A new study offers a potential financial boost for struggling farmers. Researcher Jake Stid, analyzing 25 years of California farm data, found that integrating small solar panel arrays onto parts of their land makes farmers more financially secure per acre. His research, published in Nature Sustainability, shows this approach is often more profitable than only growing crops or converting entire fields to solar farms. By placing panels strategically, perhaps on lower-yield spots, farmers can earn income selling solar power, offsetting reduced crop revenue and lowering costs for things like water and fertilizer. Stid suggests this shows solar and agriculture can work together, creating more resilient farms for the future.
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