Written on: July 20, 2022
From the Propane Education & Research Council
Have you ever thought about how farmers grow grain once per year, yet we depend on that food throughout the entire year? That simple idea explains why grain drying is so important not only to farmers, but to all of us.
To harvest grain and to store it long-term, the moisture content needs to be carefully managed. This is done through a process of heating air using propane, cooling the grain, and moving it to a bin for later use.
Propane powers approximately 80 percent of grain dryers in the United States, making grain available for livestock feed, fuel additives, and to make our favorite foods available all year long. Corn chips, anyone?
Farmers also depend on propane to protect the land and crops because if released into the air, it vaporizes and dissipates. This unique characteristic means it cannot contaminate groundwater, drinking water, marine ecosystems or sensitive habitat if released.
So, the next time you’re at the grocery store, take a closer look at all the foods that contain grain in the ingredients. It’s a lot! And propane is partly to thank for that.
