FAQs about
Propane on the Farm
More than 1.5 billion gallons
of propane are used on more than 660,000 farms every year for hundreds of
different applications, including:
Does
propane have a cost advantage over other fuels in agricultural applications?
Yes. Propane provides a
cost advantage in pest control, crop drying, poultry brooding, vehicle fuel
applications and more.
Crop drying: Using propane drying systems results
in low initial, fuel and maintenance costs, because of the simplicity of the
required equipment.
Poultry brooding: Propane brooders for poultry houses
provide a 15 percent to 25 percent reduction in fuel costs compared with forced-air
furnaces.
Vehicle fueling: Studies have shown that tractors fueled
by propane can have lower major overhaul costs than gasoline-powered tractors.
Is propane
safe to use on farms?
Yes, propane is a safe fuel
choice for farmers, because it is nontoxic and insoluble in water. So it poses
no threat to aquifers or the groundwater supply. Because it quickly vaporizes
within a pressurized container and is released as a gas, it doesn’t spill,
pool or leave a residue.
Is
propane an environmentally responsible choice of fuels?
Yes. Propane is an approved,
alternative clean fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act and the National Energy
Policy Act of 1992. Propane is one of the lightest, simplest hydrocarbons
in existence and, as a result, is one of the cleanest burning of all alternative
fuels. Studies have proven that propane produces fewer emissions than other
fossil fuels.
Is propane
a convenient fuel choice?
Yes. Farmers can select
locations for storage-tank placement to ensure accessibility for each specific
need. Propane is also stored in portable tanks, which provides the flexibility
to power equipment even in the remotest areas of the farm.
Source: NPGA / Propane Education & Research Council