Farm-to-Power puts farmers first in solar development

By Brianna Smith

When talk of solar development reaches Ohio’s farm country, it can divide neighbors. Some see new income to keep their farm afloat, while others worry about taking land out of production or changing the landscape they’ve worked for generations. That’s why Farm-To-Power, an independent nonprofit, is working to help farmers understand their options and advocate for themselves.

“Our vision at Farm-To-Power is to build a community of farmers and rural Americans who can use their collective voice to share their stories, stand up for property rights, and encourage others to do the same,” said Sam Roberts, Ohio director for Farm-To-Power.

Farm-To-Power doesn’t represent solar developers or promote specific projects. Instead, the organization focuses on educating and supporting farmers who feel positively about renewable energy development, including those farmers that want to explore agrivoltaics: using farmland for both agriculture and solar energy. Agrivoltaic systems can include sheep grazing under solar panels, planting crops between panel rows, or adding pollinator habitat that improves local ecosystems.

“Through our work highlighting farmers’ stories, we’ve seen some amazing examples of solar farming in Ohio,” Roberts said. “These examples show that you don’t have to pick one or the other, you can farm and generate solar power at the same time.”

One standout is the Madison Field Solar Project in Madison County, where local farmer Sarah Moser has partnered with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences on one of the largest agrivoltaic research sites in the country. They’re planting different forages, cover crops, and commodity crops between solar rows, studying what works best, and planning to introduce sheep grazing.

“This project shows how valuable it is to have the farmer directly involved in designing and managing the solar farm,” Roberts explained. “Farmers know their land better than anyone, and their knowledge is essential to make these projects successful.”

Projects like Madison Field are already showing what’s possible. Corn grown under solar panels there will go to Jim Beam for a special “Solar Whiskey,” and vegetables grown for Chipotle demonstrate how solar farms can still produce high-quality food.

But Roberts acknowledged that scaling these dual-use systems beyond small or community solar sites is a real challenge.

“You can graze a few sheep on a 10-acre solar field, but when you get to 1,200 acres, you’re not going to find enough sheep in Ohio to cover it,” he said. “That’s why farmer-led design is the key. Farmers need to guide what’s realistic for their operation.”

Education is a core part of Farm-To-Power’s work. They host panels across the state, inviting farmers who have tried agrivoltaics to share successes and setbacks with other landowners considering solar leases. Their goal is to provide straightforward, factual information.

“We want farmers to do their own research, talk to others who have done it, and know the facts,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and farmers deserve the truth so they can make the best decisions for their operations.”

Farm-To-Power also stresses that solar projects can bring benefits beyond additional income it can provide the family. Solar development can mean big increases in tax revenue for rural schools, townships, and emergency services, money that might otherwise never come to these communities.

“A lot of farmland in Ohio is going to disappear to housing or commercial buildings that won’t come back to agriculture,” Roberts said. “Solar projects have a real potential for keeping land farmable after the project ends, while providing income and improvements during the lease.”

Looking ahead, Roberts said he hopes to see more farmers leading the way in agrivoltaic projects. He believes the future includes better systems for grazing not just sheep but cattle, planting more kinds of crops, and maintaining soil health with cover crop rotations under solar arrays.

“In five to ten years, I think we’ll see more streamlined ways to farm and produce solar energy together,” Roberts predicted. “Even if a project doesn’t do full-scale grazing or cropping, adding pollinator habitats or bee hives can still make the land better.”

Farm-To-Power is increasing outreach efforts, including being present at county fairs, farm markets, Ohio Ag Council meetings, and events like the Farm Science Review.

“We want farmers and landowners to know we’re a resource, whether they’re excited about solar, skeptical of it, or just curious,” Roberts said.

By supporting farmers’ voices and sharing examples of innovative agrivoltaic systems, Farm-To-Power is working to help Ohio farmers keep their land productive, profitable, and in agriculture for generations to come.

For more information, visit farmtopower.org or find Farm-To-Power Ohio on Facebook for updates on events, education, and stories from other farmers.