Farming and agriculture play a crucial role in the health and vitality of the UK – supplying us with more than 60% of all the food we consume and providing daily sustenance to millions of people across the country.
In order to meet this demand, farmers rely heavily on the cultivation of crops and the breeding of livestock to make a living – both of which require large amounts of energy to feed and maintain. This makes choosing the right energy supply vital to a farmer’s livelihood – with the right system in place, farmers can benefit from a powerful and reliable fuel supply to run a multitude of operations, no matter how energy-intensive their processes may be.
LPG: Providing reliable energy for off-grid farming
One such fuel source is LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). With a long list of operational and environmental benefits such as a lower carbon, cleaner burning alternative to conventional fossil fuels, its quickly becoming the go-to choice for farmers in the UK. Here, we look at how LPG is a great choice.
- LPG: Keeping livestock warm and healthy
Keeping animals warm is key to maintaining healthy livestock. Without it they can suffer, be prone to disease and even die if conditions aren’t kept at optimum temperatures[1]. This is particularly important to the rearing of poultry such as pheasants or chickens as constant access to heat can be key to their survival.
With LPG, farmers can maintain greater control over indoor temperatures, allowing them to maintain optimum moisture levels to aid in speedy feathering and weight gain amongst poultry.[2] As a clean burning, smoke free fuel it also prevents animals from being exposed to harmful fuels or emissions[3] and reduces the risk of contamination through feeds and litter when compared to oil-based fuels.
- Keeping control: LPG and the drying of crops
LPG can prove an effective tool in the drying of crops, grains and fruit too. As a highly efficient fuel supply, its grain drying technology can convert up to 90% of the LPG used, lowering fuel consumption and resulting in potential cost savings for farmers.[4] Its high levels of control also allow for ideal drying temperatures to be consistently maintained, reducing the risk of ‘over drying.’ The result is a more evenly dried, higher-quality grain that consumers want to buy.[5]
Dairy farms are also taking advantage of LPG, thanks to the on-tap instant hot water that it can provide, and ease of use. The regular washing of milk lines and storage tanks is an important part of any dairy farm operation to prevent the risk of legionella bacteria from forming. However, the heating of electric water tanks can be expensive to run and often requires time to heat, meaning fuel bills can be high.
Through LPG, dairy farmers can receive instant hot water solutions, enabling them to clean milk lines quickly and efficiently. LPG water heating can also offer potential cost savings and eliminates the need for large water storage tanks as the water can be heated instantaneously.
- Heating for horticulture
It’s not just edible crops that bring in profits for farmers, but commercially grown plants, too. As farms look to expand their offering, the growing of flowers and plants is now a big business, so it’s essential they are kept in optimum temperatures to reduce the risk of them being damaged. With LPG heating systems, farmers are given greater control, ensuring their plants are given everything they need to thrive. It’s clean burning properties also reduce the risk of contamination over oil, keeping plants safe and healthy.
- Heat your farmhouse
LPG is not only suitable for use around crops and livestock, it can be used in the home too. For those living off-grid, LPG provides a low carbon alternative to conventional fossil fuels with no risk of oil spills.
One its major benefits is that in can be used for a range of domestic functions, anything from heating a farmhouse to providing an instant and controllable gas flame for cooking. It also offers flexibility in terms of storage as bulk domestic tanks have the option to be located above or below ground, ensuring they’re positioned subtly out of view. Alternatively, if energy needs in the home are less substantial, gas cylinders can be used, which are easily manoeuvrable and can be stored in a convenient location. You’ll also benefit from an automated ordering system that will keep you topped up, completely free of charge. Of course, as well as this, LPG can help reduce and offset carbon emissions in comparison to other fuels. So, with so many great uses and also a help to the environment, LPG is a great choice of fuel for farming.
[1] https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/managing-heat-and-minimum-ventilation-systems-in-the-broiler-house
[2] http://www.total.co.za/pro/totalgaz-main/totalgaz-services-uses-lpg/totalgaz-agricultural.html
[3] https://lpg-apps.org/index.php?mact=LPGApi,cntnt01,subsector,0&cntnt01subsector_id=27&cntnt01template=subsector&cntnt01returnid=17&cntnt01sector_id=2
[4] https://lpg-apps.org/index.php?mact=LPGApi,cntnt01,application,0&cntnt01application_id=16&cntnt01returnid=17&
[5] https://lpg-apps.org/index.php?mact=LPGApi,cntnt01,application,0&cntnt01application_id=16&cntnt01returnid=17&
