By M. Charles Gould
Agrivoltaics is a promising, emerging and rapidly evolving area of energy development that integrates agricultural production into solar arrays to keep land in farming. A webinar series sponsored by Michigan State University Extension will provide research-backed insights and real-world lessons on crop yields, livestock performance and best practices for farming within solar arrays. The following is a brief description of each webinar plus registration information.
Growing Grass and Alfalfa Hay Between Solar Arrays: Lessons learned from the Madison Fields Agrivoltaics Project and how hay production between arrays can be replicated in Michigan
Presenter: Eric Romich, Professor and Extension Field Specialist, Energy Development, Ohio State University Extension
Date and time: Monday, February 23 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Presentation description: Two 2023 reports by Ohio State University researchers found raising grass hay and alfalfa between rows of solar panels was feasible and that the harvest’s nutritive value was good. But that small-scale work at the Pigtail Farms site in Van Wert County used data from only a few test plots and controls. The Madison Fields agrivoltaics project was designed to test whether similar results can be achieved on a large scale. Now in its second year, the Madison Fields agrivoltaics project is yielding new insights into growing grass hay and alfalfa between solar arrays. This presentation will help Michigan farmers learn how grass hay and alfalfa can successfully be grown between solar arrays. Yield and nutrient content data will be shared.
Source : msu.edu