Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst says his organization is working with MFA and other suppliers to help farmers during a propane shortage and quickly escalating prices.
“It’s been a long cold winter, and it’s only January,” Hurst said in a statement posted on the bureau’s website. “Along with frozen cattle waterers and burst pipes, Missouri farmers are facing an emergency with propane supplies. Prices have moved upward, doubled, in the last few months and, according to my supplier for our greenhouse in northwest Missouri, went up 70 cents a gallon yesterday (Wednesday).”
Hurst says suppliers are only receiving about half of their normal allocations of propane.
“People with poultry barns, hog barns and greenhouses are facing an emergency situation,” he said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to help. We’ve visited with suppliers. We’re talking to producers across the state. We appreciate the efforts of companies like MFA, who are working hard to protect and help all of their farmers.”
Hurst says he’s received some reports that suppliers in Missouri not honoring contracts, a situation he calls “regrettable” and a great concern to the Missouri Farm Bureau.