Calor is using its presence at Smithfield to promote
its established reputation in the countryside and the
widespread use of LPG among rural businesses. The UK’s
leading supplier of LPG points to the emergence of new
markets in horticulture and bulb drying for its fuel.
Calor LPG is already established in core agricultural
activities, such as poultry production and grain drying,
where LPG powered equipment provides precise temperature
and moisture control. But, says the company’s
Kevin Houlden, an added attraction is the increasing
range of applications across agriculture where LPG powers
a wide variety of machinery.
“We’ve worked with farmers and equipment
manufacturers over a number of years to the point where
LPG can be used in most areas of agriculture,”
he says. “It goes well beyond established areas
such as grain drying to the preparation of other crops,
as well as heating buildings, powering ATVs and, increasingly,
use in horticulture.”
The company has built up an impressive clutch of business
contacts and relationships among equipment manufacturers,
dealers and gas installers to make the move to LPG as
easy as possible. ‘We’ve got an established
reputation in the countryside, built upon our ability
to work with growers to find the right solution,”
says Kevin Houlden. “It’s about more than
just the fuel – we can advise on the right approach
and, thanks to our established relationships with equipment
suppliers and installers, customers can ensure a smooth
and effective installation. Reliable deliveries are
also paramount – our rural customers depend on
the energy we provide and our delivery network is second
to none.”
From the arable point of view, Calor supplies LPG in
the now established field of crop drying ranging from
grain, through to peas, beans, oilseed and even miscanthus,
or elephant grass. Calor LPG also provides energy for
onion drying where the use of gas drying equipment ensures
an even, golden skin and a fast turnaround from harvest
to storage. Similar technology is used to dry garlic
– Europe’s most northerly garlic farm, near
Nairn, Scotland, uses Calor LPG to dry its crop.
In addition, Calor LPG is seeing increasing use in
horticulture. In the case of flowers, the fuel powers
both heaters and cooling equipment to bring on the blooms,
then lower the temperature to slow growth prior to picking.
The fuel is used in the flower bulb market to dry bulbs
in the same way as onions or garlic. Calor powered equipment
efficiently and precisely heats glasshouses in the production
of salad crops and oriental herbs in response to consumer
demand.
The fuel also offers a viable alternative as restrictions
are imposed on previously available chemicals such as
methyl bromide, typically used to clear the soil prior
to replanting and now banned. Gas powered burners apply
heat to the surface of the soil destroying crop debris
such as dead leaves and roots, and eliminating weed
seeds and fungal spores.
A recent product development has taken this principle
one stage further, with the launch of Richard Western’s
six metre burner. This allows farmers to remove potato
haulms and set the crop without using sulphuric acid
– due to be banned next year – as well as
ensure the pre-emergence and post-emergence control
of weeds for carrots and onions. The greatly increased
6m width of the flaming area allows rapid coverage and
the new product, launched this year, is already in use
at several potato and sweetcorn farms in eastern England.
Calor also powers diversification – the company
points to a Herefordshire potato farmer who now uses
its LPG to operate frying equipment in the manufacture
of gourmet potato chips.
Finally, farmers can utilise LPG for farm transport.
Not only does Calor Autogas – automotive LPG –
retail at half the price of forecourt petrol or diesel,
allowing impressive economy for cars and 4x4’s,
but LPG powered ATV’s provide convenient on-farm
transport with no noticeable difference in performance
compared to petrol bikes.
LPG is the fuel of choice in the brooding of game birds
and poultry as well as the incineration of fallen stock.
And, overall, LPG heats farm buildings, workshops, domestic
properties, caravan parks and holiday rented accommodation,
and provides quality catering and heating from a single
energy source.
“Most farmers are obviously aware of LPG and
have experienced its application in one or more areas,”
adds Kevin Houlden. “But when you consider the
rise of LPG in its full range of agricultural applications,
it’s impressive. The fuel has widened its usage
to deliver an integrated package where farmers can effectively
power their businesses from a single fuel source.”
Calor operates the UK’s largest LPG delivery
network and the company’s technical team is on
hand to provide guidance on the most appropriate energy
solution. Calor bulk tanks can be installed underground
and the company’s new The Think Tank® telemetry
system regularly updates Calor’s central computer
via a telephone line, despatching a tanker in plenty
of time when a top-up is required.
The company has an acknowledged reputation when it
comes to supporting sustainable rural communities and
promoting rural business. Calor runs the Calor Village
of the Year and Calor Scottish Community of the Year
initiatives, as well as the Calor Caravan Park of the
Year scheme. The company supports the British Quality
Chicken initiative and is a member of Business in the
Community’s One Per Cent Club, where 1 per cent
of the company’s pre-tax profits is invested each
year in community projects.
‘Our aim is not to present a rosy image of rural
life, but to support sustainable communities and businesses,’
says Kevin Houlden. ‘We’re driving diversification
in the countryside by continually developing new methods
and applications that allow farmers and rural businesses
to succeed.’
Calor is exhibiting at the Royal Smithfield Show at
stand FO22 in the Farming Options section. Further information
on the commercial use of LPG is available from Calor
– visit www.lpg-farming.co.uk,
call 0800 121 4461 or email enquiries@calor.co.uk.
Issued on behalf of Calor by Connect PR, Chubb Buildings,
Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT. For further information
contact Mark Simpson on 01902 714957 or email marksimpson@connect-group.com.
 Click
here to download this press release in Word format
Ref: CG142
Released: October 2004
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