Agri Pulse | December 3, Ray Gaesser
As the old saying goes, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But in my opinion, you can — especially in agriculture. I say that because I’ve done it, and I plan to keep doing it. When it comes to the land, that effort is always worth it.
In 1978, my wife Elaine and I bought a 300-acre farm in southwest Iowa. Flash forward nearly 50 years, and we now farm about 4,000 acres alongside our son Chris and his wife Shannon. Simply put, being a farmer is all I’ve ever wanted to be. On our farm, we’ve always looked for ways to do more with what we’ve been given, whether it’s the soil, the sunshine, or the wind. That mindset is why I believe renewable energy belongs in the conversation when we talk about fueling America.
From a financial standpoint, the benefits are clear. Since 2016, wind farms have generated more than $11 million in property taxes here in my home community of Adams County. Just last year, wind energy paid $2.3 million in local taxes to the county. To put that in perspective, the next highest taxpayer paid $463,000. That’s a game-changer for rural communities like mine. Those dollars go straight into our schools, our roads, and public safety.
One acre of wind turbines can bring in $60,000 to $70,000 a year in combined income and tax revenue. About half goes directly to the landowner, and the other half strengthens county budgets. For families stretching every dollar and communities facing tight margins, that support matters.
Beyond the numbers, renewable energy is a natural extension of what farmers have always done. Agriculture has always been about producing energy. The food we grow and the livestock we raise are forms of energy. Today, wind, solar, and biofuels are simply new ways to make the best use of the gifts we’ve been given: the land, the rain, and the sunshine. To me, it just makes sense.
Renewable energy is not new to Iowa. In the 1980s, ethanol became a lifeline for corn growers. In the 1990s, biodiesel gave soybeans a new market to sell into. Over the last 20 years, wind has become a major industry. Today, Iowa has about 7,000 turbines that provide nearly two-thirds of our state’s electricity. That resource didn’t exist before, and now, it’s helping to power our homes and businesses.
Here at my own farm, we’ve learned the value of change over time. We went no-till in 1991 and started using cover crops in 2010, and honestly, we didn’t make those decisions because they were easy. We made them because we felt a responsibility to protect the soil, conserve our water, and use fewer resources. Wind and solar fit into that same philosophy. They allow us to produce energy alongside food, sometimes even on the same acre. And, better yet, solar farms that allow grazing or crop production alongside the panels are proof that we don’t have to choose between valuable farmland and energy — we can do both.
Of course, I know renewable energy isn’t a silver bullet. We need oil and gas, just as we need wind and solar. Having multiple sources of energy isn’t just common sense; it’s energy security, which makes it national security. Having a diversified energy portfolio makes our grid more reliable and our communities more resilient.
To my fellow farmers: I know there’s a lot of misinformation out there. I encourage you to evaluate renewable energy in a realistic way and consider how it might fit into your farm. Every acre is different, and every operation has to make its own decisions. For me, renewable energy is simply a part of making the most of the resources I have.
To everyone: Let’s stay open-minded. America’s energy needs are only continuing to grow, and we need every tool we can get to meet them. Let me be living proof that farming and renewable energy can and should go hand in hand.
Ray Gaesser is a corn, soybean and rye grass farmer from Corning, Iowa. He is on the boards of Solutions from the Land, and the Iowa Conservative Energy Forum. He is a past president of the American Soybean Association.
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