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Dear Editor;
As a dairy and grain farmer, I would like to respond to "Why the Solar Farm" should be an option for land owners and farmers.
I have been in dairy and grain production since 1970.
In 1973-74 we received $3.00 a bushel for corn. Now the price is $3.25-$3.50 a bushel. There is too much corn and soybeans being produced today to be profitable.
In1980 we received $13.80 per 100 lbs. of milk - today it's $15.80 per 100 lbs. of milk. There is too much milk being produced to be profitable.
Land owners are being asked to take less for rent, because of these low prices.
We need less production of these commodities raise prices so it becomes profitable to dairy and grain farmers. Then they can pay the rent land owners should be getting for their investment in their land.
The land put into solar farms will be planted into nature prairie grasses to preserve soil for future generations.
When the solar farm is decommissioned soil will be there to be put back in production ag.
Over production is making farming difficult. Tax payers are now paying to take land out of production through CRP.
This is an opportunity to take land out of production with no cost to tax payers.
Solar farms produce clean energy. They will help reduce over production of dairy and grain to help make remaining farmers more profitable and help reduce the need for CRP - therefore helping tax payers.
I just wanted to share some thoughts as to why I thought this was a good option for landowners, farmers and tax payers.

Kenneth Wunderlin
Livingston