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The Propane Education and Research Council is doubling incentive payments for equipment purchases.

Curt Arens, Editor, Nebraska Farmer

May 28, 2019

2 Min Read
a damaged farma nd farmland after flood waters recede
RECOVERY HELP: Farmers affected by Midwest flooding this past spring can benefit from the Propane Farm Incentive Program, which provides incentives toward the purchase of propane-powered equipment. Curt Arens

For farmers affected by flooding in the Midwest this spring, the Propane Education and Research Council is doubling its Propane Farm Incentive Program payments of up to $10,000 toward eligible propane-powered equipment for agriculture operations.

"The local propane industry personnel in the flooded areas are looking for ways to assist their neighbors and give back to the local community," says Mike Newland, director, PERC agriculture business development. "PERC has invested in agriculture adoption of propane through the PFIP for many years. This program provided incentives in 2018 to 43 farms across the country for adoption of propane-powered equipment."

For a limited time, affected producers who apply for PFIP can earn double the regular incentive amount for qualifying propane-powered equipment, including irrigation engines, building and water heating systems, power generators and flame weeding systems, among others.

"The idea was discussed among the business development staff at PERC, and I took the idea to my ag market team," Newland says. "Those members include propane professionals and state propane executives that have a vested interest in the agriculture community as well. PERC uses groups like this as a sounding board and, most importantly, in an advisory capacity to guide PERC and our direction within our markets."

The team felt doubling the incentives was a way for PERC to invest additional resources to help farmers as much as possible not only in the Midwest flood regions, but also those affected by Hurricane Michael.

"There will be many hurdles to overcome as a result of this devastation for those impacted," Newland says. "PERC and the industry hope the double-incentive offer can help a farmer that has an irrigation station or livestock building impacted by the flooding to rebuild as quickly as possible and get back to producing grain and livestock as soon as possible."

For those eligible, the double incentive provides twice the standard incentive amounts for qualifying equipment, including $300 per liter of fuel displacement for propane-powered irrigation engines; up to $30 per kilowatt for generators; $1,500 for flame weeding systems; and $2,000 for agricultural heaters.

A limited number of the double incentives are available, so interested producers are encouraged to apply now by visiting propane.com/farmincentive.

To take advantage of the double incentive, qualifying producers must check "yes" to the question on the online application that reads: "Was your operation directly impacted by Hurricane Michael or the Midwest flooding?"

About the Author(s)

Curt Arens

Editor, Nebraska Farmer

Curt Arens began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school. Before joining Farm Progress as a field editor in April 2010, he had worked as a freelance farm writer for 27 years, first for newspapers and then for farm magazines, including Nebraska Farmer.

His real full-time career, however, during that same period was farming his family’s fourth generation land in northeast Nebraska. He also operated his Christmas tree farm and grew black oil sunflowers for wild birdseed. Curt continues to raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa and runs a cow-calf herd.

Curt and his wife Donna have four children, Lauren, Taylor, Zachary and Benjamin. They are active in their church and St. Rose School in Crofton, where Donna teaches and their children attend classes.

Previously, the 1986 University of Nebraska animal science graduate wrote a weekly rural life column, developed a farm radio program and wrote books about farm direct marketing and farmers markets. He received media honors from the Nebraska Forest Service, Center for Rural Affairs and Northeast Nebraska Experimental Farm Association.

He wrote about the spiritual side of farming in his 2008 book, “Down to Earth: Celebrating a Blessed Life on the Land,” garnering a Catholic Press Association award.

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