Agriculture is a big business in the United States. The “New World” would not be what it is today without an incredible expanse of temperate, farmable land. So the more relevant question may be, “Could the agricultural sector survive without solar energy?” The answer: absolutely not.

I know you’re thinking that this is a no-brainer. Anyone who’s been through seventh grade science knows the basics of photosynthesis and plant survival. Yet how deeply solar energy benefits our farmers and their crops is something many of us do not give much thought.

The intensity and amount of sunlight in a region will determine which crops are grown there and when they are planted. Throughout history farmers have adjusted their techniques to fit solar patterns. It affects:

• When they plant certain crops.
• How they mix certain crops. For example, growing plants of different heights side by side so that one gets the majority of direct light while shading its shorter cousin that may need less sunlight.
• The ability for farmers to dry out harvested crops and manure for fertilizer.

These are just a few examples that I am aware of. I am not a farmer and therefore cannot be as knowledgeable as someone actually using and living off the land. Nonetheless, the benefits and repercussions of solar energy are felt from your vegetable garden all the way to commercially owned fields.

I can say that new solar technology can and does serve even more benefits for the modern farmer. Solar power can:

• Help small, rural farmers get off the grid and save money on operating costs.
• Allow remote pumping of water for irrigation.
• In some cases even allow solar-powered farm machinery.
• Provide much needed power for farmers and residents in the developing world.

Solar energy is infused into the life-blood of the agricultural sector and modern civilization itself. While much of western civilization was settling into their “electric” homes and lives far from the corn field, the agricultural sector was still watching the sun rise and set, not to mention setting their watch by it.

So yes, solar energy has long benefitted the agricultural sector, and new solar technology will only increase and accentuate those benefits.

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Posted on December 8th in Solar Information by Dan.