Traditionally, farmland in Oregon and nationwide use their soil balance for a particular crop, are knowledgeable about seasonal yield (how much crop can be produced per season) and distribution channels for those crops. This know-how comes over the span of multiple generations, their relationships, the improvement of their processes and good ole’ fashioned trial and error. This and other factors contribute to the value of Oregon farmland.
In fact, the essence of a true farmer or rancher is often displayed on the walls of their farm homes with faded pictures of past family members in front of the same barn that’s been standing for over 100 years.
HERE’S HOW THE VALUE OF OREGON FARMLAND IS INCREASING
With the advancement of technology and renewable energy taking a forefront in the media and within investment groups, the scarcity lies in the footprint in which these technologies can be placed. With a record number of solar panel companies producing panels and governmental policy having unexpected changes, the reliance on homeowners placing panels on their roofs is less reliable than years past. What’s the solution?
LEASING OREGON LAND FOR SOLAR FARMS
Leasing Oregon land parcels that once provided pastures for livestock or soil for crops is the new model that is proving successful. Not only are the solar companies finding new opportunities to install their panels and provide valuable energy, but also the farmers are creating new revenue streams that aren’t dependent on yield or production and alleviating some of the risk associated with farming in Oregon.
OREGON LAWMAKERS RESTRICT PRIME FARM LAND FOR SOLAR
Although Klamath County wasn’t affected, local land use laws in Oregon are restricting millions of acres of farmland from utilizing their land for solar farms. With just cause, these restrictions are prompting landowners to utilize their rich soil balances for agricultural purposes, especially in the Willamette valley.
Other agricultural solar studies such as the one conducted at Oregon State University are not only recommending agricultural lands as the best opportunity for solar fields, but also supplementing their position with research showing that with the right layout and solar setups, the shade from the panels are actually providing shade for more dry, unirrigated land, which can increase growth and provide for pasture munching livestock.
Klamath Falls, Oregon farm for sale at 17330 E Highway 140 is a great example of land that has received a solar farm proposal through a land lease. For more information on this property or the solar agreement, please contact us.
SUSTAINABILITY RETURNS IN A NEWLY LEGALIZED CROP
The connection here is simple, sustainability and unorthodox land utility. This fits the bill for our next subject, Hemp.
Hemp was federally legalized in the farm bill of 2018 and the race to plant was on. Farm land converted, new soils were tested and the wait for harvest interrupted by a scramble for distribution. As hemp requires a well-draining soil with a PH balance between 6.0 and 7.0, Oregon landowners took the opportunity with fresh eyes and a new opportunity for revenue.
Landowners in Central and Southern Oregon are now a critical production region for many nationally distributed CBD products, as well as creating their own opportunities from the plant’s main active ingredients and byproducts
As the stigma of CBD and hemp lowers and more dollars are placed for research, Oregon’s great land mass and open agricultural territories should prove invaluable as conglomerates and independents alike search for land and production partners, thus providing valuable revenue for ranch and farm families that might be changing traditions from their forefathers.
HEMP IS A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT WITH FIELDS OF PROMISE
As the subject of sustainability increases and new technological processes are achieved, hemp byproducts (stalk contents) have shown to be promising. These products are shown to be biodegradable and much better for our environment than plastics that harm our marine life, biodiversity and composure of our soils.
With the amount of production of hemp for the active ingredient CBD, the cost of hemp as a raw material will continue to drop as the byproduct of such production will allow for high levels of domestic inventory and access very near to designers and engineers of potential products.
Although hemp seems promising, it is important to engineer and develop processes that have a low impact on the environment and assists in achieving sustainability from seed to destemming.
If you are interested in hemp farming, we would love to share some of our listings with Klamath Farm and Ranch that would be suitable for your operation.
OREGON FARMLAND FOR SALE FOR HEMP OR SOLAR
As aspects of farming change in Klamath Falls and across the region, our professional real estate agents can provide valuable property information on potential land. Current examples of land operating as solar farms or hemp farms as well new listing notifications are available from our knowledgeable agents and available by request.
Do we have your wheels spinning yet? Check out our listings with an eye for opportunity and let us know if we can help you take your vision to reality.
