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Propane shortage could stop Iowa harvest

Ag/Outdoor

October 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SHEFFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers are raising concerns about a shortage of propane that’s needed to dry crops during their harvest. The Mason City Globe-Gazette reports that farmers in northern Iowa have faced delays in propane deliveries before, but usually not because of a shortage.

Bruce Halvorson, petroleum manager for Five Star Cooperative, says the shortage is spread throughout the Midwest because of harvest demands. Halvorson says the terminals can’t keep up with demand. Brad Koenigsberg, who farms west of Sheffield, says he’s taking more of his corn to a local elevator for drying. He says the elevators are still able to dry because they use natural gas rather than propane.