A central Illinois farmer is concerned that quality Midwest farmland is being taken over by new wind and solar power infrastructure. Len Corzine of Assumption, Illinois told Brownfield Ag Network, as legislators create cleaner energy policies, they forget to add in the cost of farmland retirement.
“This is an invasion of the most productive farmland on the planet. In many areas of the Corn Belt, we have the most productive soils in the world and we also have the right climate where we don’t need irrigation, for the most part. That is what helps us sustainably produce food. To take that out of production is really counter-productive and I think we need a reality check in that regard,” says Corzine.
Luke Worrell with Worrell Land Services in Jacksonville, Illinois also told Brownfield there isn’t enough data yet to know how much this is impacting land prices and availability, “Because we are just on the cusp of seeing some of these projects come to fruition. This will be a fascinating topic to follow moving into the future.”
In a recent survey of Illinois farm managers and rural appraisers, 40% said they have at least one farm with an arrangement with a wind company and 38% manage at least one farm having an agreement with a solar company.
Editor’s Take:
Interesting point being offered by a farmer who is concerned about our ability long term to produce food, fiber and fuel if the land is covered with wind turbines and solar panels. There is no question that exploring alternative forms of energy to determine what is not only feasible, but plausible, makes perfect sense. But, rushing to a singular solution without seeking to understand all the costs and benefits does not bode well for the future. In this instance, the long-term cost of taking extremely valuable and productive farmland out of production for wind and solar energy, deserves serious attention. We often say that farmers will be your best customers, but that may not be true if we give up too much farmland in the process. A slow, reasoned approach is needed so we understand all the tradeoffs!
