Propane shortage for corn drying persists

Minnesota farmers and grain elevators are still short of adequate propane supplies, nine days after Gov. Mark Dayton signed an emergency order to speed up deliveries.

The fuel is used to dry corn to safe moisture levels so it doesn't rot in storage. Minnesota Grain and Feed Association Executive Director Bob Zelenka says the governor's order helped, but he's still hearing about shortages.

"Your large grain elevator dryers that you see running at full capacity, they can go through a semi [truck] load of propane in less than four hours," Zelenka said. "It's a real need out there that hopefully will be satisfied here in the next week or so."

Dayton signed the emergency order Oct. 23 to allow truckers to work longer hours than normal delivering propane.