Solar for the farm and ranch

Solar panels are a renewable energy source, which means they can be more dependable for powering your daily operations than more traditional energy sources. Unlike finite natural resources, such as fossil fuels, solar energy does not have to contend with its natural resource — sunlight — becoming scarce or skyrocketing in price. A renewable energy source means increased savings for farms, which require a considerable amount of power each day.

The government cares about both the agriculture industry as an integral part of the American economy and solar energy as a valuable renewable energy source. For these reasons, both federal and state governments offer financial incentives for landowners to build and maintain solar systems on their farms and ranches.

Specifically, the federal government offers farmers who install solar panels a federal investment tax credit (ITC). This tax credit helps cover the costs of solar panel installation and operation. Overall, this tax credit can save farmers who rely on solar energy thousands of dollars in taxation.

The financial benefits of using a barn roof for solar energy for your farm or ranch go beyond tax breaks and grants. Installing a solar panel system on your farm or ranch allows you to own your electricity and reduce your monthly utility bills. Switching to solar power allows farmers to make a long-term, low-risk investment that ultimately saves them money.

Putting solar panels on your barn roof farm or ranch also gives you energy independence because you will own your electricity instead of renting it. With solar energy, you won't be subjected to the constantly fluctuating prices of traditional finite energy sources like coal, oil or natural gas. In this way, producing your own energy saves you money by stabilizing your electricity costs.

You can save even more money on your electric bills by building net metering credits directly from the energy your solar system is already producing. Although most states won't exchange cash for the extra energy your solar panels generate, you can use this leftover solar energy as credits against your monthly or annual electric bill if your electric provider offers these credits.

The extra shade provided by solar panels can improve water efficiency by keeping the ground moist for longer. Studies have shown that tomatoes grown under solar panels have 65% more water efficiency, while jalapenos saw a 157% jump in water efficiency. This increased water efficiency is especially valuable for regions historically known for drought.

The benefits of switching to solar power go beyond saving money and giving your crops a boost. Many environmental advantages are associated with solar energy, meaning that going solar can help you protect the Earth. Of all people, farmers and ranch owners recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainability because they make their livelihood from Earth's bounty.

Farmers can take better care of their land by installing a solar system that produces clean, renewable energy. The electricity produced by solar panels comes without generating any harmful carbon emissions or greenhouse gases. In contrast, fossil fuels have been known to release harmful gases and carbon dioxide into the air, which cause pollution and contribute to climate change.

Switching to a solar panel system allows farmers and ranch owners to generate renewable energy without hurting their crops, animals or the environment in general. Taking this extra step to care for the planet helps to reduce our carbon footprint and preserve the Earth for future generations to farm.