Propane
and Agriculture
More than 1.5 billion
gallons of propane are used on more than 660,000 farms every year. Propane is
many farmers’ first fuel choice because it is reliable, safe, clean and
efficient, and can be used in hundreds of different agricultural applications.
So Many Possibilities
Flame weeding - Farmers using propane-gas flame
weeders have reported higher yields per acre by using propane.
Pest control - Propane gas flamers can provide
70 percent to 90 percent control of wintering adult insects compared with 25
percent to 50 percent provided by chemical pesticides, and propane flamers cost
three to five times less per acre than chemical controls.
Crop drying - Propane drying systems are widely
used because of the simplicity of the required equipment, which contributes to
low equipment, fuel and maintenance costs.
Irrigation pumps - Propane-fueled irrigation pumps
produce the same amount of power as gasoline or diesel engines, with lower
emissions. Propane will not leave a dangerous and sometimes toxic residue, as
liquid fuels can.
Poultry and pig brooding - Infrared propane brooders have
proven to be more efficient and stay warmer with less heat than forced-air
furnaces. Fuel costs are also 15 to 25 percent less than those for forced-air
furnaces.
Crop heating - Propane heaters operate
efficiently for long periods while producing enough heat to prevent valuable
crops from being ruined by unexpected cold spells. Propane is also used in
heating greenhouses.
Trust Propane for Your
Tractors and Forklifts
Studies show that tractors
fueled by propane can have lower major overhaul costs than gasoline-powered
tractors, and sometimes, engine life is prolonged.
Some gasoline-powered
tractors that are converted to propane have an increase in power. In a properly
modified engine, farmers report the ability to pull larger equipment than
before, because propane has a much higher octane rating than gasoline.
Properly maintained
propane-fueled forklifts operate with emissions well below the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
Environmentally Friendly
Propane gas is nontoxic and
insoluble in water, so it poses no threat to aquifers or the groundwater
supply.
Propane is an approved,
alternative fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act. It is one of the lightest
hydrocarbons in existence, and is one of the cleanest burning of all
alternative fuels.
You Can Take It with You
Propane is the most portable
alternative fuel. Storage tanks can be placed around the main farm area or
in the field. Tanks can also be moved with the work site, allowing farmers
to power equipment in even the remotest areas of a farm.