Solar Energy Benefits Farmers, Should be Allowed in Eaton County

(lansingstatejournal) – My family has farmed for five generations in mid-Michigan. Today I grow corn, wheat and soybeans in Eaton, Ingham and Jackson Counties.

Like anyone in agriculture, I believe farmland should be preserved for the future and that we should do all we can to protect our air, land and water for future generations. In addition, we should seek opportunities to bring new jobs and new investment to rural communities throughout Michigan.

Solar energy is one way to fulfill all of those goals. Right now, Eaton County is considering whether solar panels will be allowed on farmland in the county, and for multiple reasons, this is simply the right thing to do.

First, solar energy and farmland preservation go hand in hand. Solar panels provide an opportunity to set aside farmland without causing lasting impact to the land or hampering the ability to grow crops on it in the future.

While farmland that’s used for solar energy is taken out of agricultural production for a time, it’s no different than the successful conservation programs, like the Conservation Reserve Program or other set-aside programs embraced by many in agriculture over the decades. These programs preserve farmland by ensuring it is not permanently taken out of production.

Second, solar energy is an effective conservation strategy. By taking land out of active farming for a time, there are significant benefits to soil health that help keep farmland healthy and productive well into the future. Setting aside land for conservation benefits is a proven a strategy American agriculture has used since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930’s to prevent erosion, protect our best soil and make sure we can continue to reliably produce crops.

Solar panels also provide an opportunity to plant wildflowers and other appropriate pollinator habitat, which is a leading focus for farmers and conservation advocates across the nation. Expanding pollinator habitat is incredibly important for anyone in production agriculture, as farms of all sizes and types benefit from pollinators and strive to protect them.

Finally, solar energy is a long-term economic engine for rural communities, creating new investment and new jobs.

Utility-scale solar panels benefit farmers, small businesses and rural communities by creating new tax revenue, providing funds that are needed for important public services that we all use. Solar energy also creates Michigan jobs, and as new solar investments are made in our state, additional jobs will follow. For farmers, investments in solar energy help to level the “roller coaster” cycle of agricultural markets that causes tremendous uncertainty in agriculture.

As a farmer, I harness the sun to grow crops and enhance my business. Solar energy is the same concept. It gives us a way to bring economic benefits and new jobs to rural communities, protect and preserve farmland, improve the environment, and ensure a strong agriculture sector well into the future. I encourage Eaton County to allow solar panels on farmland, which will benefit families, businesses and farmers throughout the region.