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Propane supply problems reported in some areas

Farmers in some parts of the Midwest are having trouble getting the propane they need to keep their grain dryers running.

Analysts say there is an ample supply of propane, but the distribution system isn’t keeping up with the high demand.

Steve Demmer, a propane dealer in northeast Iowa, says they’ve only received 25 percent of what they need from their supplier.

“This is the worst we’ve ever seen it,” Demmer says. “We’ve gotten through every other year and we’ve always gotten propane — 2008 and 2013 were our worst years and we’ve always kept people in propane. But this year it certainly is not going to be the case.”

Dan Zumbach, who farms near Monticello, Iowa, says it’s slowing things down.

“It’s a very real problem and it’s going to slow harvest down tremendously, because you have to dry the crop as you’re harvesting and it may very cut that rate by half. And that is concerning for a lot of farmers,” Zumbach says. “I am sweating it out myself –but I am willing to take my turn so that suppliers can spread that out the best they can.”

Radio Iowa contributed to this story.