A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Carlton County District 4 commissioner Mark Thell fills up his Ford 7600 tractor Friday with premium diesel at the Wrenshall General Store Friday. It was a special occasion, because the store just started offering the premium diesel for sale, and it's one of only a few gas stations in the county to carry it.
Farmers drove their tractors and brought gas cans to the Wrenshall General Store Friday - excited about the opportunity to fill up with the new premium diesel on tap.
Store owner Jeff Bloom said he's had people asking him to offer the fuel for some time, and he got the new tank operating the last week in June. The giant tank just south of the store offers both on- and off-road premium diesel. People can fill up at the tank and go inside to pay.
"Nobody else sells it around here," Bloom said. "I think people had to drive to Scanlon or the Carlton Kwik Trip to get regular diesel, and even further to get off-road."
Carlton County District 4 Commissioner Mark Thell was one of the farmers filling up Friday, along with dairy farmer Duane Laveau, the Food Farm's Janaki Fisher-Merritt and others.
Thell said having the premium diesel fuel available locally will help some folks save on taxes (because there's no road tax on off-road diesel and because farmers can get an exemption from sales tax on diesel fuel) and it will be much more convenient.
"We welcome another resource into the community that will up the service in the area," Thell said. "Most of us have fuel tanks on the farm that are delivered by area jobbers, but sometimes run out, so if we can run in there and get fuel, that's huge."
Bloom explained agricultural and construction equipment such as tractors, loaders and bulldozers can use premium diesel, along with logging trucks, pickup trucks and more. According to agweb.com, the specialty fuel contains additives that make it more efficient, increase lubrication, keep water out of the fuel, inhibit corrosion and more. Premium diesels are especially impactful during heavy duty jobs such as harvesting.
"To some people, it may not be a big deal, but to a lot of people it is," Bloom said. "Believe me, it's a big deal to me. It's been a lot of money and time."
Bloom said sales have been decent so far, and he expects to see more as people realize it's available.
