Measuring the Footprint of Solar Power on Arkansas Farmland

The Problem

As solar energy production grows, questions have emerged about its impact on agricultural land use and rural economies. In Arkansas, where agriculture plays a larger role in the state economy than in most other states, producers and consumers alike have expressed concern over whether solar development might reduce farmland availability or affect property values and local economies.

The Work

Michael Popp, Harold F. Ohlendorf Professor of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, co-authored a fact sheet titled “Agricultural Land Footprint of Solar Photovoltaic Installations in Arkansas” using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The research team, which included scientists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, mapped current and planned utility-scale solar installations — defined as projects of 20 megawatts or larger — across the state’s 75 counties. The researchers found that 11 counties have utility-scale solar arrays, and four more counties are expected to add projects by 2026. The team also modeled potential land use scenarios, including one in which Arkansas doubles its electrical generation capacity using solar energy alone.

The Results

Under current projections, the researchers estimate that solar installations will occupy 0.2% of Arkansas’s farmland by 2026. If the state were to double its electricity generation capacity using only solar power, total land use would remain under 1% of agricultural acreage. Solar generation efficiency has improved, the researchers noted, requiring about 5.5 acres per megawatt today, compared with 9 acres per megawatt a decade ago. Solar growth in Arkansas included 1,100 megawatts added in 2024. The study also notes emerging opportunities for agrivoltaics, which combine solar energy with agricultural practices like sheep grazing or beekeeping, and for floating solar arrays on irrigation reservoirs to further limit land-use competition.

The Value

The findings offer Arkansas stakeholders information about how expanding solar power generation is affecting agricultural land use. The study suggests that solar power generation can continue expanding while minimizing agricultural land use impacts. Landowners benefit from voluntary solar leases to power utility companies — often worth $450 to $2,500 per acre annually — and the projects favor cleared or gently sloping lands with minimal agricultural disruption. Careful planning and continued integration with agriculture can help ensure economic and environmental benefits across communities, the authors added.

About the Researcher