<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FERRELLGAS, L.P.
AND SUBSIDIARIES BALANCE SHEET ON OCTOBER 31, 1996 AND THE STATEMENT OF
EARNINGS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000922359
<NAME>                        FERRELLGAS,L.P.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 AUG-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         20808
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  96180
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    55280
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               180895
<PP&E>                                         598380
<DEPRECIATION>                                 197301
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 697821
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          168699
<BONDS>                                        291910
<COMMON>                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                     224944
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   697821
<SALES>                                        156764
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               167860
<CGS>                                          101075
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  162353
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             7642
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (6403)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (6403)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6403)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0