LP shortage threatens lagging harvest
By MATTHEW WILDE, WATERLOO COURIERArticle Photos
FAIRBANK - A liquid propane shortage could bring an already late harvest to a screeching halt.
Some farmers are being told by energy suppliers only to combine as much corn as gas is on hand to dry it. Others have already waited days for LP, keeping equipment parked.
On Friday afternoon, Dave Albrecht said he had 1,600 gallons of LP on the farm - enough to dry corn through Saturday morning or about 20,000 bushels. The problem is he has about 100,000 bushels to harvest and he doesn't want to stop.
"I've been told don't pick corn unless there's gas in the tanks," Albrecht said from his combine Friday, noting wet corn spoils quickly in the bin and corn in the field is susceptible to weather-related losses. "It's not good to have hundreds of thousands of dollars out there and hope Mother Nature doesn't pull (corn) to its knees with snow melt."
Albrecht has good reason to be concerned. The National Weather Service in Des Moines said there's a chance for snow early this week in Northeast Iowa.
Harvest is more than two weeks behind schedule and the latest government estimates say 41 percent of Iowa's corn is still standing. It's one of the wettest and largest crops in history.
Farmers are using about twice as much LP - the primary fuel for bin dryers - this fall. Many farmers are burning through 1,000 to 2,000 gallons a day.
Earlier this month, area LP suppliers said farmers shouldn't have to worry about empty tanks. Now, some aren't so sure, even if it's temporary. Increased demand has squeezed supplies, creating long lines at pipeline terminals.
Loraine and Nelma Chase, owner of Chase Oil in Oelwein, said there is a shortage. It's one of the worst ones in 40 years in business, they said.
The Chases said they can see why customers like Albrecht are worried. Tankers wait 10 hours in line at the pipeline terminal in New Hampton because of inadequate supplies, which means slower service to farms.
"It's just not fast enough. We've had a lot of calls from new customers to get LP, but I can't take them on. I have to help old ones first," Loraine said. "I know some (farmers) were waiting four days from other companies."
Chase customers haven't gone without yet, but it could happen. Nelma said they would ration supply, if needed, to prevent it.
"Farmers just have to be patient, that's all we can do," she said.
With 500 acres of corn to harvest - about five days - and rain and snow in the forecast, Albrecht said that's going to be hard.
"I'm running out of energy myself," he said.
Sen. Charles Grassley, who farms with his son near New Hartford, said he's monitoring the LP supply.
"When farmers can't get it, you know darn well they're going to be calling my office," he said.
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happygolucky
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11-24-09 7:08 PM
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Thank you.Billy. I don't use or make drugs. It would be a little dagerous to use lp...
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BillyJim
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11-24-09 5:21 PM
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Happy I think you are mixed up. They use anhydrous ammonia not lp.
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happygolucky
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11-24-09 4:40 PM
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At least, the TR does not take my comments off the blogs like they do yours. What is 'idiotic' about it. Where do you suppose they steal the gas from?
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obfuscate
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11-24-09 12:16 PM
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Another idiotic comment from happy???? What will the readers of the T-R do?? LOL
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happygolucky
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11-24-09 8:17 AM
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No propane???? what will the meth manufacturers do?? LOL
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