Free Agrivoltaics Webinars and Training for Farmers in the Northeast
American Farmland Trust (AFT) is excited to announce opportunities for farmers in the Northeast to build long-term viability through agrivoltaics, the intentional integration of solar energy development and agriculture on the same piece of land.
Advancing agrivoltaics is a core component of AFT's Smart Solar℠ initiative, which seeks to accomplish three equally important goals: 1) strengthen farm viability, 2) safeguard land well-suited for farming and ranching, and 3) accelerate solar energy development.
Why Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics offers farmers a unique opportunity to diversify income, optimize land use, and build long-term viability without having to choose between agriculture and solar energy. From grazing livestock under solar arrays to growing specialty crops, this dual-use approach can help farms thrive in a changing climate.
AFT is hosting Agrivoltaics 101 webinars in February, each covering the same content held at different times to accommodate busy farm schedules. The webinars will introduce agrivoltaics and preview an upcoming training program that offers free mentoring and technical assistance to New York and New Jersey farmers looking to build or expand agrivoltaics projects.
While this project is primarily targeted at producers in New York and New Jersey, we encourage farmers across the Northeast to join the webinar to learn more about agrivoltaics and to see if they are a fit for our program! In addition to a primer on agrivoltaics, the webinar will provide detailed information about participating in the AFT-led project, including how to apply, the project timeline, and expected outcomes.
What You Will Learn During the Webinars:
The basics of agrivoltaics and its benefits for farm viability.
Ownership and leasing considerations.
Approaches for partnering with utilities and solar developers.
Accessing technical assistance through AFT’s free agrivoltaics training program.
Register for one of the webinars using the links below to learn more about the training program, including how to apply:
Webinar Dates:
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 | 3 to 4:30 p.m. ET: Register here
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. ET: Register here
Agrivoltaics Training Program
Farmers in New York and New Jersey interested in pursuing agrivoltaics as an enterprise can apply to participate in a free, longer-term training program. The program will provide participants with in-depth training, mentoring, and technical assistance to build and/or grow agrivoltaics businesses. Industry experts will work closely with training program participants to develop designs and business plans for their agrivoltaics projects.
The training program duration will be approximately 18 months. Training will primarily occur via virtual sessions as well as in-person site visits to existing agrivoltaics projects.
By the end of the training program, AFT aims to have a select group of participants take concrete steps towards advancing their agrivoltaics projects, for example by having discussions with solar developers or by submitting proposals to landowners to graze livestock within their solar arrays.
The online application form will be available from Feb. 9 to March 20, 2026. Details about the application process will be shared during the Agrivoltaics 101 webinars.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number RE24-004. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
