(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Worried About Propane Supply?

I

in-too-deep

Well-known Member
Lots of wet corn again this fall it seems, and I heard a rumor about a propane pipeline being closed. I have a bad feeling LP will be impossible to get at any price this winter. We have our 500 gal tank filled, and we used about 1200 gal last winter. Hopefully less this year with new windows and siding. Still, toying with the idea of getting an extra tank to have on hand... maybe a couple 100 lb'ers hooked up and ready. Or, take the plunge and buy a wood or corn stove to put in the basement. Maybe my mild panic is unfounded. Please don't turn this into a discussion about corn growers, but what's your propane prediction?
 
I prepaid for 1,000 gallons and I have 3 tons of pellets. Should be good for the season, if like last year and propane doesn't get filled, just turn the thermostat down to 64-66 and let the pellet stove warm the house.
 
There's been lots of talk locally about LP availability and price. I think it WILL be available, but be ready for a bite in the checkbook. They found out last winter that people WILL pay those high prices (either that or freeze!), so I'm afraid they'll be jacking the price up, if they have a legitimate reason or not.
 
I just topped off my 1000 gal. tank this week @ $1.83 a gal. Thats cheaper than what we where offered for pre pay price in the summer.
 
They know people will pay more, but if they charge too much too often some places might be under scrutiny of gouging. Im sure there will be an excuse somewhere for higher prices. They said once the reason gasoline was high in Minnesota because we were "land locked"....weren't we always? lol. What an excuse.
 
My supplier didn't think supply would ba a big issue this season. I prebought for $1.699 in early June.
 
I'll be burning more corn this winter now that the price is down. For my furnace the corn still needs to be dried down to 15% or less to burn good and it doesn't like fines or stalk pieces either. Kind of a hassle burning corn but I'll do it at current prices. Smells like someone is making popcorn all time too.
 
Just can't beat a nice warm fire in the wood stove.

I pay someone to bring me two big pickup loads of firewood for $120, and the Natural gas furnace takes up the slack. The natural gas aint breaking us, and I get to play with some fire in my wood stove and my basement and den sure is toasty.

I get a couple of 100# bottles of propane for the hunting cabin each winter and that about does us.

I probably have 50-60 acres of good hardwood timber and buy firewood. I cant afford to get hurt or laid up messing with two loads of wood, and I couldn't justify the time and gas to haul it home for $120.

My time is better spent setting in the deer stand.

I know, I got lazy in my old age. :oops:

Gene
 
You may be right there maybe problems this year.

This is just my opinion but if I had concerns I would call my supplier and see if I could lock in what need at a set price.
 
I think there is a big difference in quality manufacturer to manufacturer, my neighbor burns one that smells like trah and plastic downwind.
 
I wouldn"t putz around with a couple little tanks- just go to 1000 or add another 500.

Just got a letter offering dryer gas, pre-pay, for $1.61. Surprised it was under 2 bucks! I have no corn this year, am switching a rented 1000 gal tank to my own 1000 gal I bought this year. Also have an owned 500 gal tank. Both are plumbed to the house, but I"m adding an elec plenum furnace heater....dual fuel through REA equals $1.30 propane, so along with the heat pump, which is good for 15 degree weather, we won"t be using much propane in the future. Dual fuel electricity is 5 cents/kwh.

re the pipeline closing- not a rumor, it"s been switched over to transport a different product.
 
My tank was not quite full last fall, and my gage stuck sometime in early Jan leading me to think that I had more propane than I had. As a result, I ran out at the worst possible time and was stuck.

This past May I prebought 2500 gallons at $1.39 so as to get another "free" 500 gal tank.

Though the supplier from whom I prebought was not delivering to pre buy customers during, the worst of the 2014 shortage, I rarely use more than 400 - 500 galons or so.

Both tanks are now full.

Never again.

Dean
 
That's what I mean. Doesn't matter if you pre-buy a million gallons. If it can't be had, it can't be had. That's what I'm worried about.
 
I have natural gas now, but my hot water tank runs on propane. (I have not switched over the water heater with the right orifice) But, since I own my tank I may as well keep it. (and if there was a natural gas interuption then I still have the propane to run the water heater) You gotta take hot showers but, I can heat my house with pellets/wood, whatever.

I would highly recommnend that you get a wood burner in the basement and get back up propane tanks. Also, get the propane tanks filled before the end of October so you do not get raked over the coals on the price of it.

You are being smart by asking the right questions and preparing for a price spike.
 
Yeah, thought about renting another 500 for the season. But, a couple hundred more gallons would get me by for atleast 2-3 weeks. And I think I can borrow the 100lb'ers for nothing. Dunno what to do.
 
Okay No Corn Fuel Talk. But What I will talk about is: I Want see the Natural Gas lines distribution system upgraded to where we all can have access (This includes the farmers for corn drying) to This plentiful supply of Natural gas that I keep hearin' about. But instead we get a boat load of them damned wind generators (TAX Money) that do nothin' but overload a already over loaded grid. The farmers that have been using Propane to dry corn with could be using Natural Gas if the Distribution system was put in to place and that would take some load off the propane stocks. It seem like the Government want to make sure Europe and Asia stay warm and toasty (Exporting the Natural Gas) but to hell with our Tax Payin' citizens. Alright I'll admit to a good ol' fashioned "Rant". But Spend some of our tax money on our own people for a change. bjr
 
Google the satellite image of the Eagle Ford Shale at night. This is in south Texas and a mostly rural area. Friends down there say with all the flares you can read the newspaper at night. What a waste.
 
What you burn determines the smell. If you get cheap pellets sometimes they grind up junk and blend it in when making the pellets. But most of the time if burning wood pellets you may get a wood smoke smell especially when they first start same as a corn stove gets a pop corn smell. Once they are up to temp there is very little smell as compared to those outdoor wood furnaces. Some of them reek as they are smoldering so much.
 
(quoted from post at 15:56:49 09/23/14) I Want see the Natural Gas lines distribution system upgraded to where we all can have access (This includes the farmers for corn drying) to This plentiful supply of Natural gas that I keep hearin' about.
Click to expand...

The rub of it is, our own government protecting us from ourselves. I just installed a propane batch dryer and tanks, 40 feet from a 4" high pressure NG line. No legal way for me to use it the way the laws are.
 
Somebody enlighten me. Does the government export the natural gas? I would think it would be the big oil/gas producers who export it. You know, for profit. (Nothing wrong with profit). And the same with the natural gas distribution system - around here, it's the energy companies who put in the distribution systems. Certainly not the government. Well, actually the lines are on government right of way, but that's just a little thing among friends. They might do things different in other areas, but that's how it is here. I ain't sticking up for the government - Lord knows they meddle in enough things, and I ain't criticizing you - I wish things were different too, but those companies focus on maximizing profit.
 
I have always predicted that if propane goes too high, the propane customers would leave propane in droves. Last winter, it was in short supply and had inflated prices. I believe another season of unpredictable propane prices would make the propane business lose market share.
While I have contracted propane again this year, a market like last year would have me looking elsewhere.
 
(quoted from post at 18:13:23 09/23/14) Does the government export the natural gas? .
Click to expand...


It is all about red tape, Big .GOV loves it. Right of ways are private here. To sell gas any way but wholesale, you have to be a "public utility", which none of the field producers are.
 
We just filled our 1000gal tank Sept. 10 for 1.49 a gal it was supposed to be 1.39 with pre pay but the price went up and the supplier we have couldn't eat it all after paying their bill And I sure didn't mind paying a little extra for all the times they helped me out when my gauge has stuck on the tank only to run out and day or night they are here in no time with LP at no extra charge. their Service will keep me as their patron for a long time But like many others shortage is our biggest problem here and that is why I bought an outdoor forced air wood stove this year since I have 40acres of woods Instead of cutting and selling like usual I figured I just as well save myself some money since Im going to cut it anyways.
 
I don't get it. People are talking about gas and fuel shortages. Here in the Marcellus shale gas region of PA, The gas companies have put in bunches of gas lines, drilled a few wells and walked away and abandoned the rest of the leases. Reason stated is "No market for the gas" If you were lucky enough to be part of an early drilled pool you are set for life. The rest of us just get to stand by and watch our neighbors get wealthy while the wells are probably sucking gas out from our land.
 
I heat with wood. Got lots of it and propane costs don't directly effect me.
However, All fuel prices have indirect effects on all of our lifestyles
Loren
 
Haven't heard a thing on Lp gas supply or prices around here yet. On local news the new they say natural gas and electric prices are going down for the next three years ( seeing is believing).
 
I feel like you, late wet harvest, going to be a propane problem in our neck of the woods with that pipeline running stuff up to ND now. They said it used to supply 40% of our lp. All needs to come by rail or semi now. And rail cars ar backed up months behind as well.

You will be socked when you price propane tanks..... Everyone else has put in a second one too... They are in short supply.

Sue was just reading me an article, wood is in short supply too!

Paul
 
Would there be any support for a natural gas version of the 1935 REA (Rural Electric Administration) program? The gas supply already exists, but a distribution system is still needed. Maybe lay fiber optic (high speed internet) cables in the same right-of-ways.

For-profit companies are aware of the rapidly diminishing returns from providing services to isolated towns and rural areas. For the most part, electric companies, natural gas companies, cable companies, railroads and air lines all prefer to serve only the largest, most profitable markets and ignore the smaller unprofitable markets. It always seems to take a municipal, state or federal effort to get new services out into the rural areas.

FYI, rural roads are also much more expense to build and maintain per person served, compared to urban roads.
 
Amerigas bought out our local propane supplier here.
Then they charged about 3 times as much as the other locals.
Their yard is FULL of propane tanks!

They're also being sued by the AG for price gouging.
Ferrell Gas has already settled their suit. They got off cheap.
This isn't my local supplier, but the same type of story. Link
 
Can you imagine the cost of installing NG lines to all farmers that could use it? Miles between farms in some areas, vs multiple users (dozens?) per mile in urban areas.
 
One of my coops is in town, has natural gas drier. They can pay a penny or 3 more per bu of corn.....

But, in a wet year with wet corn, and then winter cold hits early, they run into problems with natural gas supplies - all the furnaces fire up in town and there isn't enough flow for the massive corn drier as well......

Corn drying takes a lot of heat for a short period of time in the year.

Always a problem.

Paul
 
In regards to those thinking there is a shortage of LP tanks I see plenty of them stacked up like cord wood behind the local Amerigas. Other places have plenty sitting around too. Thing is they won't sell them they want you to buy gas from them and lease the tank.
No shortage of tanks , just a shortage of good suppliers that won't rip you off.
 
Around here co-ops are doing the same thing. Building new facilities ways from towns at the intersections of major highways, a rail line and a natural gas line.

We only see reduced supply very late in the drying season in December when outdoor temperatures drop below zero F. Most years corn drying is completed by then.

A few years ago some farmers had to postpone combining corn, waiting for deep mud to freeze hard enough to support heavy equipment and hoping corn would dry down more. Many were snowed in and had to wait until spring to finish harvest. Years like that are filled with problems no matter what you do. Most years the drying season is over before the heating season demand is large.
 
You hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what I was talking about. VERY FEW people have even heard of the old REA's projects. We need That kind of movement to get the Home Heating AND Farm Use pipeline infrastructure in place immediately. I can't say I know how the money was raised for the short sited wind power generation systems that seemed to pop up over-nite, but a similar effort should be used to get the distribution pipelines in the ground and ran up the streets for home heating. So I feel that the Nations Natural Gas Supply should go to the Tax Paying Citizens first. The Government involvement I was particularly referring to was the permits for the big across country export type pipeline while ignoring the intrastate distribution systems. bjr
 
(quoted from post at 21:27:35 09/23/14) Can you imagine the cost of installing NG lines to all farmers that could use it? Miles between farms in some areas, vs multiple users (dozens?) per mile in urban areas.
Click to expand...

Yup, and if the utility charged you what it really cost to bring it to you, you'd never be able to afford it.
 
Seems Amerigas bought out all the independents around here too. However, buying a tank is not a problem as I bought one this spring, but they are running around $2 per gallon and are made in Mexico with carbon steel, no Nickel added to retard rust like my made in the USA that runs the house, of 1950 vintage.

Propane sales are $1.89 for the entire month of September. So I topped off both tanks. No shortage here.

Dealers here don't want you buying from other dealers even if you own your tanks. Since the merger I found that dealers can pull up your name and see what you have been doing. If buying from another dealer they won't sell to you unless you have a full house/tank inspection. Pffffft on that.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Propane Co,--- what would you do????
2 3
Replies
51
Views
4K
mndan
M
A
OT: Tricks we used in our energy efficient house
Replies
19
Views
4K
Anonymous-0
A
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top