Solar farm should be option”

Dear Editor:”

In 1973-74, we received $3.00 a bushel for corn. Now the price is $3.25-$3.50 a bushel. There is too much corn and soybeans being produced today to be profitable. In 1980, we received $13.80 per 100 lbs. of milk – today it’s $15.80 per 100 lbs. of milk. There is too much milk being produced to be profitable.”

Land owners are being asked to take less for rent, because of these low prices. We need less production of these commodities to raise prices, so it becomes profitable for dairy and grain farmers. Then, they can pay the rent land owners should be getting for their investment in their land.”

The land used for solar farms will have natural prairie grasses planted on it to preserve the soil for future generations. When the solar farm is decommissioned, the soil will be there to be put back into production again.”

Overproduction is making farming difficult. Tax payers are now paying to take land out of production through CRP (U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program). This is an opportunity to take land out of production with no cost to tax payers.”

Solar farms produce clean energy. They will help reduce the overproduction of dairy and grain to help make remaining farmers more profitable and help reduce the need for CRP – therefore helping tax payers. ”