The PERC Update: Preparing for Harvest and Peak Winter Demand
TOP STORY
Help Your Ag Customers Harvest More Savings New propane grain dryers are a game changer on the farm. They can reduce over-drying of crops to produce more evenly dried, higher-quality grain. And compared to in-field drying methods, they also can eliminate crop damage from weather or wildlife. But hefty harvest consumption overlayed with an early, cold winter can cause dire operational problems for an unprepared marketer. PERC’s new Grain Drying Demand Model is an online tool that can help identify areas where higher-than-normal propane use can be expected. The heat maps provide a color-coded guide to moisture levels in most major corn-growing areas. They allow users to quickly explore areas that are above and below the 20-year moisture average, based on U.S. crop data that accounts for planting dates and rainfall totals.
WEBINAR: Preparing for Peak Demand 2021 Current market conditions indicate the upcoming harvest and winter could be one of the most complicated in recent memory with below-average days of supply and above-average prices in many parts of the country. The National Propane Gas Association is hosting a webinar on propane supply and logistics at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 19. The session will offer a supply briefing as well as education on best practices in communication between pipelines, wholesalers, and marketers. It will conclude with a panel discussion on how to work with pipeline and wholesale operations, including how to best communicate and respond to your customers’ needs in the upcoming months. Attendees must pre-register to participate. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the webinar details.
USPS Contractor Opens New Autogas Fuel Station McAbee Trucking, Inc., the first U.S. Postal Service-contracted fleet in the United States to run trucks on propane autogas, is strengthening its commitment to the environment with the purchase of 20 more propane autogas trucks, taking the fleet from seven to 27. Company owner Lisa McAbee made the announcement Aug. 5 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of the company’s own propane autogas refueling station. The fleet runs multiple mail routes between Greenville, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C. Since McAbee’s adoption of propane autogas nearly two years ago, several other USPS-contracted fleets around the nation have followed her lead and transitioned to autogas. “I want my legacy to be lowering my carbon footprint for my grandchildren so we can save our environment as quickly as possible," McAbee said. “Propane is the way to accomplish that goal. And because it’s affordable, I’ve actually saved money by investing in propane instead of other energy sources.”
MARKET INSIGHTS
Attend the Next Autogas Answers Event Join us Friday, Aug. 13 in Asheville, N.C., for an in-person Autogas Answers event to hear about the latest vehicle offerings and fueling systems, firsthand accounts from local fleets using autogas, and the latest updates on upcoming funding opportunities. Bring your propane vehicle and get free admission to the program. The event is free for fleet managers, sustainability staff, and elected officials, and $25 for all others.
New Comprehensive Safety Compliance Handbook Available Can you explain all the regulations you are required to comply with for your business? A new Comprehensive Compliance Handbook designed to help propane professionals navigate the federal safety and compliance regulations, codes, and standards that apply to propane operations is now available both in the Resource Catalog and The Learning Center on propane.com.
The 50-page, interactive document will replace previous compliance guides for individual agencies (DOT, OSHA, EPA, etc.). It can be downloaded for personal use or printing. Users can click on links in the table of contents for direct access to the most pertinent sections within the document. They also can link to external regulatory agency websites cited throughout the document to access the full, most up-to-date regulation.
Prepare Your Customers for Winter It’s not too soon to start preparing for winter weather and the demands of a busy home heating season. As a warmup, we’ve got 10 questions that all propane marketers should ask themselves and their customers to ensure safe, smooth delivery.
