Solar panels will not anywhere (near) power a tractor real-time. No way, that is true.
However if enough battery power can be built into a small tractor, think of a Prius - enough solar panels could be used to recharge a small electric tractor.
Maybe one day on, two days charging. Or one day on, then swap out the battery packs to recharge on the solar array, while the next day using the battery pack charged via an array the previous day.
I’m already using a battery vehicle (very simple scooter) on weekends for short trips - which can (I’ve done it) be re-charged in a day via solar - on appx $100 of very basic, small solar panels.
Total cost for the panels, and scooter, $300.
Granted I’m not going anywhere very far, or charging at all unless the sun it out.
But seriously I know this works. I’m doing it.
Larger batteries. More panels, More batteries, and absolutely I could farm 40 acres. I’m telling you.
Absolutely it’s possible.
PS off topic right now watching FNC right now - sort of liking this guy Buddy Roemer.
In fact, quite bit. :)
On the general topic of farming and food-supplies:
“China’s Yangtze river closed to ships by severe drought
Telegraph ^ | 05/12/11 | Peter Foster
Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2011 10:48:58 AM by TigerLikesRooster
China’s Yangtze river closed to ships by severe drought
The Yangtze river, the longest waterway in Asia and China’s most important shipping route, has been closed by the worst drought in 50 years that has left cargo ships stranded and 400,000 people without drinking water... “
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2720160/posts
I commend you for being honest as well as ambitious!
I would think that the battery issue would eventually become a real pain though.
They break down too fast and cost too much to replace every 5 years. That cost alone would quickly eat up any “free power” misconception you might have. From a “being off the grid” standpoint though, you could provide yourself with power when nobody else has it. Which makes it a very positive advantage.
If it keeps you happy and healthy, then nothing else matters and the more power to you! (no pun intended)
A farmer with a less than 100 HP tractor cannot cut more than ten acres of hay in one day. A large round baler on a 100HP plus tractor can bale 400 acres in one day. Cutting, drying, and raking is done in lightning speed today as well.
You also forget that most sub soiling, and plowing, along with cultivating and harvesting is done round the clock. Solar is just that. You'd need lunar in equal demand.
How does the oxen farmer blow the haylage and silage into his silo? How does the farmer bag any crop in on the ground silage bags?
Anyone who buys into this crap is so ignorant of farming it's not funny. The Amish use machinery every day. They try to avoid it but they even run engine driven balers pulled by horses. The Amish are not stupid. They run tractors to cut hay, rake and bale it, fill their silos, and spread manure. They run combines to harvest corn and soy beans. They may hire those services out or for a crop share, but they are not dumb.
The next time you pass an Amish farm and see 100' X 20' silos, ask yourself how horses blow high moisture corn up that 100' pipe to blow the silo full?
“if enough battery power can be built into a small tractor, think of a Prius - enough solar panels could be used to recharge a small electric tractor”
Prius’es don’t have to pull plows embedded into the earth. Guess how far they would go if they did?
‘Nuff said ‘bout that....