In the long run, solar is a cost-effective investment for the agriculture industry, saving farmers and ranchers the cost of additional physical labor. Solar power isn’t automating just the basic needs at farms and ranches, either. Other in-development robots can travel between rows of plants to apply fertilizer or pick fruits and vegetables.
In Australia, for instance, engineers have developed a solar-powered robot that identifies and zaps weeds in a field. The smart solar push has resulted in some very exciting developments. As the Economist reported earlier this month, the future of farming is in manufacturing: Farms need to start operating like factories to feed the world’s growing food needs, and solar is one of the most cost-effective, environmentally-friendly ways to do so. Though most farms haven’t yet gone completely solar, new PV tech is making total sustainability possible.
The future of solar in agriculture Current solar applications could be just the beginning of solar integration with the agriculture industry. Results from the USDA’s first On-Farm Renewable Energy survey in 2011 showed that there is a major “economic upside to producing energy on the farm.” Farmers in almost every state noted significant savings on their utility bills after implementing renewable energy sources, with solar panels being the most common. Biosgas digestion: Solar-heated biogas digesters turn methane-rich manure from dairy farms and cattle ranches into usable electricity.ĭevelopments like these are helping to push greater sustainability across the industry.Ventilation: Rooftop ventilation systems, powered by solar energy, pull in fresh air and release hot air to keep animal enclosures and greenhouses healthy and efficient.Security: Farms and ranches take various security measures to protect their assets, and many of these tasks can be controlled by solar power, including security lighting, electric fences and gate openers.Lighting and refrigeration are two major uses. Electricity production: Solar electricity can be used in agriculture outbuildings, too.Water aeration: Aeration devices provide much-needed oxygen to ponds and stock tanks, and several such setups run exclusively on solar power.Water pumping: Solar-powered pumps can drive water to soak crops, feed livestock and run irrigation systems.Heating and cooling: The sun’s energy can be used to heat or cool air or water, which can then help regulate livestock building temperatures, dry crops and heat water.These are just a few ways that farmers and ranchers are integrating solar power with their daily operations: agriculture businesses that rely on solar steadily increased over the last few years. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notes that solar panels are best used on the farm for energy sources that don’t require a lot of electricity. Today, the agriculture industry harnesses the power of the sun to accomplish dozens of farming tasks that used to take substantial amounts of utility-based power. Solar agriculture today Solar technology has developed at a lightning fast rate. Here’s a closer look at solar applications in today's farming practices, as well as the benefits - and potential challenges - that solar sustainability may bring about in the future. Solar power is leading the way into the 21st century, saving farmers money, boosting small operations and reducing carbon footprints.
But could new improvements to solar technology change farming and ranching as we know it? The agriculture industry has been harvesting the power of the sun for hundreds of years.