“The
relatively recent idea combines solar panels for electricity
generation within agricultural production to improve land use
efficiency and farmer incomes,” says Dennis Bowman, University
of Illinois Extension digital agriculture specialist.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is part of the SCAPES,
Sustainably Collocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic
Electricity Systems, project funded by USDA-NIFA to study
agrivoltaics at three locations in Illinois, Arizona, and
Colorado.
The Illinois location of the project focuses on the potential of
combining agronomic crops such as soybeans, sorghum, and pasture
crops with solar power generation.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/13/images/ads/current/graue_sda_042021.png)
To hear about research and participate in the discussion, attend
the Agrivoltaics Field Day at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, at
the University of Illinois Energy Farm at 4110 S. Race St.,
Urbana.
Agrivoltaics Field Day presentation topics include:
-
Explore the scope of the Illinois SCAPES research project.
-
Learn the economics of agrivoltaic installations in the
Midwest.
-
Discover the potential of agronomic and specialty crops in
agrivoltaics.
-
Consider practical insights in agrivoltaic systems.
-
Tour of the university’s 54-acre Solar Farm 2.0 agronomic
agrivoltaic plot.
The field day allows attendees to see an agrivoltaics system and
ask questions to better understand the possibilities of
combining agronomic crops with solar power generation to improve
farmers’ economic incomes and resilience.
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There is no cost to attend the field day. CPDUs and
CEUs are available for those who qualify. To check out the full
agenda and speakers, visit go.illinois.edu/Agrivoltaics24.
The event is grant-funded and hosted by the Department of Crop
Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences, SCAPES, Illinois Extension, and the
Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this
program, contact Dennis Bowman at ndbowman@illinois.edu or call
217-244-0851. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow
sufficient time to meet access needs.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/13/images/ads/current/ldn_booksda_CHASSKAREN_010924.png)
ABOUT ILLINOIS EXTENSION: Illinois Extension
leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating
research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses,
and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions,
and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part
of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
[SOURCE: Dennis Bowman, digital
agriculture specialist, Illinois Extension
WRITER: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois
Extension]
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