John EmmittePropane CouncilIntegrated Pest ManagementDirectors MeetingFebruary 2,2005

About the CouncilPassage of PERA (1996)Industry referendum Assessment = half penny per gallonProjected to collect $51 million in 2005 to fund programs and projects

About the CouncilPERA mandates 5% of assessment used for the benefit of US agriculture via grantsPERA also requires the Council to coordinate activities with the US ag sector

About PropanePropane gas (LPG) is nontoxicListed in 1990 Clean Air ActLPG vehicles produce 30%-90% less CO than gasoline engines (EPA)Leading alt. engine fuel behind gas and diesel

PERC and Agriculture>1.5 billion gallons of LPG consumed on the farm annually Propane is found on over 660,000 farms in the US (crop drying, pest control, engine power, heating, irrigation, etc.)

Some of our Ag ProjectsTractorIrrigationSoil Sterilization (nematodes)Flame CultivationSteam Cultivation (weed control)Bio-BurnerThermal Defoliation

PERC Ag ProjectsJohn Deere 74hp, 4.5LDemo program complete Market Study Results Presented to JD in late 2004EFCC will assist with next steps

Irrigation PumpsElectricity273,077Natural Gas 54,382Propane 20,709Diesel 99,026Gas 7,039Total454,233

USDA, 1998 Farm & Ranch Irrigation Survey

Soil Sterilization (Nematodes)

Flame Cultivation

Flame Cultivation

Flame Cultivation

Atarus Stinger V650C

Thermal Weed Control

For Vineyard& Orchard Crops

Bio-Burner

Bio-Burner:

Pathogen Control inPoultryHouses

Validation and DemonstrationPoultry House Flame Sanitizer

Poultry House Pathogen Control, and potential turf applications

Flame Engineering - LaCrosse, KS

Thermal Defoliation

Thermal Defoliation

www.cotton.org/journal/

ConclusionCollaboration with IPM on propane-utilization pest control grant projects

Work within our current portfolio or develop a new application/technology with your expertise

Envision a $-for-$ grant formula

Initiate this program in 2005

Conclusion

Questions?

Contact InformationJohn EmmitteE-Mail:emmitte@hotmail.comOffice: (202) 465-7510Cell:(703) 409-2577

-- Propane gas (LPG) is nontoxic[BECAUSE PROPANE IS NONTOXIC AND INSOLUBLE, IT DOES NOT POSE A THREAT TO AQUIFERS OR GROUNDWATER SUPPLY.][Since propane quickly vaporizes within a pressurized container and is released as a gas, it does not spill, pool, or leave a residue]

Here is a short list of some of the Ag. technologies that we have helped to develop over the last several years. Several were developed with an eye towards the emerging organic farming industry and the objective of reducing producers dependence on chemical pesticides. Our tractor project began in 2000, with the objective of developing an efficient, propane-fueled engine capable of achieving EPA Tier 3 emissions standards and to incorporate this engine into a John Deere 5410 tractor as an alternative to diesel. The development project was a success in that the engine did comply with Tier 3 and also compares well to its diesel counterpart in terms of power output and fuel economy.

We wrapped up this demonstration project and market study in mid-2004 and presented the results to John Deere last Fall. Although JD was impressed they have not made a decision yet to build (or not build) a propane tractor.It is safe to say John Deere is reviewing various engine control options that will allow compliance with Tier 3 and 4 EPA emission standards in 2007 and 2010. These options include clean diesel, electricity, and propane! Deere have asked us to help identify additional uses for a propane engine in this size range in order to help build a stronger case for commercialization.In order to move on OEM propane engines, we need a coordinated effort that examines all uses for an engine platform, therefore AAC will identify the next steps of this effort with the help of the new EFCC and look to them for leadership for all engine related projects.

Developing irrigation and other stationary engines is a priority for the Council.

These are the numbers of irrigation pumps in the US, according to the referenced 1998 Survey. Our primary competition is diesel engines in this market. Propane is currently losing market share, even though the market has grown significantly over the past 50 years, due to few choices of engines and lack of service technicians.-- This is one of our first grant projects and is named the Gator Tail it was developed by our partners at (as you might imagine) the University of Florida AND is a part of a multi-year, thermal cultivation development program funded by the Council.-- This device heats the soil to temperatures required to kill nematodes. Affixed with a plow head, the Gator tail is slowly dragged through the field injecting heat and sterilizing the subsurface soil of nematodes.

-- We will continue partnering with agricultural researchers investigating non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide BECAUSE we believe that propane is potentially a viable replacement for the fumigant, which is slowly being phased out of common use.

--[NOTE: the Gator Tail research project was not as effective as we would have liked: efficiencies were in the range of only 25% and its cost-per-acre was higher than the chemical alternatives]-- The covered burners you see here were developed by our partners at TAMU. They are an order of magnitude more sophisticated than open flame burners in terms of fuel/heat efficiency and cultivation effectiveness

-------Go to the next flame cultivation slide------------------------------------

--Organic: --On the ORGANIC FRONT, we would like to capitalize on the fact that thermal cultivation practices using flame / heat are recognized under the National Organic Program as an accepted form of weed control.Our preliminary yield results have shown that flame cultivation can help produce yields similar to other organic production methods for soybeans and cotton.

-------Go to the next flame cultivation slide------------------------------------

-- In soybean testing,,,,,Flame cultivation generally provided acceptable (>80%) control of all weed species evaluated with the exception of annual grasses. --Averaged across our test locations, soybean yield with flame cultivation alone was comparable to Roundup Ready. Given the market price differential b/w organic and non-organic soybeannet returns with flame cultivation could greatly exceed net returns from a Roundup Ready system.And this is the Third Generation of Thermal Cultivation...

A $47,000 PERC grant has supported the effort to develop this technology that utilizes Steam.

The device has been developed with the firm D.J. Batchen out of Australia. A prototype HAS BEEN SHIPPED to CA to debut at the World Ag Expo WHICH BEGINS NEXT WEEK. Testing in vineyards and/or orchards will follow as well as promotions about this new method of non-chemical weed control. This is sure to get the attention of vineyard and orchards operators, involved in both organic and conventional production.

This process differs from open flame cultivation in that super-heated steam is applied to the plant rather than direct flame. Therefore no burning of the plant occurs with no additional emissions considerations due to smoke. The Bio-Burner was developed by our research partners at the U. of Arkansasand uses super-heated propane to sanitize poultry houses.

The device is essentially an insulated stainless steel cabinet with liquid propane torches that heat the surface of poultry houses, is attached to a tractor and slowly driven throughout the house, exposing the floor to temperatures up to 900 Degrees (F) for 10 to 12 seconds.

PERC funded laboratory testing to verify the effectiveness of various designs of this concept

On the next slide you will see where this has gone in the last 12 months. Flame Engineering has developed the next generation of this commercial product. Its based on the Bio-Burner concept in the previous slide, but with no direct funding from PERC.In order to increase adoption, PERC HAS funded an effort to Validate and Demonstrate this new machine. Not only will we learn how effective this machine can be, but we can gather more data to share with the agriculture industry to increase acceptance and adoption of flame sanitation.This unit has already been on display at Husker Harvest Days, Sept. (Grand Island, NE), the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Oct. (Moultrie, GA). Among other places.-- PERC provided funding to USDA ARS researchers at Mesilla Park, NM to conduct experimental thermal defoliator trials as an alternative to harvest-aid chemicals (which ORGANIC cotton producers are restricted from using)

--This particular device is a self-propelled vehicle platform modified with a 2-row treatment apparatus.

--Thermal defoliation could be a viable means for organic producers to terminate their cotton crop for a more timely harvest while realizing greater harvest efficiency and reduced fiber quality degradation.

--Secondary benefits that arise from thermal defoliation include control of late season sucking insects responsible for cotton stickiness.

--------on to the next slide-------------------------------------- The premium paid for organic cotton could mitigate application costs, as fuel costs associated with thermal defoliation are still equivalent to the cost of chemical defoliants.

--The most significant finding of this investigation was the fact that the leaf-kill rate hit 90% at 7 Days After Treatment (compared to a 50% leaf-kill rate for the chemical defoliant control)

And, while chemical defoliation takes 10 to 15 days, thermal defoliation is effective almost immediately and can be done on windy days.--Our thermal defoliator trials are published as the Featured Article in the current issue of the Journal of Cotton Science.

-- Please go to the referenced web address here to review and download the report.We have a robust communications effort targeting agriculture. These efforts are carried out by the communications firm Osborn & Barr (St. Louis, MO) who specialize in agricultural communications working with companies such as John Deere, Monsanto, and Michelin Ag Tires. Communications are designed to launch new technologies, such as Poultry House Sanitation and Steam Cultivation mentioned earlier. Communications are also defensive in nature, meaning they are designed to help maintain the markets we currently have such as building heating of all kinds and grain drying or crop curing.News releases are prepared regularly and posted on the PERC website and notices are sent through PERC Update.Trade Show booths are available for state use on an as available basis.Several trade shows are planned targeting key influencer groups such as the National Association of County Extension Agents, American Farm Bureau Federation, National FFA, National Agriculture Teachers Assn., National Farm Radio Broadcasters Assn., Agriculture Magazine Writers, just to name a few.Members of NPGA are invited to attend outreach events with representatives of the AAC and interact with the agricultural industry. Contact PERC Agriculture Programs Manager, Mark Leitman for a calendar of events or more information (865) 692-5419 direct line.