August 28, 2011 was a memorable day for many in New England as Tropical Storm Irene passed through causing widespread flooding damage. Long after the storm passed, the significant rainfall, over 10” in some areas, left fields inaccessible for many farmers. Although efficiency suffered from weather-related delays, RMI worked closely with its customers making every effort to ensure biosolids deliveries were made for fall land application—if conditions made delivery impossible, farmers didn’t receive the nitrogen they needed for their crops.
To circumvent weather-related delays in 2012, which has already seen a higher-than-average number of hurricanes, RMI has worked with several of its Class B biosolids farm customers and developed an early delivery program that ensures each farmer will receive the nutrients they need for their crops while access is optimal. RMI’s customers traded a nominal amount of field space for stockpiles in exchange for the certainty that the fertilizer they need for a successful crop yield will be available. RMI intends to continue and expand its early delivery program for Class B biosolids customers into the future.