inadequate amount of pigments, this can let in enough sunlight that facilitates algae growth. This can have troubling health concerns. Some forms of algae, like the toxic blue-green algae, are highly dangerous to humans and animals. 

This does not mean that light coloured tanks are a breeding ground for algae. When they are manufactured with an adequate wall thickness by an established manufacturer, algae is effectively prevented.   

It is important to note that algae could be present in a tank with adequate wall thickness if the water is sourced from areas already contaminated with algae. Or, it may occur if the lid of the tank has been left open, letting sunlight in. 

Water Temperature

The colour of the tank can affect the temperature of the stored water too. Pigments will absorb light from the sun and convert the energy into heat. Darker colours will lead to a hotter tank as the day progresses. The tank will also climb to higher temperatures when it is empty.  

Carbon black, which is a pigment used for black or grey tanks, will reach the highest temperature among all of the tank colours (unsurprisingly), reaching up to 63 degrees celsius. 

Other darker colours like phthalocyanine blue and phthalocyanine green can reach between 60-62 degrees celsius. 

Hence, a lighter water tank will store water at cooler temperatures. Generally, this is better for tank owners – especially those caring for livestock. Livestock are more likely to drink cooler water. When our livestock drinks more, they will consume more food, hence increasing their productivity.   

Cooler water may also be necessary across other industries, such as industrial sectors. Here, cooler water is especially pertinent for concrete mixing. It is also required when washing and processing food products. 

UV Protection

UV protection may be a requirement for some tank owners. A process known as photo-oxidation is the primary cause for faded water tanks. Therefore, opting for UV stabilised water tanks that utilise high quality, durable poly resins will help to prevent any damage caused by UV light. 

Choosing an established manufacturer that sells UV stabilised poly tanks is critical to ensure protection from sun exposure.   

Aesthetic Considerations

Once you have considered the functional requirements of your tank, it’s time to consider your aesthetic preferences.

Make It All Flow

If you don’t want your tank to stick out like a sore thumb, opt for a colour that will blend seamlessly with the environment it is placed in. For example, when placing a tank outside a neutral cream or beige coloured home, why not try Classic Cream or Paperbark for the rainwater tank? 

Make A Statement

Perhaps you want to make a statement with your colour choice? You could opt for complementary colours for your house and tank. Complementary colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel. When together, they pop in a fun and bright way. Common combinations are red and green or orange and blue. We particularly love Mountain Blue, which compliments earthy reds and oranges.  

Pick Up On Accents

If you have accent colours on the eaves, doors or window sills of your home, perhaps choose the same colour for your tank. This gives a seamless finish, without looking too uniform. Rivergum is a common accent without being too bright.

An Aerial View

Alternatively, you may choose to match your tank to your roof. An exact match is easy with Global Tanks COLORBOND colour matched tank colours. 

This makes for a stunning aerial view for those living on a farm where helicopters and planes tend to pass. A common colour choice is coupling a Heritage Red COLORBOND roof with the matching tank.  

When it comes to choosing your poly tank colour, there are perhaps more considerations to make than you’d initially think. This can be overwhelming. But, as long as you’re addressing the functional and aesthetic requirements for your poly tank, you can rest assured you have made the right decision. At Global Tanks, we stock tanks for a diverse range of applications, including Domestic tanks (Slimline, Underground tanks), Rural tanks and tanks for commercial systems (fire services, chemical storage). Our tanks come in up to 30 beautiful, rich colours. Find out more about our range of tanks here, and be sure to contact us if you have any questions. 

Aussie Country Town Tour – A Country Man’s Guide Through Mildura

G’day everyone, Uncle Garry from Global Rotomoulding here. Welcome to my first post of Gazz’s Aussie Country Town Tour, where I’ll take you through some of my favourite rural towns and show you the best things to do there. 

This week I was sitting on my porch, looking out onto the pink skies at sunset. My mind started to wander, and I recalled a trip I took to the beautiful Mildura pink salt lakes some time ago (back when it was still pink). 

It’s hard to forget the red earth and mighty river of Mildura. This Victorian town revolves around the Murray River. There are always people fishing, boating and skiing on the water. 

Bursting with history and fresh agricultural produce, this vibrant town is a refreshing oasis surrounded by desert landscapes. There’s so much to see and do. Mildura is famous for its oranges, grapes and wines. It’s a perfect spot to stop for some fresh citrus-based foods and sip on fruity beverages.

It’s honestly one of the most colourful natural landscapes in the country and a fantastic holiday destination. So if you’re stopping for a day or a week, make sure you check out some of these fantastic places. 

Much To Do On The Murray River

Mildura is positioned beside Australia’s longest river. The Murray River is a huge attraction all-year-round. You can partake in or spectate things like the 100 Ski Race, the Malibu & Axis Boats Wakeboard State of Origins, or the Mildura 24-hour Mega Swim.

If you want a truly unique rural town visit, I recommend hiring a houseboat and spending a week cruising the river. It’s a great way to wind down and live in a way that few other towns can offer. 

If a day trip is more your style hop onboard one of three vintage paddle steamers and cruise your way on one of the available tours.

Places To Eat In Mildura 

Food makes the world go round, and Mildura knows how to cook up a good feed. Here is my go-to food tour. 

Breakfast 

If you want a simple, but trendy breakfast and some of the best coffee in the town, you’ve gotta stop by Nash Lane. They make mouth-watering breakfast and the staff are as polite as can be. Uncle Gaz’s fave is their Eggs Benedict. 

Lunch

Stop by The Wooden Door for lunch and enjoy some hearty Australian classics. They put a mean spin on the classic chicken parmy. 

The Brass Monkey makes a great feed too. It’s funky and brings street-food inspired dishes and city laneway culture to the rural town. 

Dinner 

I had a few great dinners on my Mildura trip, but when I stopped by Stefano’s I forgot about every other meal I had. Head Chef Stefano de Pieri’s food resembles art. Stefano uses fresh, in-season ingredients to prepare his simple but flavoursome dishes. Trust me on this one – wow. 

Farm Fresh Produce (And Wines) 

Mildura is famous for oranges! Even if you’ve never heard of the town before, you would have heard the name because of the Mildura Fruit Company, Australia’s largest fresh citrus exporter. It’s like Bundaberg and the rum! Swing by Orange World  and take a tour of 20-hectares of citrus farm. It will be the freshest orange you’ve ever bitten into.

Visit the region on the first or third Sunday of the month and access all the fresh produce the region has to offer in one easy spot. The Sunraysia Farmers Market brings rows and rows of stalls run by local farmers and producers. Set up along the main street, you’ll find everything you need here from fresh meat to pistachios, fruits, asparagus, Murray River salt and more.

If you love wine, the Mildura region is ripe (pun intended) with grape vineyards and local wineries. My recommendations are the Trentham Estate if you don’t mind a drive to the Trentham Hills. Alternatively, the Sunraysia Cellar Door is easily accessible along the main street of Mildura. Here, you can sample wines from dozens of local producers that operate along the Murray River.

Rich History 

Rev heads, you have to check out the Mildura Holden Museum. A collection of 28-35 Holden vehicles which date from the first model made to the recent additions. The whole museum is the effort of Mr Ron Morello’s passion for the car brand. It’s a pit stop I’ve made several times to ogle at the original 1948 FX Holden sedan.

If you love the Holden Museum, you’ll be interested to see the massive prime mover, Big Lizzie, which paved the way for settlement in the Red Cliffs. She now proudly stands in Barclay Square Red Cliffs. You can find history at every turn in Mildura; you just need to look. 

Explore The Most Colourful Desert Landscapes

The Victorian town is an explorer’s dream. To the south-west is the famous Pink Lakes in the Murray Sunset National Parks. The unusual coloured water source has a pink hue. While it has lost most of its vibrancy in the past decade, it’s still a massively popular stop. 

Mildura is surrounded by vast deserts and rockscapes. Just 30 minutes drive from the town will take you to the Perry Sand Hills where you can admire the looming dunes and maybe spot an emu or two. On the edge of town is the Australian Inland Botanic Garden which is a pleasant splash of colour and greenery. Just 16km south is the Red Cliffs, a town named fittingly after the mighty red rocks surrounding it. 

Alright, that’s it for Mildura, and I’ve only just scratched the surface. I’d love to hear about your favourite parts of Mildura, so be sure to leave a comment on our Facebook. Working for Global Rotomoulding has allowed me to travel across the country. I’ve made plenty of stops in plenty of towns. Where should I write about next?

Have Peace of Mind with Our Quality Management System

When you buy a water tank you want to be sure that it is the best quality possible. That’s why at Global Rotomoulding we’ve implemented an in-depth testing and management system which has given our thousands of customers peace of mind. 

We promise the best quality service in the market for Water Tanks and all other rotomoulded products – from manufacturing to delivery. When you buy with us, you subscribe to durable poly products plus superb communication and delivery.

Our Process 

Your water tank and your specification are linked with your sales order, manufacturing, and the delivery of your tank. 

We use a unique serial number for every tank we create, so if you have any inquiries or issues down the line, we can find the exact information about your water tank. This enables us to perform custom quality checks on all our products. 

To ensure the highest quality product possible, all our production and quality control is paperless within a web app. Don’t worry about storing receipts because we will keep reference of your purchase in our files permanently.  

Global believes in honouring quality control at every step in the process:

  1. Clients are asked the correct questions to make sure they get the exact item they need. 
  2. High-quality components and plastic that meet strict batch checks by our suppliers are sourced. 
  3. Moulds are quality checked before the product is loaded. 
  4. The Global team performs several checks to ensure all components, plastics and special instructions are followed before loading it. 
  5. Unloaded products go through a first-pass QA check to ensure they meet the quality standard. 
  6. Once a product is finished we complete a custom QA check. This check is Global’s custom list that ensures each product meets our specific requirements. Examples may include:
    • Visual inspections of defined key areas.
    • Leak testing.
    • Ultrasonic thickness testing.
    • Drop testing.
  7. Custom-built trucks used to safely transport and deliver tanks to customers. 
  8. Serial numbers allow traceability of manufacturing processes and any warranty issues. 

At Global Tanks, our committed team is always ready to challenge conventional practices and find new, innovative ways to master our trade. We’ve helped land-owners across Australia get quality agricultural equipment without any stress on them. If you want a durable, and long-lasting poly water tank, get in touch with us today! We have a range of premade products, or alternatively, we can customise a tank to better suit your needs. 

How Global Helps Customers Fertigate Efficiently on the Farm

Are you looking to achieve more with less on your farm? A fertigation system may be something that can help massively improve crop productivity and significantly lower the chemicals you need to achieve those results. 

Fertigation is the combination of irrigation and fertilisation, but it’s capabilities are much more beneficial than just multitasking. Fertigation allows farmers to increase nitrogen efficiency and in turn, apply less fertiliser while getting better growth results. 

Global Rotomoulding has been called to assist in several fertigation systems with our custom Polyethylene parts and tanks that are cheaper to produce than metal or rubber parts and unreactive to the chemicals you will be using. 

Fertigation – The Basics 

Fertigation supplies crops with dissolved fertiliser through an irrigation system. It takes a fair amount of research and preparation. Still, this technique allows farmers to customise and alter nutrient and water levels to obtain the crop’s maximum production yield.

Broadcasting fertiliser onto the surface comes with many variables. Things like rainfall or heat can influence how much of the fertiliser gets absorbed into the soil. This method leaves a considerable amount of fertiliser on the soil surface that never makes it into the root zone. This means the nutrients are inaccessible for the crop and doesn’t promote growth at all. 

Fertigation has proven to be a more effective and consistent application method and takes less time and man-power once a system is installed. But the initial cost, need for a quality irrigation system and labour cost to mix and measure solutions is the main deterrent for farmers. 

Broadcasting fertiliser onto the surface is the most common means of application. The Australian Bureau Of Statistics showed that nine Australian Agricultural Environments broadcasted fertiliser, while drilling below the surface was the most common method in eight. Only agricultural businesses in the Arid region category used the fertigation method as the primary fertiliser application.

Regular applications of soluble nutrients is a proven way to dismiss the main issues tied to surface broadcast fertilisation. Fertigation places nutrients around the plant roots and allows for rapid intake. It also saves labour time, application time and lowers field compaction. 

To capitalise on these benefits, extra care should be taken when selecting fertilisers and injection equipment as well as in the management and maintenance of the system.

How It Works 

A dissolvable fertiliser solution is mixed into a suitable container and combined into an irrigation system. 

Popular Irrigation Systems With Fertigation: 

  • Sprinkler system – Applies solution evenly across plant and soil. 
  • Drip irrigation – Precisely targets roots and stem area of plants. More efficient for fertilisation, but does not provide water to leaves. Can be subsurface or above ground. 
  • Surface Irrigation – Most popular irrigation system used by farmers worldwide. Less even distribution of nutrients compared to the other two.

Once an irrigation system is found, the fertiliser is applied by different methods. 

The following are generally used: 

  • Continuous application – Fertiliser is applied at a constant rate from beginning to end. 
  • Three-stage – Irrigation without fertiliser starts. The fertiliser is injected once the ground is wet. Irrigation process ends without fertiliser solution. 
  • Proportional – Injection rate is proportional to water discharge (1ltr of solution per 1000ltrs). 
  • Quantitative – Solution is calculated depending on the size and demand of each irrigation block. (20ltrs to Block-A, 50ltrs to Block-B)

What You Need To Know 

Fertigation is a great farm practice that will ensure plants optimal crop nutrition and boost the crop yield while minimising environmental pollution. But you must understand the requirements of your crop and land before taking on the project.

Make sure you: 

Consult the experts for the right equipment.

Global Can Help 

Fertigation receives a great deal of interest because of the potential to save water and nutrients, while at the same time increasing agricultural productivity. Global has partnered with plenty of farmers and Agri experts in their efforts to conduct efficient fertigation. 

Your system will need a range of chemical supply tanks and pressure differential tanks to inject your fertiliser solution into your irrigation systems. According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, your fertigation system will consist of

  • “One or more tanks to dissolve dry fertiliser into water or store pre-made liquid fertiliser mixes.”  
  • “A means of injecting the dissolved fertiliser into the irrigation line.” 

How you choose to inject fertiliser into your irrigation line heavily depends on the variables of your farm. But the tanks can be a simple fix once you figure out how much solution you need. 

We have a range of tanks suitable for fertigation mixing and can create custom Polyethylene parts to fit your needs perfectly. Building an irrigation system is different for each farm, so if you need bespoke fittings on your tanks, our expert team can help from design to construction. 

Global Rotomoulding is proud to supply Australian farmers with rainwater tanks, fertigation tanks and spray tanks. We work with over 30 OEM’s making critical components to supply the agricultural industry. 

Best Images of Rural Australia 2020

The new year has come, and most Aussies can agree that it was great to wave off 2020. Wildfires, a global pandemic, drought and plenty of other struggles. It wasn’t an easy year, but here we are at the other end. 

Despite all the struggles, there was beauty in 2020. 

It’s a mantra that every rural worker knows; with the bad comes good. So while we look forward to what 2021 brings, let’s look back at the year that was and see some photos that encapsulate what it means to live in rural Australia. 

Mansfield, Victoria – Angus Cattle at Golden Hour

The rules that came with COVID-19 were tough on every industry, but this rural photographer was proud of her fellow Victorians for obeying the rules and coming down from one of Australia’s highest spikes. 

Booligal, New South Wales – Massive Duststorm In NSW

Life on the planes brings about some “epic scenes” like this massive dust storm captured by farmer Jessie Palmer. 

Mansfield, Victoria – Spring Snowfall 

Seems like a different country, but no, this winter wonderland is located in the small town at the foothills of the Victorian Alps. 

Oberson, New South Wales – Thick Snow in NSW

This frosty pic among rows of pine looks like it could be from an arctic adventure. Photographer Dan Farr captured a truly mystical moment that inspires exploration.

Lambs Valley, New South Wales – Country Road 

A stunning photo of the rolling hills along the Hunter Valley. Everything about this photo perfectly highlights the sights of rural life. 

Port Lincoln, South Australia – Balancing Kids

These two baby goats are showing their balancing skills by standing on this rock which is only two inches at its peak. 

Barney View, Queensland – Sunrise Over A Pasture 

The cattle are all looking at the photographer like they’re posing for this photo. Amazing shot. 

Perenjori, Western Australia – Tractor Stirring Up Dust 

Photographer Ellie Morris did a fantastic job of capturing the beauty and ruggedness of rural Australia. The dust being stirred up by this tractor made for some beautiful pictures. 

Riverina, New South Wales – Fun In The Mud 

Growing up rural means you’re used to mud. These kids get that. 

Broad Leaf Santa Gertrudis, Queensland – Dogs At Work 

Working with cattle isn’t easy. Photographer Trina Patterson captured the powerful confrontation between this cow and two working dogs. 

Harden, New South Wales – Rural Gallery 

Photographer Rachael Lenehan’s work captures every aspect of rural life. A fantastic gallery filled with emotion. 

Alexandra, Victoria – Rodeo In Action 

Being ring-side at a rodeo is an exhilarating experience, as this photographer found out. She captured this powerful trestle between bronco and man seconds before the horse crashed into the barriers. 

The Grampians, New South Wales – Harvester Convoy 

A fantastic image of four tractors harvesting crop. 

Kununurra, Western Australia – Long Exposure In Lighting Storm 

This rural photographer got lucky during a lightning storm when the rain stopped long enough for him to get this long exposure shot. The result is breathtaking. 

Kensington Grove, Queensland – Inner Milky Way 

A stunning shot of the Milky Way Galaxy from a rural pasture. Read the description for a better explanation of how this fantastic shot came to be. We couldn’t do it justice. 

Broome, Western Australia – Blue Waters, Red Earth 

The contrast between the water and sand in this aerial shot is something you could only find in Australia. The beautiful earth tones made for a truly great photo. 

Cootamundra, New South Wales – Lamb And Its Herd 

A simple yet fantastic shot of a lamb in front of its herd during the golden hour. 

Bridgewater, Victoria – Work Dog On Lookout

Dogs and farms go together like salt and pepper. This pup looks very proud in this field.

Victorian High Country, Victoria – Bushfire Smoke

It’s hard to believe that this tranquil picture was taken during the Victorian wildfires which ravaged the country early last year. What seems to be fog in the photo is actually smoke captured in the early morning. 

Kangaroo Island, South Australia – The Grip Of Survival

The emotional moment of a koala gripping onto a singed tree during the dreadful fires which ripped through Kangaroo Island in January 2020. 

Murringo, New South Wales – Lone Angus Cattle 

You can feel the brisk air in this photo just from the crisp dew on the grass and the vapour gathering on the cow’s breath. It’s easy to imagine the feeling of the winter air after seeing this shot. 

Penola, New South Wales – Grazing Cattle

A simple, yet fantastic shot of this cattle’s snout as it munches on some grass. 

Tamborine, Queensland – Windmill Infront of a Red Sky

Gorgeous colours of a sunrise, mixed with fog on a country property. Reminds us why we love the rural way of life. 

Longreach Queensland – Lighting Strom Over Rural Area 

Ominous storm clouds bringing much-needed rain to a regional Queensland town.

Our Global Rotomoulding team love rural photography, and our delivery drivers aren’t too shabby at it themselves. We always stop to take some great shots on our journeys to deliver a range of agricultural equipment across Australia. We can set you up with everything you need; from water tanks to vehicle-mounted containers to troughs and feeders plus much more. Get in contact today to find the perfect item for your property.

Growing Demand for Organics: Farm to Table Christmas Recipes

Australians are hungry for organically grown produce. In fact, two-thirds of Australian households reported they had purchased organic products in 2018. This grew the domestic consumer market of organic produce domestic to a value of $2 billion AUD by 2018. 

These findings are unsurprising. Australian consumers are becoming more and more health-conscious. Many consumers of organic products are concerned about the potential effects of pesticides, insecticides, growth hormones or antibiotics on their body. Considering humans have been on the planets for about 150,000 years, and have only started using chemicals to grow food about 70 years ago, the growing shift towards organic produce is not surprising. 

Hence, consumers are increasingly supporting local farmers that are committed to growing organic produce. This has seen an increase in popularity for recipes that incorporate whole foods. In celebration of organic farm to table food, read on for our favourite farm to table Christmas recipes.

Nibbles and Snacks: Go For Grazing Boards

For Christmas food that both looks and tastes delicious, look no further than a classic grazing board. Grazing board experts know that putting together a good grazing board requires exceptional produce. From your local markets or organic shop, choose a wide range of produce for your grazing board. For vegetables, try carrot, celery or pickled cucumbers. For fruit, include watermelon, kiwi fruit, figs, grapes, berries or anything you fancy. Add in a variety of nuts, bread and wholegrain biscuits for a Christmas graze you won’t forget. 

Salads 

Packing a diverse range of colourful vegetables into your salads promotes maximum flavour and maximum nutritional value. Here are a few vegetable and flavour packed summer salad recipes perfect for Christmas. 

Bakes

Despite our warm climate, many Aussies tend to cook up bakes on Christmas day. They’re delicious – of course – but including various farm to table ingredients is the key to a tasty bake. Check out these delicious recipes for your Christmas lunch. 

Meat Dishes: Homemade Christmas Sauces & Marinades 

For some households, meat is the centrepiece for the Christmas table. Consumers that enjoy organic farm to table produce may also pair their antibiotic and hormone free meat with flavourful sauces or marinades. Check out these recipes for popular Christmas sauces: 

Desserts 

Australian Christmas desserts naturally have plenty of different fruits, and can even include vegetables. Here are some delicious Christmas dessert recipes. 

Supporting local farmers has always been a big part of Global Rotomoulding. There are so many organic recipes you can try this Christmas that pack in plenty of farm-fresh produce. Not only does including a wide range of fruits and vegetables across all your Christmas dishes pack flavour and nutrients, it makes for a gorgeous looking Christmas table! 

If you’re a farmer, Global Rotomoulding has a wide range of agricultural products that can support your livestock. To find out more, be sure to contact us. In the meantime, check out our round up of 5 Creative Christmas Gifts for Farmers.

5 Creative Christmas Gifts for Farmers

Farmers are dedicated workers and loyal people. You probably want to buy the farmer in your life a gift that wows them, but you have to admit, they can be hard to buy for. What do you get for the person who already has everything they need?

Farmers can happily live off the land, and more often than not, they would prefer a practical gift instead of fancy trinkets. If a farmer needs something, chances are they already have it or have made it themselves. 

If you’re stumped on what to get your farmer, read this list for 5 creative gifts for farmers. 

1. Personalised Signage

Give the property some personality with a custom farm sign to hang from the entry gate or from the farmhouse. A classic engraved wood sign adds a rustic and traditional aesthetic to a farm property. You could spruce things up with a colourful, modern metal sign. There is plenty of customisable sign making services to suit your needs. Here are a couple of options. 

2. New boots

If the farmer in your life is anything like the ones we know, then they’ve been relying on one trusty pair of boots for years. If they’re starting to look a little too warn in, maybe it’s time to gift them an upgrade. Even if the farmer’s old reliable boots have a few more years in them, they’ll be grateful for having a new set lined up. 

3. Custom Rotomoulded Accessories

The best gift you can give to a farmer is something practical. At Global Rotomoulding, we can create custom plastic products (exclusively for manufacturing purposes) for a range of jobs. We also have a range of pre-designed agricultural products which we can produce out of lightweight yet durable polyethylene and deliver directly to your property. Make a farmer’s manufacturing process easier by upgrading an old agricultural product with a new and improved version. 

4. Drone

As ag technology evolves, more and more practical toys for farmers to play with have entered the market. Drones are new and accessible technology for farmers. They can offer practical services like surveillance and monitoring of produce, but more importantly, they’re good fun to fly. Farmers love inspecting their crop or livestock from above and taking some scenic shots of their property. Some modern farming drones can spread grain, spray chemicals, and use thermal imaging to monitor land. There are several price points to try, we’ve attached a few options but recommend you do your research first. 

5. A New Pup

There’s something special about the bond between a farmer and his dog. Four more legs on a property can create plenty of new memories and stories. A pup is a perfect companion for a farmer and can help with the work. 

It’s important to gauge the waters here. Sometimes a farmer will find it hard to replace his last canine companion, but when the time is right, a new dog will set your farmer up with a mate for life. 

We wrote an article on the best farm dog breeds to have on a property. Give it a read for inspiration.

We hope you’ve been inspired by these creative gifts for farmers! At Global Rotomoulding we love giving to ag workers. You don’t need to wait for the right occasion to get one of our durable poly products (although it may be too big for a bow). If you would like to learn more about our custom rotomoulded tanks and our range of products, get in touch with us today!

Farm Marketing – Ways To Make Money That Aren’t By Farming

Love farm work, but want to earn extra income as a safety net to get you through the tough times and bad harvests? Enter, Farm Marketing. 

Farming is rewarding work, but not having a set salary is a concern for many farmers across Australia. 

Agriculture has changed a lot over the last few decades. Consumer demands have shifted; changes in government policies have affected the trade; technological advances and innovation continuously alter the agricultural landscape, and emerging environmental concerns mean big changes to the farming industry in the near future. 

This article offers a way to explore options beyond conventional methods of income. Think beyond the traditional ways of farming.

Tourism

This will be the most significant point we explore in this article because the possibilities are broad and can be tailored to your land and interests. 

Agricultural tourism is booming. City dwellers and rural people alike love exploring a country property and getting a first-hand experience of what life is like on your farm, so take advantage of that and give them the opportunity they want. 

Caravan Park Or Camping Grounds

You wake up each morning and see acres of stunning, natural scenery. If you love your land, chances are, so will other people. 

If you’ve got a field or area which is not in use, consider transforming it into a camping ground or caravan park. Running a campground is a great way to get a few extra bucks and also share the beauty of rural Australia with others. 

The scenery and access to nature at your campground is paramount. If your field runs along a clean river or overlooks a beautiful view, then you’re more likely to attract people compared to if you opened up a flat area of land in a hard to reach location. Running a campsite takes regular maintenance, and you’ll need to build a few amenities to get the legal go-ahead from your state’s government. 

If you want to earn a bit more money, consider tapping into the glamping market. 

The legalities and licencing around running a campground vary between states and regions. It’s best to check with your local council to see what you need to consider before starting. You may also need to acquire a licence from the ABLIS and a bushfire hazard assessment before opening your ground to the public. 

Accommodation or Bed and Breakfast

The rise of Airbnb has made earning a reasonable income much easier for rural landowners. Make the most of the space you have available. An unused farmhouse or guesthouse would be perfect, but a spare room can work as well. 

The amount of space you can offer guests will affect the income you bring in. Starting a B&B is not simple and may require a lot of planning, construction and work to entertain guests. But, if done well, you will be bringing in much more income than a campground or farm tours.

You get to decide how you market your accommodation service. Going through an accommodation business like Airbnb will recommend your farm stay to thousands of users – for a fee. You could also self-manage your B&B and handle the marketing, advertising and customer service yourself. While you save money on not paying the required fee, you are afforded much greater responsibility. 

Hosted Accommodation Australia is a great resource to find guides on everything you need to know about setting up an accommodation business. 

Farm Experiences

Your farm can be more than a place of work – it can become a destination hundreds of people want to visit. With enough work and a bit of investment, you can offer a family-friendly day trip. 

Tourists want to get a taste of the farm life. If you’re happy to spend your spare days sharing your tricks of the trade with classes, then workshops or hands-on experiences is a great option. Tourists will pay for a variety of experiences from cheese making, to milking cows, picking crops and petting animals. You have the chance to share your hobbies here and impart wisdom to the next generation, perhaps inspiring a few kids to become farmers themselves. 

There are no shortages of farm experiences, so be creative and see what services you can provide. You can run an educational workshop on how sugar cane is turned to sugar and run regular school excursions – or you could start a small petting zoo – if you have a passion for horses you could start a trail ride around your property. 

Look at some of the best stays and take inspiration from that. 

Parking or Storage 

As a large-property owner, you have a commodity which many city people desire – space! Storage is a highly sought after service, especially for people in built-up areas. If your property is located on the outskirts of a populated city, you may be in the perfect market for storage or parking. 

Building a new garage or clearing out an old shed will pay itself off if you can get a few people to pay to store vehicles or caravans until they need it. Cover isn’t necessary; a free hardstand may be enough for people to want to leave their motor home at your property. 

Depending on how much time, money and research you want to put into your side-business, consider building some self-storage sheds. Australian self-storage businesses are booming and more and more people are looking for affordable places to keep their possessions for long periods. Accessibility and location are critical for this venture. You should be located roughly 20-30 minutes from a populated area and have clear signage or access from a main road to the storage site for maximum efficiency. 

Providing both services come with legal requirements and insurances, so talk to your local council before going through with any plans.

Understanding Technology

Saving money is just as important as earning money. Agricultural technology has rapidly evolved over the past decade. Just 50 years ago people would still hire teams during the harvest season to harvest by hand. Now, what used to take 40 people, takes one machine, and it’s likely that in a few years, fewer and fewer workers will be needed to cultivate and harvest crops or look after livestock. 

Autonomous robots which pick fruit and monitored digital barns have already started to be wheeled out across the world. Keeping on top of the latest technology may save you plenty of money at the end of the year. As much as we love the physical work we do, less labour means less expense. 

The more innovative technology becomes, the higher the demand for knowledge will be. Take time to become an expert in specific fields of technology; it may pay off when other farmers look to you for help on current farming trends.

Don’t Just Sell Wholesale 

There are several ways to sell products, and each has advantages and disadvantages. It may sound obvious, but selling at a farmers’ market is an opportunity for higher profit and reduces the shipping and handling time on your products. 

We’re not saying skip the wholesaler entirely, but save a portion of the product for the weekend markets or roadside stalls. Here you will receive the entire retail price and also forge a connection with your local community. 

In order to sell at farmer’s markets, you will usually need your own public liability insurance.

Look Into Remote, Part-Time Agricultural Work 

The digital age means people can connect from anywhere in the world. As a farmer, you have unparalleled expertise in your field of work. Browse the job market or reach out to your connections to see if you can find any work as a rural column writer or content creator, or industry advisor. 

There’s a unique market for Ag blog writers and copywriters. So if you have a way with words, maybe you could pick up work as a rural columnist or freelancer and share your insight with an audience.  

If you have a knack for teaching and cultivating results from people as well as crops, then an advisor position suits your skills. These types of roles let you work from the comfort of your home, as long as you have a decent internet connection and a computer or laptop.

At Global Rotomoulding we are dedicated to helping Australian farmers and rural workers. We value education and strive to give farmers the best information available. Our tanks, products and custom rotomoulding services can help boost your agricultural business. Find out how by browsing our website, or by contacting us!

Get The Longest Life Out Of Your Farm Machinery

Farm machinery plays a crucial role in taking care of crops, maintaining high productivity, and ensuring that your next harvest is done on time. 

Agriculture Technology has come a long way in recent years, with a range of new machinery on the market to make life easier for rural farmers. Tractors, planters, and combines are becoming larger and more efficient each year, which reduces the labour for farmers.

Just a few generations ago, a farmer could happily make a living with a tractor and a few workers, but now the machinery is an integral part of the industry. 

No matter if you’re looking at new-age technologies or still trusting the old-reliables, machinery maintenance is a must.

Here are some must-know tips to keep your equipment working year after year:

Clean Regularly

Proper care and maintenance is the best way to prolong the lifespan of your farm machinery. Cleaning your machinery should become standard practice. If you see built-up dirt in the undercarriage or around the body, it’s important to wash that away before it sets. If you farm crops you understand that dirt can get anywhere, so it’s crucial to have a close inspection of your vehicles and equipment regularly. 

Dirt in the engine can become a catastrophic problem. If too much gets in, it can clog your engine up or cause severe damage. Dirt can also congest things like axels, suspension, wheels and any moving parts. 

Regular cleans mean dirt and grime are less likely to find a way into the more exposed machinery, keeping your vehicles working better for longer. 

Our rainwater tanks are a perfect and cheap resource for cleaning vehicles. Little to no filtration is needed for cleaning and agricultural purposes. Plus it is much more cost-effective than sourcing water. 

Store Properly When The Job Is Done

Just like you, your machinery needs shelter too. Sometimes you may feel lazy and leave a tractor or other vehicle out in the paddock instead of returning it to the shed. While doing this once or twice won’t cause too much harm, making it a regular habit is an easy way to promote corrosion and breakdown.  

Oil and Lubricate 

Lubrication keeps machinery operating smoothly and prevents wear and tear caused by friction. Applying the right oils and lubrication to a machine’s moving parts improves the longevity of its life expectancy. Failure to lubricate can lead to regular and potentially costly repairs. 

Oils also help clean the machine. It seeps into the gears and hard to reach places and dislodges and dirt or grime which may be caught. 

Smart Operating 

A few lifestyle changes will help increase the lifespan of your vehicles and farm machinery. Operating in haste is a sure way to push your machinery too hard. If you’re hard on the breaks, make sharp turns, overload your vehicles and often push your machinery to its limit, it may be time to consider some changes. 

These things cause damage to regular cars, so when you’re making the same mistakes with a 7 tonne tractor, needless to say, the weight will put more strain on the inner workings and tyres.

Take caution and make sure you’re taking small preventative steps like applying the handbrake when stopped, adjusting the speed you’re travelling depending on terrain and load, and driving cautiously. 

There’s also value in educating your workers and creating machinery guidelines for anyone using your equipment. 

Vehicles are only getting more versatile, but with that, they become harder to maintain yourself. Regular checkups will save you money down the line by preventing the breakdown of an important machine. 

Preventative measures are the best way to keep your machines running for longer without needing to tinker. Be sure to do regular maintenance jobs even if everything looks like it’s working well. If something goes wrong, we may be able to replace a piece with a durable polyethylene substitute. 

At Global Rotomoulding we offer a range of agricultural supplies. From water tanks to vehicle-mounted containers to troughs and feeders plus much more, we can help your property fill a range of needs. Get in contact today to find the perfect item for your property. 

Preventative measures are the best way to keep your machines running for longer without needing to tinker. Be sure to do regular maintenance jobs even if everything looks like it’s working well. 

How to Keep your Water Tank Clean

When using a water storage tank, it’s vital that you maintain it properly in order to ensure safe and sanitary water as well as to extend the life of your water tank as much as possible. By completing some routine maintenance as well as carrying out an annual clean, we guarantee that your water tank will be hassle-free and last for many years to come. Below are some of the best and most effective ways to ensure that your water tank and the water inside it, stay clean:

Maintain your Roof

Regularly inspect your roof to make sure that it’s clean and clear of debris. Check for clumps of leaves and twigs that may have gathered and cut back any overhanging trees or branches to prevent further buildup. It’s important to inspect for dead insects and animal dropping as you don’t want these contaminating your water. Bat droppings on your roof are one of the biggest issues to look out for as water contaminated with bat faeces can become poisonous. If you have a look at your roof and feel like it needs a good clean, make sure that your water storage tank is disconnected from the water flow as you definitely want to avoid the dirty water flowing into your tank.

Keep your Gutters and Filters Clear

Not only will this will help to maximise your water collection, but it will also make a big difference in your efforts to keep your water tank clean. What’s more, keeping your gutters free from debris is an important step in fire prevention. Just like your roof, you need to conduct regular inspections of your gutters and remove any buildup. For optimal cleanliness in your water tank, you may want to consider getting gutter guards installed so that there’s much less chance of any blockages ever occurring. Alternatively, if you want to go all out you can even invest in a self-cleaning gutter system.

An Internal Inspection

Every now and again you need to examine the inside of your water tanks to look for insects and small creatures flying or swimming around inside. You definitely don’t want a frog hopping around in your drinking water! And even worse than a live animal inside your water tank is a dead animal, which could end up making you and your family very ill.

A Thorough Clean

Once a year, towards the end of summer when the water levels are lower, you should give your water tank a thorough cleaning. This is also ideal timing as any sediment or sludge that may have built up will be closer to the outlets.

  • Step one: Turn the power off and ensure that any plugs are pulled from sockets.
  • Step two: If your tank has separate valves, you should ensure that the cold water valve is turned off and the hot water valve is turned on.
  • Step two: Attach a water hose to the draining valve and direct the water to your garden so as not to waste the water. Empty your tank as much as possible.
  • Step three: Using your garden hose, run fresh water through the tank inlet to ensure that any remaining dirty water is flushed out. Continue doing this until the water flowing from the outlet is clear.
  • Step four: If you have a leaf guard or first flush diverter, clean them to ensure that all dirt and debris is removed.
  • Step five: If you have a cartridge filter, change it if necessary. This will depend on the last time the filter was changed as cartridge filters should be replaced every 6-18 months.

Top Tip

An extra tip for keeping your water tank clean is to add chlorine to the water if you suspect that it may be contaminated or have bacteria in it. You can add powdered swimming pool chlorine or liquid chlorine but you should not use stabilised chlorine. Adding chlorine is a safe and effective way to disinfect the water in your tank and the water will remain completely usable and drinkable. The amount of chlorine you use will depend on the size of your tank and the amount of water in it.

At Global Rotomoulding, we are experts in water storage tanks and custom rotomoulding. For over 22 years we have been creating innovative products that are tailor-made to suit the customer’s needs and specification. To learn more about our products and services, get in touch with us today!