Readers are speaking up about the issue of losing prime farmland to development. The August Indiana Prairie Farmer cover story focused the spotlight on an eye-opening report issued by the American Farmland Trust in June.

As comments pour in, an unexpected theme comes into focus. Readers are as concerned about the potential loss of prime farmland to solar development as they are about conversion of farmland to housing subdivisions, warehouses and other commercial development.

Letters to the editor

Here is a sample of the letters we’ve been receiving:

Dear editor:

I appreciate the articles in last month’s Indiana Prairie Farmer because I understand and can relate to them. My farm is also in an area of high suburbia development on the northwest side of Indianapolis. I am constantly bombarded by developers interested in acquiring my family farm, which is now in its seventh generation.

The sentimental value of the property is my priority at this time, but that may change in the future. If so, I hope it’s for something that others would benefit from such as a park, community center, playgrounds, ball diamonds or something along that line.

It’s unfortunate that now our country has the attitude of what is best for “now” instead of looking to the future of what would be best for our children and grandchildren. I consider our farm ground as being borrowed “from God” and not owned, and that we should protect it and improve it for the next generation.

Losing 2,000 acres per day for concrete and asphalt, as the article pointed out and the American Farmland Trust study estimates, will eventually catch up with our children’s children. When that happens, it will be too late to get back. 

I am also bothered by good farm ground being taken over by solar energy panels. One of my peer buddies that farms west of Logansport is losing 780 acres of land that he rents next year. [It’s because] solar panels are being put on that farm.

I am not against solar energy at all. I support it wholeheartedly. But why can’t they put the solar panels on all these big box warehouses that are also taking farm ground away [like the ones Mr. Bechman talked about in the article]. Instead, we are seeing more and more acres of farm ground taken away by both solar panels and warehouses.

Thanks again for what you wrote, and I hope others would take heart to think twice in selling out too quickly for a development.

Mike Starkey,
Brownsburg, Ind.

Dear editor:

Great article about loss of farmland to development. When the comment is made, “That cornfield is just waiting to be developed,” I like to answer this way.

“What would you say if I told you your housing area is just waiting to be developed? I’m going to plant corn there.” The truth is that farm field is already developed to produce products to keep people fed.

A very important issue wasn’t even mentioned in the article. There is over 800 acres being pushed for installation of a “solar farm” southeast of New Haven near the Monroeville/Hoagland area. This a flat, highly productive area.

Even worse, over 500 acres between Antwerp and Payne, Ohio, just east of the Indiana state line, is already fenced and construction started [for solar]. Once again, this is flat, productive farm ground.

Don Rekeweg,
Allen County, Ind.

Do you have a comment? Send emails to [email protected].