05-10 Solar Farming

It would be no surprise to anyone that farmland is an obvious place to put a solar panel facility. And this, of course, represents a new source of farm income.
The photo shows a relatively large prosperous farm that has several acres of solar panels providing energy for the farm and feeding surplus energy into the grid.
From my years as a small business advocate, I was aware how the health of the farm community is linked to the health of the local small business community. And I witnessed a lot of decline in what was called family farms as agriculture became big business.
The excitement associated with combining solar with farming is the changing economics of farming. We can now anticipate smaller viable farms and farm equipment powered by batteries rather than gasoline.
Solar farming experimentation that is taking place around the world is extensive. For example, solar panels properly spaced so it is possible to raise crops and generate electricity in the same area.
And in Germany experimentation with solar panels elevated above ground, so it is possible to send large pieces of farm equipment under the panels.
What is even more exciting is research associated with growing vegetables directly under solar panels. They have discovered a wide variety of vegetables that flourish under the shade of solar panels. And, as well, the solar panels become more productive because the plants give off moisture that helps keep them cool.
My research would suggest that most of these solar investments provide a ten-year payback. But with the cost of solar coming down each year because of the advances in solar technology, we are going to witness an explosion in farm solar investments.
There is simply such a wide range of applications. There are utility-sized solar applications in which farmers rent out their land.
Then there are community-sized solar applications where surplus energy feeds the power needs of local towns that are off the grid. Probably a diesel generator is part of this package.
Then there is a wide range of small applications, like solar on the rooves of homes and barns.
And how about a potential army of new farmers. You know, retired types buying a place in the country and raising electricity and rabbits.