Spring is the busiest stretch of the farming year in the South Island, and it's also the stretch where running short of diesel costs you the most. Here's how to make sure fuel is the one thing you don't have to think about.
Why spring is the pinch point
From late August through November, demand for bulk fuel across our delivery runs climbs sharply. Everyone is doing the same jobs at roughly the same time, cultivation and drilling, spraying, irrigation start-up, silage and baleage, shearing and tailing, plus the extra vehicle movements that come with all of it. A tank that comfortably lasted six weeks over winter can empty in half that during cultivation.
Five things worth doing this month
Check your tank levels now, properly. Not a guess, not a tap on the side. If you've got a gauge, read it. If you're relying on a dipstick, get one done across every tank on the property, including the ones down the back that only come into play when things get busy. Farms often have more storage than they realise, and some of it half full.
Work out what spring actually costs you. Look back at last year's deliveries over September to November. That's your baseline. If you've added machinery, taken on more country, or changed your cropping programme, adjust upwards. Knowing your monthly burn is what turns fuel from a fire drill into a scheduled job.
Order to fill, not to fix. Topping up 500 litres at a time to get through the week is the most expensive way to buy fuel, more delivery movements, less certainty, and no buffer when the weather gives you a run of good days. Filling properly means you can work when the conditions are right rather than when the truck can get to you.
Give the tank a once-over after winter. Winter is hard on on-farm storage. Worth a quick look at:
Water in the bottom of the tank, condensation builds up over cold months and water in diesel causes filter blockages, injector wear and microbial growth
Hoses and nozzles for perishing, cracking or leaks
The bund, stand or base for rust, rot or movement
Cap seals and vents sitting properly
Whether the tank is still sitting level
Five minutes now beats a blocked filter at the wrong end of a paddock.
Don't forget the extras. AdBlue, hydraulic oil, engine oil, greases and coolant all get chewed through in spring. Running out of AdBlue will stop a modern tractor just as effectively as running out of diesel. Add them to the same order rather than making a separate trip into town.
Make it someone else's job
The simplest fix is to stop managing it manually. Scheduled deliveries or tank monitoring mean your levels get watched and topped up on a set cycle, without you needing to remember. You get consistent supply through the busiest weeks, and we get to plan our runs efficiently, which is better for everyone on the route.
If you've got multiple tanks, several properties, or staff drawing fuel without much visibility over usage, it's worth a conversation about how to set it up.
Talk to us before the run gets busy
Our reps live and work in the same districts you do. They know what spring looks like here and they'd rather help you plan it than fit you in as an emergency.
Give us a call or get in touch with your local RD Petroleum rep to get your spring supply organised. We'll help you work out what you need, when you need it, and keep the fuel side of the season quiet.
