Extension and Farm Bureau Announce Energy and Ag Conference

Penn State Extension and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Announce Inaugural Energy and Agriculture Conference

The Penn State Extension Energy Team, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, is excited to host the inaugural Energy and Agriculture Conference. This in-person event will give agricultural producers, manufacturers, and industry professionals valuable insights into energy production strategies, including solar and biogas systems.

Scheduled for Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, the six-hour conference aims to help attendees explore ways to integrate energy projects into their operations. Whether just starting or looking to expand existing initiatives, participants will gain knowledge to enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability.

Conference speakers will include Secretary Russell Redding from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Matt Steiman of Dickinson College Farm, Michael Helbing from Penn State’s Center for Energy Law and Policy, and Daniel Dotterer from Agrivoltaic Innovations and Dotterer Farms. Extension Educators and College of Agricultural Sciences faculty will also provide presentations and facilitate discussions with agricultural producer panelists. Representatives from USDA, PDA, and PennTAP will also be present to discuss potential funding opportunities.

“The conference is designed to bridge the gap between energy innovation and agricultural application,” said Dan Brockett from Penn State Extension. “Attendees will hear from industry experts and fellow producers on how to harness solar power for on-farm use and leverage biogas systems like anaerobic digesters to utilize food waste and sell excess energy back to the grid,” according to Joseph Conklin, Senior Extension Educator.

Key highlights of the agenda include:

• Solar: Discussions on utilizing solar energy, permitting issues, roadblocks, and agrivoltaics for dual land use.
• Biogas and Anaerobic Digesters: Overview of the current state of digesters in Pennsylvania and future opportunities for growth, along with potential benefits and considerations for operating digesters on the farm.
• Panel Discussions: Featuring agricultural producers with experience with solar and anaerobic digesters.
• Funding Opportunities: Guidance on available grants, loans, and other resources to implement energy projects from USDA, PDA, and PennTAP.

With space limited, pre-registration is required and costs $20 per attendee. Registration is available online or by calling 1-877-345-0691.