Propane Use in Agriculture Applications
With every year that passes we are noticing more and more applications for propane in a wide array of new industries. While propane use in agriculture is certainly not something new, some of the below applications highlighted by the Propane Education and Research Council are fundamental to the industry.
Nearly 80 percent of farms in the United States use propane, and with good reason: propane is a clean-burning, reliable, and efficient energy source that farmers can depend on.
Thermal Agriculture
Thermal agriculture uses heat to protect crops from the cold, and flames to eliminate weeds and dangerous pathogens that can cause serious damage to crops and livestock. Propane is an excellent fuel source for heating, incinerating, and sanitizing without the use of pesticides.
Thermal agriculture research focuses primarily on pest control. It involves the research and development of equipment or processes to control pests such as weeds, insects, microbes, and others that, if left unchecked, have a negative effect on the production of agriculture commodities.
Crop and Food Conditioning
Crop and food conditioning protects against insects, removes weeds, and reduces dry-down time, enabling farmers to harvest healthy crops quicker, earlier, and easier. Propane is a highly transportable energy source well-suited for fueling the conditioning process.
Crop and food conditioning research develops propane technologies that help farmers prepare crops for harvest, process crops for storage or sale, and safely store harvested crops.
Nutrient Management
Nutrient management is a method of managing farm waste - one of the largest concerns of growing livestock confinement operations and other types of agriculture. As a clean burning, energy-rich fuel, propane is an excellent fuel source for this type of technology.
Nutrient Management research develops technologies that help farmers maintain proper management of waste materials. These materials are often rich in valuable nutrients that can support or enhance other agricultural production..
Power
Power is required in the agricultural industry for the operation of machinery and other technologies that enable farms to run as efficiently as possible. Propane is both an economical and efficient fuel well-suited to power this type of technology.
Power research develops and demonstrates power generation technologies for agricultural uses, including investment in engines, fuel cells, and microturbines.
The Propane Education & Research Council is responsible fot the above content. PERC continues to play an important role in the education and research of the LPG industry and is the recognized authority for relevant and reliable data. For more information on PERC, please visit their website at www.propanecouncil.org .
