OM DENNE EPISODE
How do you power an entire working vineyard without diesel? Solar panels, an all-electric fleet, and a whole lot of experimentation.
In this episode of the Rural-E Podcast, hosts Robert and Maia sit down with Garett Long, Director of Agriculture at Troon Vineyard & Farm in Oregon's Applegate Valley — the only farm in the world to hold both Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Gold certification.
Garett walks us through Troon's journey from a diesel-powered operation to a nearly 100% solar-powered farm running on electric vehicles — and shares the real, unfiltered results of testing early electric tractors (Solectrac and Monarch) through the eFarms program.
No politics. Just what's actually working on the farm, and what isn't.
In this episode:
How Troon became the world's only Biodynamic + ROC Gold certified farm
The 153 kW solar array that makes all their vehicle charging free
Real-world reviews of electric tractors: SelecTrac vs. Monarch
The unforgettable story of the Monarch tractor saving a wine bottling run during a surprise power outage
Range, torque, compaction, and charging — the honest pros and cons
Why local service and repair is the #1 barrier to electric equipment in rural areas
Fuel savings, maintenance costs, and total cost of ownership
The regenerative practices behind it all: no-till, cover crops, 300 tons of compost, sheep, chickens & biodiversity
Chapters
00:00 – Intro & meet Garrett Long
01:32 – From "The Biggest Little Farm" to Troon
05:35 – Becoming Biodynamic + ROC Gold certified
09:13 – How energy fits into their farming goals
12:04 – Touring the electric fleet: Gators, Polaris, ATV & forklift
15:01 – Charging everything with on-site solar
18:08 – Compaction, weight & range on electric equipment
29:38 – Testing the SelecTrac electric tractor
34:00 – The Monarch tractor: first impressions & real use
41:51 – How the Monarch saved the day during a power outage
49:38 – Would they buy a name-brand electric tractor?
54:37 – Fuel savings, economics & rural culture
59:13 – Diesel usage by the numbers
1:05:40 – Regenerative practices at Troon
1:11:59 – Final thoughts: "Just try it"
