LP Gas, July 2014
AGrICULTUrE Continued from page 38 Feeling the heat More than 865000 farms in the United States use propane to run pumps and engines heat buildings and dry and process crops according to PERC But when it comes to propane use on the farm heating applications are at the forefront A recent PERC survey of more than 200 large farmers and ranchers across nine states revealed that building heat and grain drying are the two most common applications for propane on the farm at 47 percent and 35 percent respectively Propane fueled forklifts ranked third at 12 percent The survey also found that 46 percent of farmers and ranchers are prospects for conversion to propane for at least one application and many of the top prospects are concentrated in the Midwest Continued on page 45 USDA forecasts recordbreaking corn yield U S farmers remain on track to produce a record corn crop for the second straight year in 2014 according to U S Department of Agriculture USDA projections The announcement impacts propane retailers who service farm customers for crop drying needs According to USDA favorable earlyseason crop and weather conditions offset planting delays in May and farmers are now expected to produce a record total corn crop of 139 billion bushels slightly more than in 2013 USDA forecasts national average yields to be 65 bushels per acre higher than last year at 1653 bushels per acre While the crop outlook is robust we approach it with cautious optimism says Martin Barbre National Corn Growers Association president in a press release All of us have seen conditions change quickly and a crop shift course in a few short weeks The central United States is a hotbed of farm land ripe for propane gallon sales The propane industry has placed its focus in recent years on irrigation engines 40 LPGas July 2014 www LPGasmagazine com
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