Comment on Wyoming ranchers want to transition to solar. The state stands in their way.
Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days agoWait… 3000 acres would be 120 sq. km, if my math mathed correctly.
That’s twice the size of my 130.000 inhabitants municipality, which also includes dozens of huge farms.
I see your point here.
So the whole thing is ridiculous and actually a non-issue.
The_v@lemmy.world 2 days ago
2.47 acres = 1 hectare if I remember my conversions right. 1 hectare is 0.01 sq km.
3000 acres/2.47= 1215 hectares *.01= 12.15 sq km. You misplaced a decimal.
Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days ago
You are right! Counting decimal places always was one of my weak points, should have switched calculator to engineering notation. :-)
9 sq. km irrigated land is still insane.
I live in middle of the largest irrigated vegetable growing region in Northern Bavaria, and it just has 9 sq. km irrigation area in total, but shared between 267 farms!
The_v@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Supplemental irrigation, even in higher rainfall zones like Bavaria increase row crop yields by up to 30-50%. Everytime you drive past a non-irrigated field, up to 1/2 of the environmental damage is not needed if the countries invested in upgrading the water management system from the iron age.
50% more forests and nature, , 50% less chemicals and fertilizer used, etc… it all starts with water management.
Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days ago
Actually Northern Bavaria is slightly arid. During summer, much of the needed water is “imported” from the more humid southern part via the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.
Fascinating large scale engineering project, but also with significant environmental impact…