Chapter 04. Farm Milk Tanks
Regulation .01 Scope.LinkCopy Citation
A.
This chapter applies to farm milk tanks that are:
(1)
Located on the premises of the producer; and
(2)
Used, or to be used, under an express agreement between the producer and the purchaser for the commercial measurement of milk.
B.
This chapter does not apply to farm milk tanks that are mounted on highway vehicles.
C.
This chapter does not apply if a fluid meter is used for the commercial measurement of milk. In this situation, the specifications, tolerances, and requirements specified in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Handbook 44, Section 3.35, apply.
Regulation .02 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
“Department” means Maryland Department of Agriculture.
B.
Farm Milk Tank.
(1)
“Farm milk tank” means a unit for measuring milk or other fluid dairy products, whether stationary or portable. It shall be considered suitable for commercial use only when it comprises:
(a)
A vessel, whether or not equipped with means for cooling its contents;
(b)
Means for reading the level-of-liquid in a tank, such as a removable gauge rod, surface gauge, or a gauge tube; and
(c)
A chart for converting level-of-liquid readings to gallons or avoirdupois weight on the basis of 8.6 pounds per gallon.
(2)
Each compartment of a subdivided tank shall, for the purpose of these regulations, be construed to be a “farm milk tank”.
C.
“Secretary” means Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary’s designee.
Regulation .03 Specifications.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Manufacturers and installers of farm milk tanks and those using farm milk tanks shall comply with the specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements specified in:
(1)
This chapter; and
(2)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Handbook 44, Section 4.42, as provided under COMAR 15.03.01.01.
B.
Design of Calibration Chart.
(1)
The installer shall make calibration charts in triplicate with one for the purchaser of the tank, one for the purchaser of the milk, and one for the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2)
The charts shall bear the following information:
(a)
Manufacturer of the tank;
(b)
Size of the tank;
(c)
Model number;
(d)
Serial number of the tank;
(e)
Serial number of the rod;
(f)
Name and address of the owner of the tank;
(g)
Date of installation;
(h)
Date of last calibration;
(i)
Type of graduations on the rod;
(j)
Purchaser of the milk; and
(k)
Name of the person or firm who calibrated the tank.
Regulation .04 Repealed.LinkCopy Citation
Regulation .05 Tolerances.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Application. The tolerances prescribed in this regulation shall be applied equally to errors in excess and errors in deficiency.
B.
Minimum Tolerance Values. On a particular farm milk tank, the maintenance and acceptance tolerances applied may not be smaller than the smallest volume corresponding to a graduated interval at any point on the gauge rod or surface gauge.
C.
Basic Tolerance Values. Basic maintenance and acceptance tolerance shall be as shown in Table 1. (The error at any liquid level of a farm milk tank is the difference between the gallonage shown for that level on the calibration chart and the corresponding gallonage by test. The tolerance is applied according to the volume of test liquid in the tank at each test draft, regardless of the nominal capacity of the tank.)
Regulation .06 Storage of Gauge Rod.LinkCopy Citation
Between periods of actual use for measuring, the producer shall keep the gauge rod stored at room temperature and may not place it inside a farm milk tank.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Agriculture Article, §§11-204 and 11-402, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: October 1, 1965
History: Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1728)
History: Regulation .03 repealed and new Regulation .03 adopted effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1728)
History: Regulation .04 repealed effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1728)
History: Regulation .06 amended effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1728)