Looking for another way to power your farm? Propane is a viable option in many cases, said Michael Newland, director of agriculture business development for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).
“Everyone thinks of propane for grain drying, especially in the Midwest,” Newland said. “But more and more, we are seeing it used as a backup power source for farms. We’re also seeing it as a primary power for other farm applications.”
Spiraling costs
Rising energy costs loom large for farmers. Diesel prices have spiked about two-thirds since U.S. military intervention in Iran occurred earlier this year.
Electricity costs also are rising due to increased demand, as consumers use more electricity to charge everything from electric cars to smartphones. This has spurred propane costs to become more cost competitive as a way to fuel farms.
Propane is plentiful.
“We've had a big supply increase over the last decade of propane in the country,” Newland said.
PERC officials noted that more irrigators are switching from electric irrigation pumps to propane-powered ones. This also helps irrigators dodge electricity demand charges that they incur when they run irrigation units at peak power times, such as during hot summer afternoons.
Propane also can be used to heat and cool shops and livestock buildings. This past summer, PERC worked with Farm Progress Show officials to cool the media tent and Hospitality Tent with propane generators. Next year, they plan to follow the same script.
How to start
If you are thinking about backing up with or converting to propane, your local propane dealer is a good place to start. If you don’t have a dealer, go to propane.com, Newland said. This website contains a search tool for all firms that market and sell propane within your ZIP code.
Next, determine what kind of equipment is needed to use propane by checking propane.com/for-my-business/agriculture. There’s also a rebate available from PERC — up to $10,000 for qualifying equipment — called the Propane Farm Research Program. (propane.com/pfrp)
Propane is more user-friendly than it used to be.
“In the old days, you needed to walk out and look at the gauge on the propane tank and call the dealer if you needed propane,” Newland said.
Today, timely propane delivery occurs via tank-monitor technology that sends a cellular signal to a dealer when the propane tank volume reaches a certain level.
“We have propane on over 800,000 farms in the country, so it is a widely adopted and accepted fuel within the farming community,” Newland said. “It’s an opportunity for your farm to become more resilient and cost competitive.”
For more information on propane, the rebate program and PERC, go to propane.com.