Propane Farm Research Program Boosts Farm Efficiency

Mar 26, 2026
By Farms.com

Farmers can save on propane equipment and gain reliable performance

Farmers face rising costs, tight margins, and concerns about grid reliability. The Propane Farm Research Program (PFRP) makes it easier for producers to upgrade essential equipment while saving money.

PFRP supports farmers who adopt and test new propane-powered technologies. In return, participants provide feedback to help improve equipment for farm needs.

“The program makes that propane engine very, very economical in comparison to what a diesel would cost you. It’s really simple to do. In fact, the current program, they’ve made it even simpler than it was just a couple of years ago as far as paperwork that you fill out,” said the previous applicant to the program, Randy Vana of Wilber, Nebraska.

For 2026, the program offers financial support across several categories. Industrial engines qualify for $600 per liter of displacement. Prime power generators receive $60 per kW, backup generators $30 per kW, and poultry house sanitizers $2,000 per unit. Farmers can save up to $10,000 on eligible purchases, easing tight margins.

Propane-powered equipment operates independently of the electric grid, giving farms reliable power during outages, extreme weather, and high electricity prices. Compared with diesel, propane equipment typically has lower upfront costs and reduced fuel and maintenance expenses.

The program also supports versatile applications including irrigation engines, water heating, flame weed control, and poultry sanitizers. Tools like propane irrigation engine and grain drying calculators help farmers estimate savings and propane needs for smarter decisions.

Farmers interested in participating can apply directly online at https://propane.com/pfrp. The program helps farms modernize, save costs, and maintain productivity, showing how propane can be a smart investment for 2026 and beyond.

By leveraging propane cost savings, reliability, and flexibility, producers can secure operational efficiency and remain competitive despite market challenges.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-dszc

Video: Four Star Pork Industry Conf - Back to Basics: Fundamentals drive vaccine performance

At a time when disease pressure continues to challenge pork production systems across the United States, vaccination remains one of the most valuable and heavily debated tools available to veterinarians and producers.

Speaking at the 2025 Four Star Pork Industry Conference in Muncie, Indiana, Dr. Daniel Gascho, veterinarian at Four Star Veterinary Service, encouraged the industry to return to fundamentals in how vaccines are selected, handled and administered across sow farms, gilt development units and grow-finish operations.

Gascho acknowledged at the outset that vaccination can quickly become a technical and sometimes tedious topic. But he said that real-world execution, not complex immunology, is where most vaccine failures occur.