Kali the Destroyer, CC license
Good News from Mexico. The jaguar population there increased by about 800 animals from 2010 to 2018. This is according to the latest census. The news confirms that Mexico’s national strategy to protect jaguars is working.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) ranges from northern Mexico through Central America, the Amazon Basin, and northern Argentina. Before 2010 ecologists had never properly counted jaguars in Mexico, making it challenging to design a conservation program in the iconic cat’s northernmost ranges. An alliance created by Gerardo Ceballos of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and founder of Mexico’s National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation used the results of the first Mexican jaguar census in 2010 to create a national strategy endorsed by government policy and scientists alike. The latest count is most encouraging for the cat and we humans.
“It was incredible to see jaguars in so many places where there weren’t any before,” said Ceballos. Good news indeed.
Our next good news story is about the marriage of farming with renewable sources.
Jack’s Solar Farm – Photo by Werner Slocum: NREL
Planting crops under solar panel arrays called Agrivoltaics, the plants grow better and need less watering, while the panels produce more electricity. Our good news comes from Jack’s Solar Garden in Boulder, Colorado. There the owner Byron Kominek has successfully planted crops under about 3200 solar panels. In doing so, he can generate enough power to serve 300 homes. In addition, the plants do better since the panels shield the crops from damaging sun, rain, and hail. Also, the shade reduces the need for water by 150%.
It is estimated that if one million acres of US farmland were covered with solar panels and crops planted below, there would be enough power generated to meet the country’s renewable energy goals. Wouldn’t that be something?
Today’s JohnKu talks about signs that nature is responding to conservation efforts. I hope you have a great weekend.
Nature by John W. Howell © 2010
Every day the news,
Has nature information . . .
Good progress reports.
Fiction Favorites 
Good morning, dear John,
thanks for the interesting info about crops and solar panels.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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My pleasure Klausbernd. Wishing the Fab Four a wonderful weekend as well.
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The WordPress algorithms excelled themselves today, John. Two blog images are featured under your feed – a jaguar walking at the edge of water, and a 778HP Jaguar C-X75!
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I’ll take the latter, thank you. 😁
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I would certainly feel safer with that one in my garage than the flesh and blood one!
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Yes. Not sure you would be considered a tasty morsel though.
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Wonderful news indeed! Thank you for sharing these two great examples of hope. It abounds but often we don’t see it through the craziness. Have a great weekend, John. 😊
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I have to say, sometimes hope is an endangered element. Thanks, Gwen.
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Inspiring news, John! Thanks for sharing. Happy weekend!
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Thank you , Jill. Wishing you the same.
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Great news on the nature front this week. Thanks for sharing. Happy Fri-yay!
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Thank you, Staci. Happy Fri-Yay to you as well.
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Growing crops around solar panels fascinated me. Not an idea most of us would have come up with, but cheers to those that did! I don’t know why, but I didn’t imagine Jaguars in Mexico. Enjoy your weekend.
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These Jaguars are in the south Americas exclusively. NIce to see them making a rebound.
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It is terrific that those magnificent creatures are increasing. But I’m afraid the ‘powers that be’ would never allow the whole country go to solar panel farming. Too much money to be made the “old fashioned way”!!
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You are probably right GP. 🙂
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Great news about the Jaguars. They’re such beautiful animals. And interesting about the solar farms.
Happy Friday, John!
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Thank you, Joan. Happy Friday to you as well.😊
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Double good news today, John. I like the impact of farming under solar panels, and its great to hear about the jaguars.
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I thought both stories were worth sharing. Thanks, Dan
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Thank you for these bright spots of good news, John. Desperate to hear happy things these days…
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I know what you mean, Lori. Pretty dismal news lately. Like is not getting any easier. Wishing you a peaceful weekend. 🤗
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I hate seeing barren land beneath fields of solar panels. This is a wonderfully refreshing take. Great news on the Jaguars too. Thanks for sharing, John. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone 💕🙂
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It does seem like a good idea to put that land to use. Let’s hope it pays financially then more will do it. Wishing you a lovely weekend, Harmony.
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What a wonderful couple of stories, John. It is always heartening to hear a species has been brought back from the edge of extinction. And the solar panels/farming idea is brilliant!
Happy Friday to you, my friend!
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It does warm the heart in the face of some pretty cold realities. Thak you for your good wishes and I hope you have an uplifting day today, my friend (too) 🤗
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That it does!
I thank you. It’s Friday! That’s already a good start to the day 😉 🤗
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Yes indeed.
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🙂
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Wow, the jaguar in your header photo is one beautiful animal. I’d never heard of the social panel farming. What a great idea!! Let’s hope it takes hold in a big way.
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I’m with you on the panels, Liz. Yes, the jaguar is georgious. I’m so glad they are making a comeback. I hope you have a terrific day. 😁
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Thank you, John. I hope your day is going well.
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It was wonderful. Thanks, Liz
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You’re welcome, John. I’m glad to hear it!
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*solar panel Sheesh . . .
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Hahaha. I knew what you meant. 😁
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Wonderful to learn that the Jaguar is once again starting to thrive… These are beautiful animals as are many more of our animal species which are being driven to intinction, via the hands of Man and his ways..
And I am all for crop growing and solar power.. As a person who grows much of our own vegetables and tries to live in harmony with nature…
This was a most welcome read…
And many thanks also John for your kind comment in welcoming my return.. 🙂
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I was happy about the good news, regarding the jaguar, Sue. The solar panel and agricultural synergy hit a note on a beautiful way to solve problems. Let’s hope it is done more. I was very pleased to see you return. I never like to see productive voices go silent. 😁
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Definitely food for thought!
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And little celebrations.Thanks, Pamela.
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Glad to see the jaguar population increasing – such beautiful animals. And I love the idea about the solar panels. Have a great weekend, John!
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Thanks, Teri. I hope yu have a super weekend as well.
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Both great articles. I think there are Jaguar breeding programs around the country too. Be cool if they regain a foothold in our country one day.
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Looks like they have started.
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It’s good, I think, to see the jaguar population making a comeback. It’s also good to see solar energy being implemented logically.
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I totally agree, Tim
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More wonderful articles. Apparently the occasional jaguar still crosses into Arizona but they don’t stay. Maybe one day soon, they will. The farming technique amazes me. I suppose it would have to be limited to certain kinds of crops harvested by hand. I don’t see driving a threshing machine underneath them. Still, every little bit can help and it’s amazing about the water usage.
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I think they could redesign the machines to fit if there was enough of a market. Thanks, Craig.
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It’s always a treat to read your good news on a Friday, John. Thank you! In the midst of a somewhat challenging week (you read about Irish Coach Kelly bailing to LSU, right?), I’m eager to find something to be happy over — and what a beautiful jag that one is!
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I did read about Kelly. Couldn’t he have waited until after January? Thanks, Debbie.
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An extra special WOOHOO for the jaguars! Such amazingly beautiful cats. Thank you for sharing all the news, John, but especially (for me) the JAGUARS! Stunning photo, too! 😊😊😊
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Thak you, Marcia. They are beautiful indeed.
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Thanks for sharing the great news, John. I’m delighted that those beautiful panthers are coming back. And what great use of solar panels. It people put their minds to it, they’re capable of amazing things. 🙂
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It is so true. Thanks, Diana.
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They are going to have to redesign the harvesters and combines to work around the solar panels. This could get interesting.
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THe ceiling is Eight feet so a redesign is possible
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Great news on both accounts, John, and love your words. That jaguar is gorgeous! It’s so nice to read good news now on Fridays. 🙂
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Thank you, Lauren. 😊
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Great news, John. The jaguar is such a beautiful cat. Glad to see them thriving. But the Colorado farmer really piqued my interest. What an innovative man! Thank you for sharing and Happy Fri-Yay!!
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Thank you, Jan.
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Thank you for the good news, John. Great way to start the weekend 😀👍❤️
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Thanks, Marie
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I could almost cry!!! Had a ‘Jag’ some years back…I lost it to a new Towncar!
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Yikes. That was some loss.
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Thank you, John, for the truly great news of the day! Hooray for Jaguars and solar panels!!!
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Good news, Jill. Yes Hooray
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Those are gorgeous animals. So glad to hear things are improving.Interesting about the farming. I know someone who is trying to make a go of hydroponic (is that what they call it?) farming. Lots of new and innovative stuff for the burgeoning population of humans :/.
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Yes. It is good to hear. Thanks, Luanne.
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I sure hope this idea catches on!
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I do too, Becky. 😊
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Quite a win-win with the solar panels—saving energy while the plants do better.
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Yes indeed. Thanks, Pete
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That is good news about the Jaguars, and farming!
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Yes it is. Thanks, Deborah.
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Love the positivity of this post, John. I feel encouraged by the conservation of the jaguar. WOW! That is one handsome cat.
The reality of farming under solar panels rocks. I hope we see a lot more of this and other brainiac ideas.
The John Ku is right on. All in all a wonderful post!
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I was very happy to find that bit of news, Resa. I liked the fact that someone has figured out how to use the space under the solar panels, Too. Humans are genius when they put their minds to it. Thank you so much for the visit.😁
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Yes, that would be something! Love the JohnKu.
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Thanks, Jennie. 😊
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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It’s great to see some people are taking the initiative.
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It is great. Thanks, Mark.
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