MFA OIL

Alternative agricultural uses for propane
By Tom May

Alternative uses for propane in the agricultural market are growing. Propane flaming is one of those alternatives that uses updated technology and has many farmers exploring new uses. Propane flaming equipment can be used for killing weeds and insects or for sanitization and is proving to be a cost-effective solution.

The agriculture market accounts for more than 10 percent of all odorized propane sales in the United States, which is almost 1.5 billion gallons a year. The propane industry, through the Propane Education & Research Council, is funding research and development to look for new and improved technologies that provide sound business solutions for farmers.

Using propane to destroy weedsis not a new technology. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, attempts were made in Alabama to invent burners that would destroy weeds in cotton and corn fields. A study in 1942 by Louisiana State University showed that flame cultivation had some promise and by 1946 there were at least 1,000 units in operation. By 1960, 15,000 flaming units were being used in cotton, corn and soybean fields. Soon after, flame cultivation took a back seat as cheaper herbicides and pesticides came along. Now, due to recent high costs and the environmental issues associated with chemicals, flaming is making a successful comeback.

Flaming allows farmers to destroy weeds and insects without chemicals, a must in organic food production. Non-organic farmers have seen chemical prices spike while weeds and insects have grown more tolerant of the herbicides and pesticides.

Flaming equipment provides a quick blast of intense heat, at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and doesn’t burn the weeds but destroys the cell structure, killing the weeds. Unlike chemical sprays, a rain right after the application won’t diminish the effectiveness.

The key to killing the weeds is the size of the crops and the weeds. According to Flame Engineering Inc., a producer of flaming equipment, as long as the weeds are smaller than the crop, flaming will kill the weeds without harming the crop. The flames are directed under the crop leaves and across the crop row so that they won’t affect the stalks. The throwers will burn between 5 and 10 gallons of propane per acre.

Poultry producers are finding the benefits of flaming technology. For poultry producers, sanitation is a critical management practice since bird health is largely dependent on a clean living environment. Popular chemical methods of sanitation can have limited effectiveness and leave residues. According to industry–funded tests conducted by the University of Arkansas, flame treatments result in significant reductions in the key pathogens that are normally present in poultry barns.

The Red Dragon, a poultry house sanitizer from Flame Engineering, has gained considerable attention with increased fears of avian flu. The intense heat kills pathogens in floors and litter and flares off ammonia vapors.

Early adopters of flame sanitation are discovering economic benefits, including decreased mortalities, improved growth rates and feed efficiency. According to a propane council study, flaming equipment operating at one-half mile per hour will consume approximately 40 gallons of propane to treat a 20,000-square-foot poultry house. That means a treatment that uses 40 gallons of propane per house, may run nearly $75, compared with up to $300 to $500 for chemical treatments.

Heat is proven to be an effective method for sanitization and is able to kill avian influenza, E. coli, and coliform. Pathogens cannot become resistant to such extreme heat, which makes flame sanitation an effective alternative to standard chemical treatments. The other benefit is there are no chemicals for farmers to come into contact with—and no chemical residues, runoff or groundwater contamination.

Propane flaming equipment is proving to be a safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative tool for farmers. With propane being the heat source for many rural homes, it seems a natural fit for propane to also be used on the farm in other ways.

Tom May is director of marketing for MFA Oil.