Along Highway 59 in Morris, Minnesota, an innovative solar installation is reshaping the way we think about clean energy and agriculture. Through a partnership between the University of Minnesota Morris and the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), researchers are exploring how solar panels and livestock can share the same land to mutual benefit.
Elevated eight feet above ground, the solar panels provide shade for grazing cattle—an intentional design that supports both energy generation and animal well-being. This dual-use model, known as agrivoltaics, demonstrates how renewable energy and farming can coexist, rather than compete. By incorporating solar infrastructure into a working dairy farm, the project offers multiple benefits: improved comfort for cows during heat events, potential gains in milk production, and an additional income stream for farmers. WCROC’s dairy facility, which milks 275 cows twice a day, serves as a model for mid-size farms in the region.
This pioneering work highlights a sustainable path forward for rural communities—one where clean energy supports agricultural productivity and resilience.
Learn more about the UMN's innovate research by watching Part 1 of the webinar series, where project leaders share insights into the agrivoltaics system, its design, and early findings. You can also learn more about agrivoltaics by reading the UMN's latest Extension article, Raising livestock and crops under solar panels.
Lead Investigator: Brad Heins, Professor, Organic Dairy Production
Project funding: Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LMCMR)
