Propane on the Farm

Propane has many agricultural uses. Of course, it is used to heat milk houses and work shops and to heat hot water used to wash down milk rooms. Cash crops like corn, wheat and beans are dried with propane to remove the moisture content and bring a better price for the farmer. It is used for backup power generation, especially on dairy farms to power milking equipment. It is very popular for heat in greenhouses, not only because of the high heat-output, but also because the byproducts of its combustion are water and carbon dioxide – exactly what plants need.

Because of its cleanliness and reliability, propane is used as a fuel for irrigation pump motors. And, since it has such low emissions and is non-toxic, propane is becoming popular for running tractors. It is just coming into use by organic farmers for weed and insect control, in place of potentially harmful pesticides.