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Help Your Farm Customers Prepare
to Dry a Robust Harvest
A do one-on-one training to help folks learn how to use
Newland went on to say that he is happy to
s the days shorten and evenings bring a fore-
boding chill, rural America is preparing for
the tool.
grain harvest. In the Midwest, farmers are
gearing up for what they are hoping will be a
What’s the best way for propane marketers to
large harvest, while in the southern states, the season- prepare for harvest?
This year’s planted corn acreage was up 6 a lasting relationship with a
al ritual is already underway. “If you are looking to build
percent from 2022 levels, the third-highest planted
acreage in the United States since 1944. That means
farm customer, go walk some
lots of bushels for farmers to dry before winter arrives.
Despite a very dry spring to start the grow- fields with them to see what the
ing season this year, rainfall has normalized to give crop looks like and get a first-
corn and soybeans a chance to develop and produce
normal yields across most of the country. Even average hand update on what to expect.
drying could result in higher propane gallon consump- I have yet to meet a farmer that
tion in the corn belt this year. doesn’t like to walk fields and
Mike Newland, PERC’s director of agriculture
development, says marketers can help farm customers talk about the growing season.”
plan their propane dryer needs ahead of harvest by - Mike Newland - Director of Agricultural Devel-
using PERC’s online tool to compare local crop mois- opment, PERC
ture levels to previous years. The Grain Drying Demand Just as farmers check equipment and replace
Models found in the For Propane Providers section parts that are showing wear this time of year, they
of propane.com provide timely insights to determine also should be encouraged to fill propane storage
how much propane will be needed for drying within before the busy harvest season hits.■
detailed parameters.
“I encourage all marketers to look at the mod- Do your customers know about the
el and see how your area is tracking versus previous Propane Farm Incentive Program?
years.” Newland said.
Sponsored by the Propane Education &
Research Council, the Propane Farm Incentive
Program is a research program that provides
a financial incentive up to $5,000 toward the
purchase of new propane-powered farm equip-
ment. In exchange, participants agree to share
real-world performance data with PERC.
To learn more about how your agricul-
tural customers can earn $5,000 or more by
helping PERC prove the performance of pro-
pane-powered equipment, click here. For the
program brochure, click here.
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