Solar energy installations are becoming a reliable and predictable income stream for U.S. farms, according to new findings from the SEMA Coalition. As agricultural producers struggle with rising input costs and volatile crop markets, leasing land for solar projects offers long-term financial stability — in many regions paying over $1,000 per acre annually, often outperforming net farm returns. This steady revenue is helping family farms remain financially viable and maintain ownership of their land.
Beyond supporting farmers directly, solar developments are strengthening rural communities by creating stable tax revenue for local governments. While some critics are concerned about removing farmland from production, the report notes that only about 0.14% of U.S. agricultural land is currently used for solar — far less than what is lost every year to residential and commercial development. This suggests that solar energy is not a threat to farmland, but rather a complementary opportunity for rural economic resilience.
Source: https://pv-magazine-usa.com