Propane for Agriculture
Count on propane to keep your farm growing! If any fuel was made for the modern Iowa farm, it’s propane. It won’t degrade over time and doesn’t contaminate soil or water like gasoline or diesel. The risk of fuel theft is minimal. Additionally, it gives you portable power when and where you need it.
Propane’s flexibility makes your decision to utilize it easy, whether you’re thinking of heating a hog house, adding a corn dryer or converting your fuel-injected pickup to propane autogas.
Here is a closer look at some of the primary uses of propane for the farm.
- Hog and chicken structures. A growing number of farmers are using propane-fueled building heaters in their operations. This is a valuable addition for farmers who need efficient heat. Keeping animal containment areas heated during the cold winter months is just one of the ways propane helps on the farm.
- Grain Dryers. Grain drying is a critical phase in the harvesting process that conditions grain for safe storage. Farmers who harvest early actually bring more total crop to market. Harvesting early, while the crop retains small amounts of moisture, reduces grain field losses. The extra grain harvested, can more than make up for the cost of propane drying. New propane-fueled units distribute a very precise heat, which ensures that the grain dries evenly, resulting in a high-quality yield.
- Irrigation Engines. Irrigation engines power different types of irrigation systems that deliver water to the crops out in the field. The new propane-fueled engines are more efficient than older propane models and can provide farmers with an immediate savings in fuel costs compared with diesel or gasoline. Plus, propane-fueled irrigation engines are better for the environment and are already compliant with the EPA’s Tier 4 emissions regulations.
If your farm suffered damage from recent tornadoes, you may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 through the Propane Farm Incentive Program. Find out about this program, as well as other agricultural equipment rebates, and how you can apply. Learn more.
Other uses for propane on the farm
- stock tank heating
- greenhouse space heating
- office heating
- refrigeration
- power dryers
- farm equipment fuel
- generators
- tow truck fuel
Another advantage of propane for farmers is its reliability: Propane will keep you in business even when power lines are down, protecting your food and crops and production process. Plus, propane burns clean and is “green” environmentally.
Since farm operations generally consume more propane than residential customers, propane companies may offer high-volume discounts for their agricultural clients. You can also ask about convenient bulk delivery and payment plans to help keep fuel costs manageable.
Contact your propane dealer to learn more about their agricultural services.
