207 Diversifying dairy farm income through agrivoltaics.

Abstract/Summary:

The dairy industry consumes an immense amount of fossil-fuel in the production of food, feed, fiber, and energy. From the electricity that cools milk, to the fuel that is burned in tractors in fields, to the trucks that bring goods to market, and to the nitrogen fertilizer that nourishes plants; the agricultural industry is captive to large and constant supplies of a wide range of fossil energy. Using an agrivoltaic system in a pasture, which is the integration of solar photovoltaics and agriculture, could boost land efficiency up to 75%. Potential on-site renewable electric generation could also supply some or the entire electric load allowing dairy farms to approach net-zero. Agrivoltaics is one-way producers might be able to become less dependent on fossil fuels, lower production costs, increase land efficiency, improve forages and crops for use by dairy cattle, and increase milk production and health in dairy cows.