Co-Ops Continue to Share Propane Updates

As grain dryer demands continue, farm cooperatives who store grain and offer propane services continue to report on the supply concerns. 

Landus Cooperative in Iowa and Minnesota has 55 grain locations, of which half use natural gas dryers and half use propane dryers. 

“Landus Cooperative needs about 15 loads per day to keep our propane dryers running and the location open for receiving,” the cooperative shared in a November 19 update.

”Over the last several days, we have been receiving 6-8 loads (but that was before negative wind chills set in). We have had locations that had to close or limit wet corn receiving as a result of the propane situation but also because dryers, regardless of their fuel source, can only dry so fast.”

At the Gateway Farm Expo, Brent Sinsel of Aurora Cooperative told ABC NTV, “Propane supply has been really tough this season. I encourage all customers to be patient. It’ll get better through the season, and it’ll happen as soon as it gets in the supply chain.”

He continued, “All through the Midwest it’s been a drying season. There’s been a lot of usage from the propane side of things. It’s been a tight supply all the way across the board.”

Landus gives an example that if they receive 100,000 bushels in a day and can only dry 50,000 bushels at once, it creates a backlog. 

“Given the volume of wet corn we received, it will be weeks after the conclusion of harvest before all corn is dried, just like on our farmers’ operations. In short, a propane shortage adds pain to the pinch-points the industry is already experiencing,” the co-op explained in the November 19 update. 

The note continued: “We applaud our local haulers and their teams who are transporting propane to heat homes and livestock facilities; we recognize their priority. Like other grain receivers and farmers, we are doing our best to manage grain quality during the rush of harvest.”