A Surprise for Your Earth Day: Carbon Sequestration via Solar Powered Electric Tractors !
Agriculture is a major source of carbon release. Farms are allowed to use the dirtiest grade of diesel and most organic farms of any size are using diesel tractors. With the perceived limitations of electric vehicles, most farm use of electrics so far has been golf carts and some ATVs.
But electric motors are well suited to tractors with high torque at low speeds. Elon Musk's TESLA changed the way people think about electric vehicles. They are now taken as seriously as global warming is. Since the 1970s farmers have been playing with prototypes and kits for electric tractors. One of the most advanced producer of such tractors is Steve Heckeroth who has combined his tractors with solar power.
Steve has gone from protoypes to production and you can order your own electric tractor built to order. One of my favorite innovations in his design is the steering control by joystick. Because there is no stationary steering wheel, you can mount the seat in 4 positions on the tractors, rear facing, down by the ground for planting and weeding, etc. You can also run the tractor remotely and with some GPS innovations we will see tractors guided by AI.
This is what organic farming needs to make a real difference. Get rid of the petro inputs and organic farming can be net carbon negative; we can sequester carbon as we grow healthier food.