Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Anhydrous ammonia, a nitrogen fertilizer, is one of the necessary precursors for methamphetamine production.
According to Max Grady, facility manager at Crop Fertility Specialists, anhydrous becomes a liquid at -26 degrees F and is kept in storage tanks under pressure so that it stays in liquid form.
As a fertilizer, anhydrous as a gas is injected into the soil and is quickly absorbed. It is used mostly in the spring in Kosciusko County.
Anhydrous means "without water," and anhydrous ammonia seeks any form of moisture, Grady said. In the human body, the high moisture content of eyes, skin and lungs places them at the highest risk of being burned by improperly handled anhydrous ammonia.
Meth manufacturers usually steal anhydrous by siphoning it from larger tanks on farms or at farm supply companies. The stolen meth is frequently transported in a cooler.
Grady, who said he is working with the local Drug Task Force, said CFS keeps a close eye on anhydrous tanks and equipment.
"You have to have special pieces of equipment to handle it," he said, "and we know where it is."
Farmers are cautioned to watch for tracks around or near anhydrous ammonia tanks in their fields, and to be on the lookout for hoses, clamps or other devices meth manufacturers may use to steal anhydrous.
Some states, such as Kansas, which has a coordinated statewide response to meth production, distribute inexpensive locks for anhydrous tanks; and one company in Iowa now makes an additive for anhydrous ammonia that turns it pink, leaving telltale pink residue on the noses, mouths and skin of meth users.
