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Shebelut Farms is a tree fruit and citrus farm based in Fresno, California growing peaches, nectarines, pears, and almonds.
California grower and former Fresno State baseball standout Lance Shebelut conducted a real-world comparison of propane, diesel, and electric irrigation engines on his Central Valley orchards. Leveraging support from the Propane Farm Research Program, he demonstrated that propane-powered irrigation delivered the lowest operating cost, the highest reliability during peak heat, and meaningful environmental and operational benefits. The findings were conclusive: the propane engine saved Shebelut Farms 63% on fuel costs compared to electric, and 43% compared to diesel.
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Challenge
Shebelut’s operation relied heavily on diesel and electric irrigation engines—both increasingly costly and unreliable. Diesel engine maintenance, rising electricity rates, and vulnerability to grid brownouts created operational risk during critical irrigation windows. With California’s extreme summer heat and the need for consistent water delivery to orchards, Shebelut needed a dependable, cost stable alternative.
Solution
After a diesel motor failure, Shebelut’s pump company recommended exploring propane. Through the Propane Farm Research Program and support from N&S Tractor, he installed his first propane-powered irrigation engine. He then conducted a controlled 10 day comparison across three wells—one powered by electricity, one by diesel, and one by propane. Propane outperformed both alternatives in cost, reliability, and ease of operation. Funding of $600 per liter, secured through the Propane Farm Research Program, further improved ROI, making propane an attractive long term solution for his orchards.
Irrigation Engine Fuel Cost Comparison (10 day test):
- Propane: $8,000
- Diesel: $14,000
- Electricity: $22,000
Results
| Cost Savings: Propane delivered the lowest cost per 10 day irrigation cycle, saving up to $14,000 compared to electricity. |
Industrial Engine Size:
11–12 liters |
Energy Price Advantage: Propane: $1.75/gal Diesel: $3.00–$3.10/gal. |
| Reliability: Propane engines continued operating when blackouts and curtailment threaten electric pumps. |
Operational Efficiency:
|
Environmental Benefits: Propane engines feature cleaner combustion and greatly reduced fumes. |
Propane Farm Research Program
A powerful way that farmers can save on new equipment purchases while benefiting from propane’s advantages as a fuel source is by applying to the Propane Farm Research Program. Applicants can earn up to $10,000 toward propane-powered equipment like irrigation engines, power generators, and heating systems as compensation for sharing performance data with the Propane Education & Research Council.
