Grainswest - Tech 2026

Tech 2026 Grains West 26 L eonard Retzlaff of Saddleridge Farming bets sunlight will help stabilize the family farm’s income. ocated near Rosemary, the farm is operated by Retzlaff, his father Ralph and brothers Philip and Luke. The family raises purebred Charolais cattle, custom backgrounds beef cattle, produces pedigreed alfalfa seed supported by leafcutter bees and grows canola, corn, wheat and winter rye. All their cropland is irrigated with pivots, which require a significant supply of electricity, one of the main reasons the family pursued solar power generation. GrainsWest spoke to Retzlaff in the spring just prior to his installation of three solar arrays he expected to begin generating power by summer. The decision “just made sense,” said Retzlaff. However, for Alberta farmers who may consider solar, the math behind the decision varies significantly. Return on investment depends on factors such as a farm’s electricity demand, the possibility of financial incentives and the time of year a given farm’s power usage hits its peak. Retzlaff’s decision to invest came down to two central factors. First, he wished to diversify the farm’s grain and beef operation with a new revenue stream, and second, to lock in a manageable long-term electricity cost. He believes solar power generation can secure the farm’s essential energy input as well as manage risk and inflation in the future. The decision to move ahead with the project was made in June 2025 when the numbers finally pencilled out. Retzlaff had first considered solar arrays three years prior, but the economics were not as attractive as they have now proven to be. “The value of exporting The economics of on-farm solar arrays By Jeanine Moyer • Photos by Bryce Meyer Photography HARVEST THE SUN