News

Solar arrays supply shade — and land — for Midwest farmers

Columbia Missourian · last updated

Linda Hezel starts clipping herbs, vegetables and produce from the vines on her farm in Kearney, Missouri, early each morning.

The ground-mounted solar array that powers Hezel’s home also provides shade as she harvests produce in the extreme heat that hits Missouri each summer.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm“xE’D C62==J 325] x 92G6 E@ 86E FA 2E 7:CDE =:89E 3642FD6 3J `_ @’4=@4<[ DEF77 H:=ED E96 >@>6?E J@F 4FE :E[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

A KBIA News Series exploring what needs to change to sustain agriculture.

kAm%96 3@F?EJ E92E 6G6?EF2==J =2?5D @? A=2E6D 2E C6DE2FC2?ED :? z2?D2D r:EJ :D 8C@H? :? C2:D65 365D 2?5 D92565 3J `g D@=2C A2?6=D 9@:DE65 >@C6 E92? g 766E @77 E96 8C@F?5]k^Am

kAm%9:D :D w6K6=’D 7:CDE 8C@H:?8 D62D@? 6IA6C:>6?E:?8 H:E9 2? 6>6C8:?8 72C>:?8 DJDE6> 42==65 28C:G@=E2:4D] %96 H@C5 :D 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 E96 E6C>D “28C:4F=EFC6” 2?5 “A9@E@G@=E2:4” — 2?5 :E >62?D 72C>:?8 2?5 AC@5F4:?8 6?6C8J @? E96 D2>6 A:646 @7 =2?5]k^Am

kAm%96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C D@=2C 6?6C8J :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E@ @776C 2 C6DA:E6 7C@> 962E 7@C 72C>6CD 2?5 E96 7@@5 E96J 92CG6DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:@DA96C6a]@C8^C6D62C49^C6D62C49\:?:E:2E:G6D^28C:G@=E2:4DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm92D 366? DEF5:65k^2m 2?5 E6DE65 2E G2C:@FD F?:G6CD:E:6D 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];24<DD@=2C82C56?]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6D62C49 72C>Dk^2m 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ :? E96 =2DE 76H J62CD]k^Am

kAmw6K6= D6=7\7F?565 E96 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 96C 2CC2J 2?5 A=2?E65 2 G2C:6EJ @7 AC@5F46 F?56C E96 A2?6=D] uC@> AC6G:@FD 6IA6C:6?46[ D96 <?6H 2E =62DE D@>6 @7 96C AC@5F4ED 4@F=5 8C@H :? E96 D9256]k^Am

Linda Hezel harvests basil in the shade of the solar array on Aug. 5 at her farm in Kearney. “When it’s super brutal out, I’m so grateful for the shade,” Hezel said, adding that it’s safer to work on the farm under her 18 solar panels that sit more than 8 feet off the ground.

kAmp7E6C 2 A@@C 92CG6DE D62D@? 5FC:?8 2 a_`a 5C@F89E[ w6K6= 3682? 6IA6C:>6?E:?8 H:E9 8C@H:?8 96C3D[ E@>2E@6D 2?5 362?D F?56C 2 A:?6 EC66]k^Am

kAm“x 92G6 @3D6CG65 @G6C E96 b_ J62CD 96C6[ E96 962E:?8 @7 E9:D =2?5D42A6 :D >2<:?8 :E >@C6 5:77:4F=E 7@C D@>6 A=2?ED E@ E9C:G6 2?5 6G6? DFCG:G6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmpD 72C>6CD 562= H:E9 :?4C62D:?8=J D6G6C6 H62E96C 42FD65 3J 4=:>2E6 492?86[ w6K6= D2:5 28C:G@=E2:4D 92D 96=A65 96C 362E E96 962E]k^Am

k9bmp A=246 E@ 8C@H 7@@5k^9bm

kAmt=D6H96C6 24C@DD E96 |:5H6DE[ 28C:G@=E2:4 A:@?66CD 2C6 2D<:?8 H96E96C E96 5F2=\FD6 DEC2E68J 42? D@=G6 2?@E96C @?6 @7 E96 28C:4F=EFC6 :?5FDECJ’D AC@3=6>Di 2446DD E@ =2?5]k^Am

kAmx?4C62D:?8=J[ D>2==\D42=6 72C>6CD DECF88=6 E@ 2446DD H92E w6K6= 92D — 2 DE23=6 A=246 E@ 8C@H 7@@5 ?62C A@AF=2E:@? 46?E6CD H96C6 E96:C 4FDE@>6CD 2C6]k^Am

kAmxE’D D@>6E9:?8 z2+@F2 q6CCJ E9:?<D 23@FE 2 =@E] q6CCJ[ 2 7:CDE\86?6C2E:@? :>>:8C2?E[ 92D A=2?E65[ 42C65 7@C 2?5 92CG6DE65 7@@5 7@C 96CD6=7 2?5 96C 72>:=J :? 6G6CJ D62D@? @7 96C =:76 — 2E 96C 72>:=J’D C6?E65 4@>>F?:EJ 82C56? DA246 2D 2 <:5[ @? 2A2CE>6?E A2E:@D 2D 2 J@F?8 25F=E 6DE23=:D9:?8 96C 42C66C[ 2?5 ?@H 2D E96 72C> 5:C64E@C 7@C |:??6D@E2\32D65 ?@?AC@7:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E967@@58C@FA>?]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 u@@5 vC@FAk^2m]k^Am

kAm“tG6CJ E:>6 x D66 =2?5 DA246[ x’> =:<6[ 7@@5P” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmq6CCJ’D 72C>6CD F?56C8@ EC2:?:?8 E@ =62C? 9@H E@ 8C@H @C82?:4 7@@5D DFDE2:?23=J 2?5 D6== :E =@42==J] %96 @C82?:K2E:@? DFAA@CED 6>6C8:?8 72C>6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 :>>:8C2?ED ?6H E@ 72C>:?8 :? E96 |:5H6DE 2?5 @E96C 9:DE@C:42==J F?56CD6CG65 8C@FAD]k^Am

Crops, including basil and potatoes, are planted under the solar array on Aug. 5 at Linda Hezel’s farm in Kearney. Hezel said the plants lose less moisture if they are in the shade provided by the solar array.

kAmqFE @G6C E96 J62CD[ q6CCJ 92D D66? 72C>6CD C625J E@ DE2CE E96:C 3FD:?6DD6D[ @?=J E@ 36 DEJ>:65 3J E96 D2>6 492==6?86 — D64FC:?8 2? 277@C523=6[ =@42=[ 4@?D:DE6?E A=246 E@ 8C@H 7@@5]k^Am

kAm&?56G6=@A65 =2?5 2C@F?5 E96 %H:? r:E:6D 42? 36 AC@9:3:E:G6=J 6IA6?D:G6 7@C 368:??:?8 72C>6CD[ q6CCJ D2:5[ 2?5 4F=E:G2E:?8 7@@5 @? C6?E65 =2?5 =62G6D E96> DFD46AE:3=6 E@ 492?8:?8 AC:46D[ =62D6 E6C>D 2?5 C6DEC:4E:@?D]k^Am

kAm$@ q6CCJ 92D E2<6? E@ 3C2:?DE@C>:?8 — @C 52J5C62>:?8 — 23@FE 4C62E:G6 H2JD E@ 7:?5 =2?5 7@C 96C 72C>6C DEF56?ED]k^Am

kAm“|J <:5D >2<6 7F? @7 >6 3642FD6 E96J’C6 =:<6[ ‘|@>>J’D AC@323=J ;FDE E9:?<:?8 23@FE 9@H >2?J E@>2E@6D @C 9@H >2?J H2E6C>6=@?D 42? H6 8C@Hn’ p?5 x’> =:<6[ J6D[ J@F <?@H >6 D@ H6==[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm#646?E=J[ D96’D 366? 7:?5:?8 E9@D6 4C@AD 42? 36 8C@H? 36EH66? D@=2C A2?6=D] q6CCJ 2?5 %96 u@@5 vC@FA 92G6 A2CE?6C65 H:E9 &$ $@=2C[ 2 |:??6D@E2\32D65 D@=2C 4@>A2?J[ E@ A:=@E =@?8\E6C> 72C>:?8 =62D6D 7@C E96 =2?5 :?D:56 2 D@=2C 2CC2J] &$ $@=2C DA64:2=:K6D :? 4@>>F?:EJ D@=2C AC@;64ED — 2CC2JD E92E 42? AC@5F46 ` E@ d >682H2EED @7 A@H6C 2?5 4@G6C g E@ d_ 24C6D @7 =2?5]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E’D 6>6C8:?8 72C>6CD 86E E@ 8C@H E96:C 7@@5 4C@AD F?56C E96 D@=2C A2?6=D 2?5 :? E96 a_ 766E 36EH66? C@HD 7@C 7C66]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96 =2?5 :D 36:?8 72C>65[ E96 D@=2C 4@>A2?J 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ A2J E@ >@H H92E :D @7E6? 8C2DD 36?62E9 E96 A2?6=D] (:E9 72C>6CD 4@>:?8 E@ E96 D:E6 C68F=2C=J[ &$ $@=2C 92D 6IEC2 6J6D @? :ED :?7C2DECF4EFC6] q6CCJ D2:5 E96 ?@?AC@7:E’D 72C>6CD 92G6 ?@E:7:65 E96 4@>A2?J H96? E96 A2?6=D 2C6?’E C@E2E:?8 2D E96J D9@F=5 2?5 H96? H62E96C 92D 42FD65 52>286]k^Am

kAm!6E6C $49>:EE :D &$ $@=2C’D 5:C64E@C @7 AC@;64E 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J 92D 366? 6IA6C:>6?E:?8 H:E9 @E96C EJA6D @7 28C:G@=E2:4D 7@C J62CD] p== 3FE @?6 @7 E96 4@>A2?J’D D@=2C 7:6=5D 92G6 ?2E:G6 AC2:C:6 2?5 A@==:?2E@C 923:E2ED F?56C E96 C@HD @7 A2?6=D @C 2C6 FD65 3J =@42= D96A96C5D 2D A2DEFC6 7@C 7=@4<D @7 D966A]k^Am

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

kAm“(96E96C :E’D A@==:?2E@CD[ H96E96C :E’D 8C2K:?8[ H96E96C :E’D 4C@A AC@5F4E:@?[ D@>6E9:?8 92D E@ 92AA6? E@ E92E =2?5] (6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =62G6 :E 72==@H[” $49>:EE D2:5]k^Am

Linda Hezel harvests wild plums and places them in a bowl on Aug. 5 at her farm in Kearney. “I’m not extracting a crop,” Hezel said. “I tend and gather.”

kAm%96 A:=@E 2E %96 u@@5 vC@FA :D E96 4@>A2?J’D 7:CDE 28C:G@=E2:4D 6IA6C:>6?E H:E9 4C@A AC@5F4E:@?] $49>:EE D2:5 E92E 2== E96 “D@7E 4@DE” H@C< E92E H6?E :?E@ 7:8FC:?8 @FE 9@H E@ D6E FA E9:D AC@;64E H:== A2J @77 2D E96J 6IA2?5 28C:G@=E2:4D :? E96:C D@=2C 2CC2JD 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ — 2?5 :E 4@F=5 :>AC@G6 E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? D@=2C 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 CFC2= E@H?D]k^Am

kAm“pD D@=2C 364@>6D >@C6 4@>>@? :? 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 5@6D?’E ?646DD2C:=J >62? H6=4@>6 :? 6G6CJ 4@>>F?:EJ[” $49>:EE D2:5] “%96J >:89E 92G6 7@=<D E92E 2C6 D2J:?8[ ‘w6J[ H6 5@?’E H2?E E@ D66 72C>=2?5 E2<6? @FE @7 AC@5F4E:@?]’ (6==[ @FC C6DA@?D6 4@F=5 36i ?6:E96C 5@ H6]”k^Am

kAm&$ $@=2C 2?5 =6256CD 2E %96 u@@5 vC@FA DA6?E EH@ J62CD AC6A2C:?8 E96 D:E6 — 6?DFC:?8 72C>6CD 92G6 2446DD E@ H2E6C 2?5 6=64EC:4:EJ[ 2AAC@AC:2E6 :?DFC2?46 7@C E96:C ?6H 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ 2?5 2==@42E:?8 A=@ED E@ 7:G6 5:776C6?E 72C>6CD H9@ ?@H 8C@H 7@@5 E96C6]k^Am

k9bm‘(6’C6 8@:?8 D@>6H96C6 H:E9 E9:D]’k^9bm

kAmx? 2 ?2E:@?2= DFCG6J[ 23@FE E9C66 @7 6G6CJ 7:G6 @7 72C>6CD c_ J62CD @7 286 @C J@F?86C D2:5 7:?5:?8 277@C523=6 =2?5 H2D G6CJ @C 6IEC6>6=J 492==6?8:?8]k^Am

kAms2G:5 w@H2C5 :D E96 A@=:4J 56G6=@A>6?E 5:C64E@C 7@C }2E:@?2= *@F?8 u2C>6CD r@2=:E:@?[ 2 8C2DDC@@ED @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 4@?5F4E65 E96 DFCG6J 2?5 25G@42E6D 7@C ?2E:@?2= A@=:4:6D E@ DFAA@CE A6@A=6 DE2CE:?8 2 42C66C :? 28C:4F=EFC6] w6 D2:5 E96 :DDF6 @7 =@?8\E6C> =2?5 2446DD :D E96 ?@CE9 DE2C @7 9:D H@C<]k^Am

kAm“~?6 @7 E96 E9:?8D E92E @FC ?2E:@?2= DFCG6J C6A@CED <66A E6==:?8 FD :D E92E J@F?8 72C>6CD AC65@>:?2?E=J 5@ ?@E 4@>6 7C@> 72C>:?8 72>:=:6D[” 96 D2:5] %96 @C82?:K2E:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^J@F?872C>6CD]@C8^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_f^}2E:@?2=\$FCG6J\(63\&A52E60“]`d]aa`]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDFCG6J D9@HDk^2m >@C6 E92? E9C66\BF2CE6CD @7 J@F?8 72C>6CD :56?E:7J 2D 7:CDE 86?6C2E:@?]k^Am

kAm(:E9@FE =@?8\E6C> 2446DD E@ 72C>=2?5[ AC@5F46CD 2C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ A=2?E A6C6??:2=D @C E@ 36 23=6 E@ >2<6 4@?D6CG2E:@? :?G6DE>6?ED E92E E2<6 J62CD E@ 4@>6 E@ 7CF:E:@?]k^Am

kAmw@H2C5 2AA=2F5D E96 72C>6CD 2?5 28C:4F=EFC6 @C82?:K2E:@?D 6IA6C:>6?E:?8 H:E9 28C:G@=E2:4D 2D 2 H2J E@ D64FC6 =2?5 7@C 72C>6CD — H9:49 96 36=:6G6D :D 6DD6?E:2= E@ E96 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ @7 =2?5 2?5 E96 7@@5 DFAA=J]k^Am

Linda Hezel harvests potatoes on Aug. 5 at her farm in Kearney. “None of us can be well without nutrient-dense, uncontaminated food,” Hezel said. Hezel was a certified nurse practitioner for 10 years.

kAm“%96 =@?86C E92E H6 42? 8:G6 72C>6CD 46CE2:?EJ @FE :?E@ E96 7FEFC6 E92E E96J H:== 36 72C>:?8 @? E92E =2?5 2?5 >2<:?8 >2?286>6?E 564:D:@?D @? E92E =2?5[ E96 36EE6C[” w@H2C5 D2:5]k^Am

kAmpD C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 56G6=@A>6?E 6IA2?5D[ 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE 9@H E@ 244@F?E 7@C E96 =2?5 2C@F?5 :E 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 4@?E:?F6]k^Am

kAm“%96D6 D@=2C 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 4C62E65 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 24C6D E92E ?665 E@ 36 >2?2865 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ] p?5 E96J ?665 =2?5 >2?286>6?E 2?5 G686E2E:@? >2?286>6?E[ 2?5 D@=2C 8C2K6CD 2C6 A6C764E 7@C E92E[” D2:5 $E24:6 !6E6CD@?[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 p>6C:42? $@=2C vC2K:?8 pDD@4:2E:@?[ 2? @C82?:K2E:@? H@C<:?8 E@ 4@??64E D@=2C 56G6=@A6CD H:E9 D96A96C5D]k^Am

kAm~G6C E96 A2DE 76H J62CD[ !6E6CD@? D2:5 7=@4<D @7 D966A 8C2K:?8 F?56C D@=2C 2CC2JD 92G6 364@>6 2? 28C:G@=E2:4D DF446DD DE@CJ]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D 2 A2E9H2J E@ 72C> G:23:=:EJ[ 2?5 E9:D :D 3C:?8:?8 2446DD E@ =2?5 E@ 72C>6CD[” D96 D2:5] “p =@E @7 7@=<D 42?’E 277@C5 E@ 8@ 3FJ 9F?5C65D @7 24C6D[ 3FE E96J 42? 92G6 2446DD E@ E96D6 =2?5D 2D 8C2K:?8 =2?5D]”k^Am

kAm(96? =:G6DE@4< 8C2K6 ?2E:G6 8C2DD6D[ E96 6?E:C6 64@DJDE6> 42? 36?67:E] $966A 86E 765 2?5 E96 2?:>2=D 76CE:=:K6 E96 7:6=5D ?2EFC2==J 2D E96J 8@[ :>AC@G:?8 D@:= 962=E9]k^Am

kAm!6E6CD@? 2?5 96C >@C6 E92? `[a__ >6>36C @C82?:K2E:@? 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@=2C8C2K:?8]@C8^8C2K6\2\>:==:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD6E 2 8@2=k^2m E@ 6IA2?5 28C:G@=E2:4 8C2K:?8 E@ @?6 >:==:@? 24C6D @7 =2?5] %96 p>6C:42? $@=2C vC2K:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? C646?E=J AF3=:D965 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@=2C8C2K:?8]@C8^D@=2C\:?5FDECJ\46CE:7:42E:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm65F42E:@?2= >2E6C:2=Dk^2m 42==65 “(92E E@ tIA64E (96? *@F’C6 tIA64E:?8 $966A” E@ AC6A2C6 D@=2C 56G6=@A6CD E@ 6>32C< @? 28C:G@=E2:4 AC@;64ED]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 36?67:ED @7 :?E68C2E:?8 =:G6DE@4< @?E@ D@=2C 2CC2JD[ !6E6CD@? D2:5 D9256 7C@> 28C:G@=E2:4D AC@;64ED 4@F=5 4FC3 E96 ?682E:G6 962=E9 67764ED E92E 4@>6 H:E9 72C>:?8]k^Am

kAm“%96 ?F>36C @?6 42FD6 @7 562E9 @7 72C> H@C<6CD :D 962E DEC6DD[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm{:<6 w6K6= :? |:DD@FC:[ q6CCJ 2?5 96C 4@9@CE @7 6>6C8:?8 72C>6CD 2C6 DE:== ?6H E@ 8C@H:?8 2?5 92CG6DE:?8 7@@5 F?56C D@=2C A2?6=D :? |:??6D@E2] $96 9@A6D E@ 86E 2? 9@?6DE 2DD6DD>6?E 7C@> E96> 23@FE 9@H :E H6?E 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C E@ 56E6C>:?6 :7 72C>:?8 :?D:56 2 A@H6C A=2?E :D 2 762D:3=6[ =@?8\E6C> D@=FE:@?]k^Am

kAm%9FD 72C[ C6DF=ED 2C6 A@D:E:G6] (96C62D :? AC6G:@FD J62CD 72C>6CD 72465 492==6?86D 8C@H:?8 4C@AD =:<6 C25:D96D[ =6EEF46 @C 96C3D :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 DF>>6C 5F6 E@ E96 962E[ E9:D J62C E9@D6 A=2?ED 7=@FC:D965 :? 2 D92565 6?G:C@?>6?E]k^Am

kAm“%92E H2D 2 C62==J 4@@= >@>6?E @7 =:<6[ ~z[ H6’C6 8@:?8 D@>6H96C6 H:E9 E9:D[” q6CCJ D2:5]k^Am

kAm|2?J @7 E9@D6 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? %96 u@@5 vC@FA’D AC@8C2>D 2C6 ?6H E@ 72C>:?8 :? |:??6D@E2’D 4=:>2E6 2?5 5@?’E 4FCC6?E=J 92G6 2446DD E@ =2?5] |2?J 2C6 :>>:8C2?E 72C>6CD =:<6 96C A2C6?ED @?46 H6C6]k^Am

kAm“xE D9@F=5 36 2 9F>2? C:89E E@ 36 23=6 E@ 8C@H 7@@5[” q6CCJ D2:5] “%96J ;FDE ?665 E96 C6D@FC46D]”k^Am

View full article

here today, more tomorrow

We’ve launched briefing.center with a focus on the press and media.

And we’ve added Citizen Cartwright, a daily quick-read news summary by veteran Washington journalist Linda Cartwright. We’ve also created a new voting rights knowledge center for Citizen Cartwright subscribers. (You can sign up for a dedicated morning email at citizencartwright.com.)

You can sign up here for full access to press and media and Citizen Cartwright on briefing.center.

You can use briefing.center as the center of your information management, or just one of your tools. We’re happy to discuss your information needs.

Sign up