Jeff Risley, a western Kansas native and now executive director of the newly founded Renewable Energy Farmers of America (REFA), finds himself navigating a fraught political landscape. Just weeks after launching, his organization faces headwinds as the USDA under Secretary Brooke Rollins moved to cut funding for solar and wind projects on productive farmland.

The USDA's August 2025 decision bars taxpayer support for such renewable installations and forbids using solar panels manufactured by "foreign adversaries" like China. These moves reflect the administration's "Farmer First" ethos, prioritizing prime farmland for agriculture rather than energy infrastructure.

Nevertheless, REFA argues that renewable energy-when farmer-driven and thoughtfully deployed-can fit alongside crop production. Risley emphasizes agrivoltaics, a dual-use model where solar arrays are installed in ways that preserve farming operations beneath or around them.

REFA delivers a mix of member services-including lease negotiation, financial and tax planning, and peer support-and advocates for policies that empower landowners in energy decisions. With a membership fee of $250 annually, it connects farmers with expertise and a community of peers navigating renewables.

Analyses show that renewable energy installations on farmland remain relatively modest. In 2020, only 424,000 acres-less than 0.05% of the nearly 900 million acres of US farmland-were used for solar or wind, and much of that land remains productive. Despite figures cited by USDA on farmland loss (e.g., Tennessee's 1.2 million acres in 30 years), REFA and others point to urban sprawl-at roughly 2,000 acres per day-as the real threat to long-term agricultural land.

In the policy arena, REFA joined voices advocating for more balanced land-use approaches. The group urges USDA to allow right-sized solar projects and to explore agrivoltaics, which can deliver $900-$1,500 per acre in solar lease revenue, compared to average farmland rent of $251 per acre.

Environmental advocates have also weighed in. The Environmental Law & Policy Center warns that these restrictions "strip choice from the very people REAP was designed to serve," arguing that solar and wind can coexist safely and beneficially with continued crop or grazing use.

With the U.S. grid facing rising electricity demand, renewable energy remains the fastest and most cost-effective solution-yet its implementation now faces political and regulatory hurdles.

Ultimately, Risley underscores the core message of REFA: "It's their land. They should lead the conversation." Empowered landowners, he insists, can help shape a future where agriculture and renewable energy thrive together.