Farmers can benefit from solar energy in several ways—by leasing farmland for solar; installing a solar system on a house, barn, or other building; or through agrivoltaics. One government grant program for solar panels on farms is called the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Agrivoltaics is defined as agriculture, such as crop production, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitat, located underneath. Here's how two Illinois farmers have used solar energy to offset their own energy costs, plus five steps to take if you're considering a move to solar power. Photos by Jennie Abbott by Jennie Abbott When Orion. Agrivoltaics, also known as agrophotovoltaics or agrisolar, entails using the same plot of land for both agriculture and solar energy production. To date, the number of agrivoltaics projects has been modest, about 600 nationwide. Sheep grazing is the most popular livestock type.