January 25, 2022 – Agricultural
The mighty tractor is your best friend when you’re running a farm.
Pulling farm equipment for plowing, fertilizing, cultivating, planting, and harvesting crops is no small feat, not to mention hauling materials and getting you from one place to another.
So tractors need significant energy and power to do all the things you need them to do. This is where propane comes in.
Around 40% of American farms use propane, and it’s easy to see why.
Propane is a clean-burning fuel made as a by-product of natural gas processing, used to power everything from clothing dryers to forklifts and beyond. It’s versatile, affordable, reliable, and clean — which means you don’t have to worry about its effect on your crops.
In fact, propane is so environmentally friendly that it’s known as an alternative fuel for its low carbon output and minimal emissions. The Energy Policy Act of 1992, focused on improving air quality and our natural resources, saw propane’s role in benefitting our environment.
Plus, the majority of the propane used in the USA is produced in the USA. That keeps American jobs thriving and feeds the economy, the same way you feed your communities when you head to the Farmer’s Market!
It’s also highly efficient. The properties of propane mean that it takes less of it to do the same job as other energy sources, like electricity or diesel. It’s more concentrated than natural gas, so it produces twice the energy of the same amount of gas.
So what does this mean for you, your tractors, and other farm equipment?
Propane tractors are less expensive to operate than gasoline or diesel tractors because of their efficiency rate, saving you 10% compared to diesel. Those propane savings add up quickly when you have a lot of ground to cover! And over a year, it can make a big difference in your operating expenses.
And we know that your business can’t stop because of power outages, but you never know what the seasons will bring. Since propane isn’t attached to the power grid, you can still operate your machinery no matter what the weather is doing.
Plus, these tractors are better for the environment — a relevant consideration when working on a farm!
Propane is an eco-friendly choice that’s non-toxic and isn’t water-soluble, so there’s no risk of ground soil contamination if you choose to have an underground tank on-site. (Portable, above-ground tanks are also an option, giving you the flexibility to power machinery all over your farm.)
But once you get to know propane through your tractor, we think you’ll fall in love with it and want to explore even more ways that it can make farm work more efficient and less expensive. Crop drying and crop pest control are also transformed by using propane!
Want to get started on your propane-powered farm? Contact us. We would love to help you on your way to a better, brighter every day.
Where can a purchase a tractor that runs on propane fuel?
Hi, Gary! The tractor itself isn’t our area of expertise — we’d recommend asking for personal endorsements on a local social network like a Facebook group or Nextdoor. Good luck with your search, and we’ll be here to supply the propane when you’re ready!
Sounds good. In 3 years hydrogen tractors will roll out. Both combined will likely see our food prices start to be reduced with these alternative fuel source tractors coming out.