Bats, Lubricants, and Contracts

Apr 03, 2020


April Energy Update

I hope this newsletter finds you all healthy.

The world has changed a lot since the last newsletter. I’m writing this from my office but that may change. I may be writing it from home next time. Or the pandemic may be over. We have to remain flexible. 

If you call in for your propane, please closely monitor the amount of fuel in your tanks.

If you run out, we’re required to restart your appliances. Until the pandemic is over, we do not want our employee team entering your homes unless it is absolutely necessary. Please do your part to keep your family and our employee team safe.

Bats!

In this new environment, I’ve found the time to tackle some projects at home. In the process I found out that I have bats in my attic when one escaped into my living space. When it comes to my fight or flight response, maybe it’s because of my years in the infantry or the fact that I grew up with 10 brothers and sisters, but I’m normally all fight when it comes to a perceived threat. Except when it comes to a bat in the house. Then I’m all flight. I would rather jump headfirst into a pit of vipers. They completely creep me out. Too many horror movies, I guess. Now I have a new project installing bat excluders that will allow them to get out but not get back in. I’m also installing bat houses for them to live in. If they stay out of my house, I promise to stay out of theirs.

a few months ago I was crowing about how we would finally be energy independent in the U.S. in 2020. Now I’m eating crow.

World Oil Markets

It’s a new environment in the energy world also. We’re seeing a lessening of demand because hundreds of millions of people around the world are sheltering in place or being quarantined. We’re also in the middle of a price conflict between Saudi Arabia and Russia designed to drive U.S. oil companies out of business. If you remember a few months ago I was crowing about how we would finally be energy independent in the U.S. in 2020. Now I’m eating crow.

Lubricants for farm equipment

Before the next newsletter comes out, our farmer patrons will be in the fields. If you haven’t ordered your lubricants yet, there’s no time like the present. We offer a full line of high quality Cenex lubricants for any application. We sell it packaged, by the drum or in bulk. Call your local energy office today to place your order.

Propane Contracts are coming!

Our propane contracts will be coming out again in June. Start planning now. I’ve been buying contracts for the next heating season. We will see reasonable contract prices again this year.
Enjoy the time with your families and hopefully we won’t be locked down for the next newsletter. Another two weeks of this and we will be able to tell everyone's true hair color. Thank you for your business.

Tim Lease

Division Manager

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Focusing on Plant Nutrition at V5
After your corn crop gets to emergence and the weather conditions are cooperating, it develops rapidly, completing a growth stage approximately every three days. By the V5 stage, corn plants have put on significant root mass, making it an ideal time to focus on plant nutrition and stress reduction to maximize yields. Let’s take a look at 4 early-season management strategies to support your developing crop and maximize your return per acre.    
May 03, 2023
Well, my snowmobiles, snow thrower, winter clothes, salt and shovels are all put away until they’re needed again in about 230 days. I know no one wants to think about next winter but our propane contracts will be mailed out in June. Once again, those who contracted last year came out money ahead as propane prices this past winter exceeded the contract price. I lock my propane price in every year because I know after 32 years in this business that propane prices typically increase during the winter months. You can almost set your watch by it.
May 03, 2023

As I write this the last week of April, we still have a couple of nights of sub-freezing temperatures to deal with, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing down our agronomy locations that are now entering their busiest time of the year. Long days and short nights can be the norm this time of year for our agronomy division and our producer members as they work to get this year’s crop in the ground. This is a great reminder to please pay special attention over the next couple of months to farm machinery pulling in and out of the fields and wide loads coming around the next corner or over the next hill. Whether you are in your car on your way to work, or in the tractor moving to the next field, never assume the other person sees you. Slow down and be extra careful.