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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220809T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220809T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
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SUMMARY:ASGA Call 57: NYSERDA’s New Dual-Use Strategies
DESCRIPTION:NOTE: The August webinar will be held the 2nd Tuesday of month instead of the customary 1st Wednesday \n\n\n\nFor our August webinar\, we’ll be hosting Jeremy Wyble (NYSERDA) and Jessica Bacher (Pace Law) to present NYSERDA’s recently-released 2022 Smart Solar Siting Scorecard and go through the strategies that the scorecard establishes for co-utilization solar projects\, including solar grazing. Jeremy and Jessica will give a brief overview of New York State’s climate goals\, NYSERDA’s Large-Scale Renewable program and then present the Scorecard’s mechanics with a focus on the dual-use components pertaining to crop production and grazing. \n\n\n\nYou’ll want to tune into this webinar in particular because New York’s strategies will be influential in helping to shape guidelines for agrivoltaics and solar grazing nationwide. Jeremy and Jessica’s presentation will give us a first-hand look at New York’s leadership in supporting the smart siting of solar projects and spurring agrivoltaic innovation. \n\n\n\nThere will be a Q&A after the presentation. \n\n\n\n→ See the 2022 Smart Solar Siting Scorecard here. \n\n\n\nHost: Kevin Richardson\, ASGA’s Outreach Coordinator \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJeremy Wyble is a Senior Project Manager for NYSERDA’s Large-Scale Renewables Program. He has over 17 years of experience in the solar industry providing project management\, technical diligence\, and development in the public and private sectors across EPCs\, developers\, owner-operators\, and state government organizations.Jeremy’s responsibilities with NYSERDA include management of contracts associated with approximately 30 complex renewable energy projects in development and being the primary point of contact with internal and external stakeholders related to these projects. Additionally\, Jeremy is a member of the New York State Agricultural Technical Working Group and provides support for the New York State Farmland Projection Working Group on behalf of NYSERDA. Outside of renewables\, Jeremy is a NY Nut Growers Association member with a passion for growing northern-hardy nut trees. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJessica Bacher is the Executive Director of the Land Use Law Center at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. As the Executive Director\, Ms. Bacher’s responsibilities include development and implementation of projects relating to local land use practice\, sustainable communities\, and renewable energy siting\, as well as providing strategic assistance to numerous municipalities. Additionally\, Ms. Bacher serves as a trainer for the Center’s award-winning Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program.  At Pace Law\, Ms. Bacher serves as an adjunct professor\, teaching Land Use Law\, Sustainable Development Survey\, and the Advanced Land Use and Sustainable Development Seminar. She also administers the Center’s academic programs and guides student research.  \n\n\n\nIn addition\, she is a Clinic Lecturer at Yale School of the Environment\, where she manages the School’s Land Use Clinic. Ms. Bacher served as a member of the Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel to Climate Action Council\, is a Technical Advisor to NYS Agricultural Technical Working Group (A-TWG) under New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA)\, and was a Land Use Technical Advisor to the NYSERDA Siting Team. Most recently\, Ms. Bacher has been working with NYSERDA on a Planning for Clean Energy Guide for local governments\, a guidebook on Solar Installations on Agricultural Lands\, and an updated Model Solar Energy Law. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission?\n\n\n\nPlease consider donating to ASGA in 2022\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing  
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-57-nyserdas-new-dual-use-strategies/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220907T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220907T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20220810T163254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220810T163623Z
UID:5372-1662573600-1662577200@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 58: High Quality Forage & Cool-Season Hay at Solar Sites with Ohio State
DESCRIPTION:What are the possibilities for hay on solar sites? \n\n\n\nFor our September webinar\, the folks from Ohio State Extension and Savion Energy will tell us about their experiments with cool-season hay and other high quality forages (crimson clover\, alfalfa\, teff grass) as effective vegetative cover for solar sites and discuss the implications for grazing.  \n\n\n\nThe team from Ohio State includes Erich Romich\, Braden Campbell\, and Christine Gelley\, and they’ll be joined by Sarah Moser from Savion Energy. They’ll discuss their findings\, the challenges and benefits associated with growing hay on solar\, and what these findings would mean for grazing sites\, including the economics of it and the nutritional effects on sheep.  \n\n\n\nThe talk will cover the implications for both utility-scale solar and smaller scale operations. \n\n\n\nHosts: Nick Armentrout of Spring Creek Farm and an ASGA Board Member and Kevin Richardson (ASGA)\, ASGA’s Outreach Coordinator\, will host. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEric Romich is an Ohio State University Extension Field Specialist for Energy Education. Serving as a statewide Extension Field Specialist since 2012\, he works closely with private\, public\, and university partners to conduct research\, develop extension programs\, and teach in communities throughout the state.  Romich’s energy programs focus on identifying best practices for energy management strategies in agriculture to enhance the overall environmental and economic conditions in Ohio communities.    \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristine Gelley is an Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University stationed in Noble County. Specializing in forage quality and management in grazing and hay systems\, she serves as the co-leader of the Ohio State Extension Forage and Sheep Teams. She is also an active member of the OSU Extension Energy Outreach Group\, the OSU Beef Team\, and Agronomic Crops team. An avid writer\, videographer\, and researcher\, Christine strives each day to be an encouraging voice of reason to her clientele\, while seeing challenges as opportunities and posing viable solutions to enhance the lives of Ohioans. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrady Campbell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University in the College of Food\, Agriculture\, and Environmental Sciences currently serving as the State Small Ruminant Extension Specialist. Brady’s areas of interest and expertise range from animal health\, nutrition\, marketing\, economics\, pasture and parasite management\, agrivoltaics\, animal handling and husbandry\, and much more. To further connect himself with the small ruminant industry\, Brady actively raises purebred and commercial sheep with his family and supports the industry by serving as an ex-officio member on both the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) and Ohio Sheep and Wool Program (OSWP) board of directors\, member of the American Sheep Industry (ASI) Production\, Education\, and Research Council\, Texel director with the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)\, and President of the Texel Sheep Breeders Society.    \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSarah Moser is the Director of Farm Operations & Agrivoltaics at Savion LLC \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission?\n\n\n\nPlease consider donating to ASGA in 2022\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing 
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-58-high-quality-forage-cool-season-hay-at-solar-sites-with-ohio-state/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221005T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221005T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20220929T210010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220929T210012Z
UID:5408-1664992800-1664996400@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 59: Agrivoltaics and Solar Development that Benefits Communities and Ecosystems with Brian Ross\, Great Plains Institute
DESCRIPTION:The ongoing large-scale expansion of solar development will require installing solar on substantial acreage across the U.S. Addressing local concerns over the potential loss of farmland and local siting and regulatory issues represent major challenges to solar’s expansion.The Great Plains Institute’s (GPI) Brian Ross has been leading research on designing solar development in order to address local concerns by optimizing the co-benefits solar developments offer communities. For this month’s webinar\, Brian will discuss GPI’s research into how integrating agriculture with solar can reduce barriers to large-scale solar site development and how the ecosystem’s benefits of solar can help address community concerns. This includes using smart siting to increase groundwater protection\, with the potential for increasing the tax base and landowner returns\, as well as habitat restoration and/or enhancement. Brian will also touch on GPI’s work to engage local community stakeholders on solar’s co-benefits. \n\n\n\nEvents 1\n\n\n\nHere are three short blog posts Brian has published on GPI’s research: \n\n\n\n➡️ Solar\, with Benefits! (Or\, the Co-Benefits Approach to Solar Development) \n\n\n\n➡️ Solar Plus: How Solar-Integrated Agriculture Could Reduce Barriers to Large-Scale Solar Deployment \n\n\n\n➡️ Stormwater Management in Solar Projects: Barriers and Best Practices \n\n\n\nHosts: Caroline Owens\, ASGA Board Member\, and Kevin Richardson (ASGA)  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrian Ross\, AICP\, LEED GA\, is a Vice President at the Great Plains Institute\, leading GPI’s renewable energy market transformation efforts in the Midwest and nationally.  He has worked with dozens of local\, regional\, and state governments on climate and energy planning\, policy and regulation. Brian currently leads multiple efforts at both the state and national level on integrating solar development with natural systems\, community priorities\, and agriculture business models. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission?\n\n\n\nPlease consider donating to ASGA in 2022\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing 
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-59-agrivoltaics-and-solar-development-that-benefits-communities-and-ecosystems-with-brian-ross-great-plains-institute/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221102T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221102T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20221025T185951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221025T185952Z
UID:5458-1667412000-1667415600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 60: Is It Time for Solar Wool? A Practical Conversation on Wool Production at Solar Sites (Part 1)
DESCRIPTION:How viable is grazing wool sheep on solar sites? Does wool production have the potential to help make grazing more economically sustainable? What are potential benefits and challenges to implementation? \n\n\n\nOn our November ASGA call we’ll be taking up the threads of solar wool and discussing its potential for solar graziers. ASGA Board Member Nick Armentrout will lead a discussion on what’s happening with wool at some solar sites and the potential for solar wool products. He’ll be joined by Collin Kennedy a third-generation sheep shearer who is interested in exploring solar grazing with wool sheep\, and Ryan Indart\, a fourth generation farmer\, sheepman and solar grazier raising wool sheep. Collin and Ryan will talk about their experience\, what they’re doing with wool and fiber\, how its fits with their production\, and where they see this industry potentially going. \n\n\n\nThis webinar will be the first of a series focused on the potential for solar-wool production. The follow up webinar in April 2023 will take up the question of existing and potential future markets for solar wool. \n\n\n\nHosts: Kevin Richardson (ASGA) and Daniel Finnegan (ASGA Board Member) \n\n\n\nEvents 2\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNick Armentrout has a professional background in small business and supply chain administration\, sales\, land and livestock management. Over the course of his career\, Nick has managed four businesses for others\, and two of his own\, throughout start-up phase to maturity. A recent highlight was 11 years sourcing and supplying domestic wool for the commission manufacture of 100% American grown and sewn\, knit and woven wool clothing fabrics\, as well as goods certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard – GOTS\, and Cradle to Cradle Certified™ for the U.S. clothing company Ramblers Way Farm\, Inc. \n\n\n\nNick has spent most of his adult years somehow engaged with animal agriculture and organic farming. Initially ranching in Wyoming\, Montana\, and Idaho\, he returned home to Maine to start Spring Creek Farm with his wife\, Sarah\, in 1998.  Nick manages all operations of the farm – a horse\, sheep\, grain\, and hay business that also serves as the host facility for Carlisle Equestrian Academy. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCollin Kennedy  is a sheep producer and a 3rd generation sheep shearer from central Indiana.  His grandfather learned to shear in the FFA and passed the trade down to his sons and grandsons. Collin has sheared for 15 years and currently shears 12\,000 head of sheep and over 50\,000 pounds of wool annually in Indiana\, Kentucky\, Michigan and Ohio. \n\n\n\nCollin has been married for 12 years to his high school sweetheart\, Ashley. They have 5 children who are great sheep herders and love working on the farm. He raises Rambouillet\, Suffolk and Southdown sheep and plans on continuing the Kennedy shearing tradition by passing down the skill to his children.  \n\n\n\nWith the growth of solar grazing there is an opportunity for wool sheep to make a resurgence in the US. Collin hopes to not only participate in grazing utility scale solar with wool sheep\, but also help other producers with the training of new shearers.  Finding quality shearers is a huge problem facing US producers\, but there is an opportunity for solar graziers to work together to solve this problem. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRyan Indart is a Fourth Generation Sheep Rancher in Fresno County CA. In 2009 Ryan purchased the sheep ranching enterprise from the family business and started The Indart Group\, Inc.\, which is engaged in sheep ranching\, direct marketing of lamb\, dry land farming\, custom sheep grazing services specializing in large utility scale solar projects and custom farm work. He currently grazes around 3\,500 Targhee X Finn sheep\, and shears over 30\,000 pounds of wool that is warehoused and sold through Roswell Wool. Along with sheep ranching\, Ryan and his family also farm cherries\, oranges\, almonds\, and dry land wheat and barley in Fresno County and on the family ranch in Clovis\, CA.   \n\n\n\nRyan is extremely proud and honored to have the opportunity to continue the Indart Family name in the sheep industry today. Ryan is an active and involved leader in many aspects of the Sheep Industry. He is a past president of and current Board member of the California Wool Growers Association and Western Range Association. He is a Board member of the National Lamb Feeders Association. He is the past Chair and Board member of The Clovis Chamber of Commerce. He is the current VP of The Fresno County Farm Bureau and sits on the District 8 Liaison Committee for Blue Diamond Growers. Ryan is happily married to his wife Beatriz and they have four daughters: Lucia 14 years old\, Cecilia 12 years old\, Maggie 10 years old\, and Anna Marie 6 years old. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission?Please consider donating to ASGA in 2022\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing 
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-60-is-it-time-for-solar-wool-a-practical-conversation-on-wool-production-at-solar-sites-part-1/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221207T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221207T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20221129T232102Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221129T232502Z
UID:5482-1670436000-1670439600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 61: Planning for an Agrivoltaics Future with Encore Renewable Energy
DESCRIPTION:How can innovative agrivoltaics programs address local community concerns\, including impacts on agricultural land? What does the future of agrivoltaics look like from the perspective of a solar and energy storage developer?Join us for our December webinar with Chad Farrell\, Amber Lessard\, and Lauren Glickman from Encore Renewable Energy\, an innovator in community-scale renewable energy and B-Corp based in Vermont that has big plans for advancing the field of agrivoltaics across the industry. Chad\, Amber and Lauren will discuss how Encore is changing the narrative around solar and agriculture through agrivoltaics projects and strong community engagement as they address local concerns about solar in agricultural areas. Chad will share how Encore decided to pursue agrivoltiac solutions including pollinator-friendly ground cover and solar grazing. Amber will also discuss the practical aspects of their existing solar grazing operations on two solar sites\, both of which were not developed with solar grazing in mind. Lauren will discuss where they go from here and how the company is thinking about the best ways to incorporate agrivoltaics in both community outreach and future development projects. \n\n\n\nHost: Kevin Richardson (ASGA)  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChad Farrell  is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Renewable Energy\, a leader in community scale renewable energy project development services. He has over 25 years of professional experience in the fields of brownfields redevelopment and renewable energy project finance\, development and construction. At Encore\, Chad leads the team’s innovative and collaborative efforts to design\, permit\, finance and construct over 80 different commercial scale solar PV projects throughout the State of Vermont and beyond\, representing more than $100M in total investment value. Many of these projects involve reclaiming undervalued real estate for clean energy generation and storage\, helping to revitalize communities and create a cleaner\, brighter future for all. \n\n\n\nHe holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University and earned a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont. Chad serves on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Natural Resources Council and is also a member of the Board of Directors for Renewable Energy Vermont. Following appointment by the Vermont Senate to represent the clean energy sector\, he is currently serving on the Vermont Climate Council. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmber Lessard serves as the Director of Construction and Asset Management at Encore Renewable Energy. Having a wide variety of experience in the Vermont solar industry\, she has worked as a residential PV installer and service technician\, as well as a commercial solar evaluator\, designer\, site supervisor\, and operations and maintenance manager. She is a licensed electrician in Vermont and holds the NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification. Amber is a proponent for dual-use solar and is on the Board of Advisors for the American Solar Grazing Association. An advocate for increasing diversity in the renewable energy and trade industries\, Amber works closely with the non-profit Vermont Works for Women as a solar instructor for their middle school and high school programs\, adult pre-apprenticeship training\, and job training for incarcerated women nearing release. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLauren Glickman is the VP of Marketing for Encore Renewable Energy. She has over a decade of experience in clean energy and climate change advocacy\, and a successful track record for implementing winning social media and online strategies. She was awarded a Platinum Cleanie Award in 2019 as a Rising Star for the clean energy industry\, as well as a spot on the #Solar100\, a ranking of the most influential leaders in the solar industry. She has spearheaded the strategic marketing and communications efforts for numerous companies and organizations across the renewable energy sector. \n\n\n\nLauren has spent the last decade as a communications consultant for nonprofits and renewable energy businesses as a Managing Partner for RenewComm and independently as WindyGlick Communications. She’s worked with leaders across the wind\, solar\, energy storage and clean energy finance sectors including Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy\, CleanCapital\, Hannon Armstrong\, Rope Partner\, Solar Energy Trade Shows (now RE+)\, Grid Alternatives and Edison Energy. \n\n\n\nPreviously\, she was at the American Wind Energy Association (now the American Clean Power Association)\, where she was responsible for the re-design\, relaunch and management of their social media program and the Power of Wind online advocacy portal. Her work was recognized among the top 10 social-media-savvy trade associations. She has also successfully organized marketing and advocacy campaigns for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network\, Environmental Working Group\, and the Fund for Public Interest Research. \n\n\n\nSince 2013 Lauren has been an adjunct professor at The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs\, teaching undergraduate\, graduate and executive education courses and seminars on social media theory and practice. She holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Policy and English from Tulane University. Outside of her work to accelerate the clean energy transition\, Lauren enjoys cooking\, bluegrass\, horseback riding and hikes with her dog Basil. She is a competitive amateur equestrian and competes with her horse George in the adult jumpers in the Washington\, DC region. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKnow someone who isn’t an ASGA member but should be?  \n\n\n\nSend them the link to join and tell them to sign up today! Link: https://solargrazing.org/join \n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission? Please consider donating to ASGA in 2022  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing 
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-61-planning-for-an-agrivoltaics-future-with-encore-renewable-energy/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230104T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20221227T182925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221227T183019Z
UID:5505-1672855200-1672858800@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 62: Unlocking the Future of Agrivoltaics in New Jersey with Rutgers University
DESCRIPTION:Learn about the exciting agrivolatics programs happening in New Jersey around grazing\, high-value crops (soybeans and corn)\, hay\, and vegetables\, and how they’re experimenting with agrivoltaics systems to work with different types of agriculture. \n\n\n\nWe’re kicking 2023 off with a discussion of agrivoltaics in New Jersey. David Specca from Rutgers University will discuss the exciting agrivoltaics and grazing research projects that the university’s NJ Ag Experiment Station (NJAES) is developing with funding from the state’s recently passed Dual-use Solar Act (2021). Dave will also talk about the opportunities and challenges for Agrivoltaics in New Jersey more broadly. Joining him for the call from Rutgers will be Dr. Mike Westendorf (Extension Specialist for Animal Production) and Dr. A. J. Both (Extension Specialist for Controlled Environment Ag). \n\n\n\nThe team at Rutgers is developing projects at multiple solar farm sites and plans to research growing high-value crops such as soybeans\, hay\, and corn under a single axis tracker\, as well as vegetable and nursery crops.  \n\n\n\nAt the sites\, they plan to experiment with solar grazing\, including grazing beef cows with vertical bifacial panels.  \n\n\n\nThrough their research\, they hope to identify systems that work for multiple types of agriculture. The research program aims to experiment with agrivoltaic systems built high enough to allow for farm equipment operation. \n\n\n\nDave will discuss their planned animal and plant research as well as go into the types of PV systems they’ll employ and how they’re setting up the research sites. \n\n\n\nLean more about the Rutgers agrivoltaics research program and the recently passed dual-use law in NJ here: https://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/agrivoltaics-research.html \n\n\n\nHost: Kevin Richardson \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid Specca is the Assistant Director of Rutgers University’s EcoComplex Clean Energy Innovation Center. His expertise includes identifying and demonstrating technologies and practices that will help the agricultural industry become more sustainable\, especially hydroponic and aquaponic applications for rural and urban agriculture\, also identifying and quantifying waste-based clean energy feedstocks and technologies. His experience\, from a production agriculture perspective\, gives him a unique background for assisting the many startup businesses that come to the EcoComplex. He was also part of the NJAES team that produced the “Assessment of Biomass Energy Potential in NJ”. Dave earned a BS in Horticulture and an MS in Plant Science from Rutgers University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Mike Westendorf is the Extension Specialist for Animal Production in in the Department of Animal Sciences at Rutgers. As an Animal Sciences Extension Specialist of Rutgers\, Dr. Westendorf conducts research related to animal agriculture and create outreach and Extension programs that serve the needs of the state’s farmers – both livestock and equine. Maintaining economic and environmental sustainability in a densely populated state poses challenges for farmers. To address these challenges\, he has developed technical support programs and conducted applied research in the areas of animal waste management\, food waste and by-product utilization\, and optimization of animal growth. Dr. Westendorf’s work has been done in collaboration with Rutgers Cooperative Extension faculty and staff as well as colleagues in the State departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection\, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)\, and the NJ Farm Bureau. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. A.J. Both is the Extension Specialist for Controlled Environment Ag in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers. Trained as an engineer with degrees from Wageningen University (1988) in the Netherlands and Cornell University (1995)\, Dr. Both now serves on the faculty in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University as Professor and Extension Specialist. His research focuses on methods and systems to provide the optimum growing environment in protected plant production facilities. He has had a long interest in hydroponics\, supplemental lighting and the use of energy in agricultural systems. His research includes projects in growth chambers\, greenhouses and high tunnels. He conducts industry outreach through presentations at grower meetings\, articles for trade journals\, and collaborations with colleagues across the US. He teaches several undergraduate and graduate classes in different curricula at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKnow someone who isn’t an ASGA member but should be? \n\n\n\nSend them the link to join and tell them to sign up today! Link: https://solargrazing.org/join\n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission? Please consider donating to ASGA in 2023  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-62-unlocking-the-future-of-agrivoltaics-in-new-jersey-with-rutgers-university/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230215T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230215T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230124T175123Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230124T175126Z
UID:5536-1676484000-1676487600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 63: Pollinator Friendly Solar Sites with MNL
DESCRIPTION:What are the benefits of pollinator friendly solar sites? How does it impact grazing?Join us for our February webinar with Minnesota Native Landscapes and their research partners on pollinator habitats at solar sites. \n\n\n\nPollinator habitats continue to be an important issue for solar site development\, both for their potential ecological benefits and because of their inclusion in legislation regulating dual use and solar siting. How pollinator habitats interact with grazing and vegetation management is a hot topic for the solar grazing world.MNL’s Jake Janski will provide an overview of the last 7 years of Minnesota’s pollinator friendly solar boom\, and MNL’s partners from Argonne National Laboratory and Monarch Joint Venture will discuss the results of their respective solar pollinator research projects.Here’s more details on what they’ll cover:Jake will break down MNL’s pollinator friendly solar operations and cover everything from seed mix design and establishing vegetation to the introduction of grazing as a multi-benefit pollinator habitat management tool.Following Jake’s overview\, Lee Walston and Heidi Hartmann from Argonne National Laboratory will present field data from their research into the ecological opportunities of solar-pollinator habitats.Then Laura Lukens from Monarch Joint Venture will present the results from a 2021 pilot study that investigated the benefits of pollinator-friendly solar in Minnesota.The presentations will be followed by a Q&A. \n\n\n\nHosts: Kevin Richardson (ASGA) and Jonathan Barter  \n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJake Janski is the Director of Service Operations and a Senior Ecologist at MNL (formerly Minnesota Native Landscapes). Jake applies experiences from the past 22 years in the Ecological Restoration industry towards the effective restoration and management of our region’s plant communities\, solar sites\, pollinator habitats\, and natural resources. Jake is responsible for MNL’s broad spectrum of ecological field services including habitat restoration\, stormwater management\, conservation grazing\, vegetation management\, prescribed burning\, and wildland fire suppression. In recent years\, he has also contributed directly to DOE’s InSPIRE agrivoltaic research and ASTRO working group; served on the PV-SMaRT project’s Water Quality Task Force; and received a state grant to study the impacts of sheep grazing on pollinator habitat. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLee Walston (M.S.) is an ecologist at Argonne National Laboratory where he is head of the Ecology\, Natural Resources\, and Managed Systems Department within the Environmental Science Division. He has over a decade of experience in efforts to better understand and minimize the ecological impacts of solar energy. For the past 5 years he has been involved in several DOE-funded projects to evaluate the ecological and ecosystem service opportunities of solar-pollinator habitat.  He also serves on several renewable energy advisory boards and working groups such as the TWS Renewable Energy Working Group. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHeidi Hartmann (M.S.) manages the Land Resources and Energy Policy Program within the Environmental Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. Heidi’s career has been focused on the assessment of impacts of environmental stressors on human health and ecosystems\, with an emphasis on stressors introduced by various types of energy use. Most recently she has supported Bureau of Land Management and Department of Energy projects assessing environmental impacts and potential ecosystem services from utility-scale solar development. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLaura Lukens is a Program Coordinator for the Monarch Joint Venture\, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving monarch butterflies and their migration. Laura coordinates research projects throughout the US and cultivates a network of researchers and science initiatives to advance monarch conservation priorities. Since 2014\, Laura has worked on a variety of projects\, studying monarch butterflies\, their natural enemies\, and habitat conditions in a variety of land use types and regions. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission?\n\n\n\nPlease consider donating to ASGA in 2022\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-63-pollinator-friendly-solar-sites-with-mnl/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230301T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230301T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230222T200106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230222T200108Z
UID:5554-1677693600-1677697200@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 64: Large-Site Solar Grazing\, What Graziers Need to Know (Panel Discussion)
DESCRIPTION:What does it take to manage a utility scale grazing and how do you get started? What are the roadblocks and what are the success stories? \n\n\n\nJoin us for this panel discussion with ASGA members JR Howard\, Ryan Indart\, and Chad Raines who will answer your questions about utility-scale solar grazing and speak about their own experience\, including the challenges and opportunities they have encountered. \n\n\n\nHosts: Kevin Richardson\, Caroline Owens\, and Caleb Scott \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe U.S. is in the middle of an unprecedented expansion of large solar farms\, and we could see up to 29 gigawatts of new large-scale solar developments in 2023 alone. \n\n\n\nAs utility-scale solar farms rapidly expand across the country\, especially in regions where solar grazing has mostly been done on community-scale sites\, there will be high demand to graze these larger solar sites.  \n\n\n\nMany farmers will be challenged to expand their grazing business or innovate new operations with fellow producers to match the requirements of utility-scale grazing. \n\n\n\nWhile each region and each farmer will have their own unique challenges and innovations\, we can learn a lot from those who are already grazing at scale or working on building a utility-scale grazing operation. \n\n\n\nFortunately ASGA has awesome graziers who are already operating at scale. \n\n\n\nWe’ve prepared a moderated panel discussion with three ASGA members\, Ryan Indart\, JR Howard\, and Chad Raines\, who will talk about their own unique experiences and how they are meeting the challenges of solar grazing at scale.  \n\n\n\nRyan Indart is a 4th-generatoin rancher who grazes 10\,000+ acres at major solar sites in low-rainfall areas in California and Arizona. In 2009 Ryan purchased the sheep ranching enterprise from the family business and started The Indart Group\, Inc.\, which is engaged in sheep ranching\, direct marketing of lamb\, dry land farming\, custom sheep grazing services specializing in large utility scale solar projects and custom farm work. He currently grazes around 3\,500 Targhee X Finn sheep\, and shears over 30\,000 pounds of wool that is warehoused and sold through Roswell Wool. \n\n\n\nJR Howard grazes utility-scale solar sites in rain-rich East Texas where rainfall can hit 50 inches per year. He and his family own/operate Texas Solar Sheep focusing on utility scale grazing. They currently run about 3500 ewes. JR is the current President of the Texas Dorper Sheep Association and on the national board of directors for the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society.  \n\n\n\nChad Raines is a long-time rancher from West Texas who’s just getting started with solar grazing and plans to build a business around large-site operations. He’s looking to graze far from his home base\, which presents unique challenges. \n\n\n\nThey’re here to answer your questions about getting scaling up and running utility-scale operations. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWant to help support ASGA’s mission?\n\n\n\nPlease consider donating to ASGA in 2023\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFollow us on Instagram @asga_solargrazing
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-64-large-site-solar-grazing-what-graziers-need-to-know-panel-discussion/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230326T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230326T180000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230303T211603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T211604Z
UID:5595-1679846400-1679853600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:Third Annual Membership Meeting of the American Solar Grazing Association
DESCRIPTION:Last year was an incredible year of growth for solar grazing and ASGA. At the annual meeting\, we will highlight ASGA’s achievements from 2022 and give you a preview of the exciting developments you can expect to see in 2023.  \n\n\n\nMembers can expect to: vote in new board members\, meet your leadership team\, learn about programming for 2023\, hear about ASGA’s projects\, and more.  \n\n\n\nThe Annual Meeting will be hosted by ASGA’s leadership team. \n\n\n\nASGA Members\, please make sure to RSVP on the network\, \n\n\n\n➡️ ASGA Members: RSVP by logging into the ASGA Network \n\n\n\n➡️ Non-ASGA Members: RSVP on the public registration page \n\n\n\nEvents 3\n\n\n\nVoting: ASGA Members will have the option to vote for candidates for the ASGA Board of Directors by proxy in advance of the meeting using an electronic voting form. The electronic voting form will be sent to ASGA Members on the network and by email. Voting through this form will remain open until March 25th at 11:59PM Eastern. \n\n\n\nOnly ASGA members are eligible to vote for board members\, but non-members are welcome to attend.
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/third-annual-membership-meeting-of-the-american-solar-grazing-association/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230405T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230405T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230327T200850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230328T185638Z
UID:5727-1680717600-1680721200@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 65: Preparing for Utility-Scale Solar Grazing in the Northeast
DESCRIPTION:What do solar graziers in New England and the Northeast need to know to prepare for grazing at scale? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs a follow up to our March webinar on large-scale solar grazing in California and Texas\, we’ve put together a discussion about scaling up to large site grazing in the northeastern United States. \n\n\n\nASGA Members Alan Aulson and Dick Henry will join us to share their experiences with targeted grazing in New England. Both Dick and Alan have a long history of targeted grazing in the northeast\, accumulating years of experience before the recent solar boom expanded interest in targeted grazing at solar sites. \n\n\n\nSince utility-scale solar sites are expanding quickly in the region\, Dick and Alan’s extensive experience grazing different areas across northern new England will be valuable for solar graziers who are working to adapt targeted grazing practices to large (and small) solar sites. \n\n\n\nASGA Board Member Daniel Dotterer will also join us to discuss the process he is working through to expand his grazing operation for large site grazing\, with a particular emphasis on the capital issues involved. Based in Pennsylvania\, like many graziers in his state Daniel is in a position where large solar site opportunities are on the horizon but delayed for various reasons\, making it particularly difficult to plan for the expansion. \n\n\n\nEvents 4\n\n\n\nHosts: Kevin Richardson and Ely Valdez
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-65-preparing-for-utility-scale-solar-grazing-in-the-northeast/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230503T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230503T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230412T185436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230412T190305Z
UID:5751-1683136800-1683140400@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 66: Opportunities for Solar Wool Part II - Soil Stability and Erosion Control for Renewable projects
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our second webinar on potential markets for solar wool. For this webinar\, we will explore the market opportunities for using U.S. wool fiber in erosion control products\, which are used to stabilize weak soil.  \n\n\n\nOur speaker will be Rob Ament from Montana State University’s Western Transportation Institute. He is pioneering domestic wool as a sustainable\, natural fiber component for erosion control products free of plastic and other synthetic materials. If it works\, this could open up significant new markets for domestic wool growers and sheep graziers\, including solar graziers. Rob will discuss his research on the topic. \n\n\n\nEvents 5\n\n\n\nErosion control products have a number of applications and are important for large renewable energy projects\, including ground-mounted solar arrays. Erosion control measures are generally required as environmental mitigations for maintaining soil and water quality. Rolled\, pelletized\, and sprayed erosion control measures are commonplace in renewable energy projects for seeding vegetation and stabilizing sites. \n\n\n\nGiven the scale of future solar development proposed in the U.S.\, there also could be significant opportunities for wool grown by domestic sheep graziers to help meet the substantial need for soil stabilization at these sites and other large environmental engineering projects. \n\n\n\nRob Ament’s field research explored the development and deployment of innovative erosion control blankets and silt fences that use waste wool and other naturally decomposable components that are free of plastic or any other synthetic materials. His research demonstrates that these home-grown erosion control products offer superior\, natural fiber solutions for establishing vegetation on disturbed soils. In the future\, solar and grazing sheep may help to produce erosion control components\, creating a potential new field of circular\, solar-grown\, agrivoltaic wool products. \n\n\n\nThe research and development were supported by the Montana Department of Transportation and Idaho Transportation Department in two separate projects. \n\n\n\nHosts: Nick Armentrout and Alyssa Andrew \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRob Ament is the Road Ecology Program Manager at Montana State University’s Western Transportation Institute. He leads a group of research ecologists and engineers to provide solutions that reduce the ecological impacts of transport infrastructure on nature\, both in North America and internationally. Rob has more than 25 years of experience in plant ecology\, natural resource management\, wildlife conservation\, and environmental policy. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpecial thanks to our sponsor!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInterested in sponsoring an ASGA call?\n\n\n\n???? Become an ASGA Sponsor!
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-66-opportunities-for-solar-wool-part-ii-soil-stability-and-erosion-control-for-renewable-projects/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230606T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230606T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230602T142701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230602T143312Z
UID:5850-1686074400-1686078000@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 67: Shepherding the future - Insights from Silicon Ranch's Solar Grazing Programs in the Southeast
DESCRIPTION:Note: our June webinar is happening on Tuesday June 6th instead of the normal first Wednesday of the month\n\n\n\nJoin us for a webinar featuring Jim Malooley from Silicon Ranch. Jim will discuss their innovative\, large-scale solar grazing programs in the Southeast and beyond. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSilicon Ranch has developed exciting solar grazing programs to support regenerative agriculture\, ensuring that their sites are managed intentionally to restore functioning grassland ecosystems while producing pasture-raised lamb and renewable solar energy. \n\n\n\nThrough their Self-Perform Program\, Silicon Ranch trains shepherds to graze large flocks on the company’s solar sites\, helping to bring local farmers into the solar grazing world and create long-term\, sustainable solar grazing operations at their sites. \n\n\n\nIn addition to working with their in-house local farmers\, Silicon Ranch develops regional partnerships with farmers to help them build their solar grazing operations and careers\, including working with them to optimize grazing conditions (fencing\, water development\, and other infrastructure) on sites. This is part of Silicon Ranch’s efforts to support the growth of careers in agrivoltaics and shepherding in rural communities while pursuing renewable agriculture goals. \n\n\n\nAs a part of their work to restore soil health and biodiversity\, they cultivate multi-species grasses to prevent erosion\, reduce fire fuel\, and mitigate shade. \n\n\n\nSilicon Ranch owns and operates all of their solar projects\, putting them in a good position for setting up sites for effective\, long-term grazing and agrivoltaics programs. \n\n\n\nJim will also discuss their genetics work with the NSIP to adapt parasite-resistant breeds for grazing in the Southeast. \n\n\n\n???? Register here \n\n\n\nEvents 6\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJim Malooley is a first-generation farmer and shepherd from Indianapolis\, IN.  After attending Purdue and Boise State Universities\, Jim worked in project management on institutional construction projects.  He and his wife’s shared lifelong interest in agriculture led them to depart their careers and found Yellowbird Farms in 2012 in McMinnville\, TN.  From the beginning\, the goal at Yellowbird Farms was to apply Jim’s engineering background and the tools available through EBVs and the National Sheep Improvement Program to develop a commercial flock of sheep adapted to the Southeast. Foundation ewes were sourced from NSIP producers selecting for parasite-resistant\, easy-keeping Katahdins.  Similar criteria were used over the years for sire selection and eventually grew to include the use of southern-adapted Texel rams.   \n\n\n\nAfter outgrowing their deeded acres\, Jim turned to solar grazing as a potential solution for expanding his land base.  He met the Regenerative Energy team at Silicon Ranch and both parties recognized they share common goals and values.   \n\n\n\nJim and the Yellowbird flock joined Silicon Ranch late 2021 marking the final step in SRC’s development of a self-owned\, self-managed\, livestock-based\, holistic land management unit.  Through his work within the Regenerative Energy program\, Jim continues to advocate for the vast opportunities created by growth of renewable energy production for the American Sheep Industry and its producers. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInterested in sponsoring an ASGA call?\n\n\n\n???? Become an ASGA Sponsor!
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-67-shepherding-the-future-insights-from-silicon-ranchs-solar-grazing-programs-in-the-southeast/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230705T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230705T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230627T182442Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230708T182547Z
UID:5912-1688580000-1688583600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 68: Making Agrivoltaics a Financial Success - Tools & Research Update from NREL
DESCRIPTION:It’s been a little while since we last heard an update on NREL’s (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) agrivoltaics research programs and tools.  \n\n\n\nFor our July webinar\, we’re pleased to be joined by Jordan Macknick and James McCall who will provide an overview of their agrivoltaics research through the InSPIRE project\, with a focus on their work on the agrivoltaics costs.  \n\n\n\nJordan and James will discuss several useful tools for solar graziers: their new agrivoltaics map\, the agrivoltaics financial calculator\, and their comparative research into O&M costs for different types of groundcovers. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou can learn more about the results of NREL’s agrivoltaics research by checking out their recent publication\, “The 5 Cs of Agrivoltaic Success Factors in the United States: Lessons From the InSPIRE Research Study.” \n\n\n\n???? Register here \n\n\n\nEvents 7\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJames McCall is a senior analyst at NREL who specializes in modeling the economic and environmental tradeoffs of agrivoltaics and renewable energy projects. His areas of interest include dual-land use solar configurations\, energy-water-food nexus\, land use change impacts\, and renewable energy siting and economic modeling. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJordan Macknick is the Lead Energy-Water-Land Analyst for NREL. He is a member of the Strategic Energy Analysis Center’s Systems Modeling team within the Resources and Sustainability Group. His primary work addresses the environmental impacts of energy technologies\, while seeking opportunities for energy and ecological synergies.In his energy-water-land leadership capacity\, Macknick analyzes national and regional implications of different energy pathways in the context of water and land resources\, evaluates opportunities to improve the energy management of water infrastructure\, and explores innovative approaches to co-locating solar and agricultural activities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInterested in sponsoring an ASGA call?\n\n\n\n???? Become an ASGA Sponsor!
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-68-making-agrivoltaics-a-financial-success-tools-research-update-from-nrel/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230802T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230802T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230708T180916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230708T181013Z
UID:5931-1690999200-1691002800@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 69 - Turning Sheep Green: Solar Grazing's Long-Term Emissions and Environmental Benefits
DESCRIPTION:What are the climate and environmental impacts of adding sheep to solar sites? How does solar grazing compare to conventional solar sites and to conventional sheep production? \n\n\n\nThe potential impact solar grazing may have on reducing emissions is an important growth area for the future of the industry. \n\n\n\nFor this month’s webinar\, we’re introducing some exciting research on the environmental benefits of solar grazing and putting it in conversation with research on the environmental impact of conventional sheep production. \n\n\n\nWe’ve invited Robert Handler and Joshua Pierce to discuss their exciting new paper analyzing the benefits of grazing sheep on solar sites over a 30-year life cycle. To bring more context to the discussion\, we’ve invited Erin Recktenwald from Michigan State University to discuss her research estimating the greenhouse gas emissions from different types of sheep production. \n\n\n\nThe discussion will help give us a sense of the overall climate benefits of solar grazing\, and allow us to compare solar grazing’s impacts to conventional sheep grazing. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAbout Robert and Joshua’s Life Cycle Analysis of Solar Grazing:Taking the long view\, Robert and Joshua’s research shows that solar grazing is twice as land-use efficient than producing sheep and operating solar sites separately\, and reduces emissions. Their findings argue that dual-use systems reduce the environmental impacts of producing electricity and food\, and grazing solar sites should be encouraged. \n\n\n\nLink: https://www.agrisolarclearinghouse.org/greener-sheep-life-cycle-analysis-of-integrated-sheep-agrivoltaic-systems/ \n\n\n\nAbout Erin’s research into life-cycle emissions from sheep production:The U.S. sheep industry is uniquely diverse\, with a range of productivity and management intensity from housed\, highly prolific flocks to flocks with lower productivity in extensive grazing systems. The adoption of different management practices are often regional\, but there is also a large range of management systems within a region related to many factors including land value\, degree of infrastructure investment\, size of farm and market focus. There are also clear regional differences based on climate zone and associated vegetation. \n\n\n\nThe main objective of this study was to develop a cradle-to-farm gate life cycle analysis for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from four types of sheep production systems typically found in the U.S.\, ranging from highly productive\, intensive management to less productive\, more extensive management practices. Another objective was to determine the factors that contribute to an operation’s emissions\, such as ewe productivity\, manure management\, fuel usage\, feed purchasing\, etc. in an effort to identify potential mitigation targets. The goal of this study was not to find an optimal management system within the U.S. that produced the least emissions\, but to determine the variability among and within operation types and determine their sources of GHG to identify potential mitigation strategies.
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-69-turning-sheep-green-solar-grazings-long-term-emissions-and-environmental-benefits/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230913T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230913T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230830T170634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230830T170732Z
UID:6060-1694628000-1694631600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 70: Introducing ASGA Certification™ for Solar Grazing Training!
DESCRIPTION:We are excited to launch ASGA Certification™ for Solar Grazing Training. This innovative program lends ASGA’s seal of approval to qualified training courses and their graduates. Certification recognizes educational programs teaching key topics and best management practices fundamental to using sheep to manage vegetation on solar energy sites. \n\n\n\n​Once a program is certified\, students successfully completing the program will be identified as ASGA-certified solar graziers. The overall objective is to support the development of skilled solar graziers to meet the demands of rapid solar expansion\, help new graziers succeed\, and ensure the livestock is well taken care of. \n\n\n\n​At this month’s webinar\, ASGA Board Member Caroline Owens will explain how the program works\, outline the application process\, and discuss the benefits to various stakeholders. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvents 8\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker\n\n\n\n​Caroline Owens is a solar grazier in Pennsylvania with a background in education as well as 30 plus years running sheep. She is a former Vocational Agriculture teacher who moved on to marketing communications and equestrian travel before farming full-time. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science/Agricultural Education from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from Boston University. From 2004 until 2018\, Caroline offered Sheep Camp for Kids on the farm during the summer\, a program so popular that no spot went unfilled for 14 consecutive years. Caroline also enjoys teaching adults\, holding educational events such as Sheep Boot Camp\, Lambing Clinic\, and Sheep 101. \n\n\n\nHosts \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAmerican Solar Grazing Association
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-70-introducing-asga-certification-for-solar-grazing-training/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231004T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231004T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20230928T194931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230928T194933Z
UID:6163-1696442400-1696446000@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 71: Sheep Health in Solar Systems
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’re just getting into solar grazing or you’re a long-time sheep farmer\, managing sheep health in solar grazing is a major pain point that requires ongoing attention and accumulated experience. Preparing for common health issues and for the unexpected are key to keeping the sheep happy and your grazing operation running smoothly. \n\n\n\nFor our October 2023 ASGA Call\, we’ve put together a panel of veterinarians and experienced graziers to discuss how they handle some of the biggest health issues that come up in a solar grazing system.  \n\n\n\nOn the panel will be Cindy Wolf\, a veterinarian from the University of Minnesota\, Judy St. Leger\, a veterinary pathologist and solar grazier\, and Caroline Owens\, an ASGA Board Member with a long history raising sheep and an experienced solar grazier. Judy and Caroline are both Founding ASGA Members. \n\n\n\nThe panel will discuss a range of topics and\, in the second half of the event they’ll answer your sheep health questions. \n\n\n\nThe information will be useful not only to new and experienced solar graziers\, but to solar developers and site managers as well. \n\n\n\nCome to the event ready to ask your health-related questions! \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe topics they’ll take up include: \n\n\n\n\nFoot health: What do you need to know about it and What are the different conditions you need to watch out for?\n\n\n\nParasites: What are the best approaches to managing parasites on solar sites?\n\n\n\nNear death experiences: How do you handle you’re sheep becoming unwell on a solar site and how do you catch it?\n\n\n\nWhat every solar grazier should put in their sheep first aid box: What equipment do you need to bring to a solar site?\n\n\n\nOverwintering: What are the health concerns with overwintering and winter housing\, including the risks of co-mingling multiple flocks?\n\n\n\nHerd Health While Scaling Up: What are the risks you run into when you’re growing your flock quickly?\n\n\n\n\nAre there any health questions missing from the list that you would like addressed? Drop your question in the comments below or bring them to the event and we’ll make sure to address it during the Q&A! \n\n\n\n???? Register Here
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-71-sheep-health-in-solar-systems/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://solargrazing.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Webinar-71-Sheep-Health-Cover.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231108T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231108T140000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20231031T230809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231031T230813Z
UID:6217-1699448400-1699452000@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 72: European Solar Grazing and Agrivoltaics with BayWa’s Stephan Schindele
DESCRIPTION:For this month’s ASGA call\, we’re taking a quick look across the Atlantic to hear about some of the latest solar grazing and agrivoltaics developments in Europe. We’ll be joined by Stephan Schindele\, Head of Product Management Agri-PV at BayWa r.e.\, who oversees the exciting agrivoltaics projects they’re running in Europe. \n\n\n\n​BayWa has been doing solar grazing for a number of years\, with 40 grazing sites at present\, as well as a diverse selection of agrivoltaics projects. \n\n\n\n​Stephan will give an overview of their solar grazing operations and provide examples of best practices.  \n\n\n\n​Like the U.S.\, regional differences have a major impact on grazing operations and Stephan will give us a sense of the different approaches (as well challenges) to vegetation management across Europe’s varied climates\, including water concerns\, fire risk abatement\, overwintering strategies\, and more. \n\n\n\n​In addition to the grazing work\, Stephan will give us a brief over the broad range of agrivoltaics projects and discuss some of their experiments with crops like hay (“hayvoltaics”) and with grazing other animals including cows (“cowvoltaics”).  \n\n\n\n​He’ll also touch on their experiments with using solar modules for rainwater collection and the water economics of it. \n\n\n\n​The presentation will be followed by a Q&A and you’ll have an opportunity to ask Stephan questions about what’s happening in Europe with AgriPV.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n​Hosts: Kevin Richardson (ASGA) and Amber Lessard  \n\n\n\n​Note: Because we have guests from Europe\, our November call will be happening on the 2nd Wednesday\, November 8th in the early afternoon @1:00pm ET instead of the usual date and time.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvents 9
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-72-european-solar-grazing-and-agrivoltaics-with-baywas-stephan-schindele/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://solargrazing.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASGA-Webinar-72-Cover.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231206T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231206T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20231128T154238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231204T211500Z
UID:6265-1701885600-1701889200@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 73: Breaking Down Solar Farm Construction for Graziers
DESCRIPTION:What goes into solar site construction and what should solar graziers know about it?For our December call\, we’re excited to have Daniel Shapiro\, Vice President of Projects and Construction at Lightsource bp\, and his team give us an in-depth look at the solar site construction process and its basic components.They’ll discuss how a solar farm comes together\, the construction process and what it looks like in different phases\, and how they manage the soil and provide the right vegetation for grazing. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis will be a great opportunity for graziers to learn about the components of a solar site and have an understanding of how it’s put together. You’ll also get a sense of what decisions about design and equipment solar companies make and when they happen in the construction process. \n\n\n\nAfter the presentation\, we’ll have an audience Q&A. \n\n\n\nHosts: Kevin Richardson (ASGA) and Christopher McCabe  \n\n\n\n✨ Register for ASGA Call 73 here \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThanks to our sponsor!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVince Green is the Senior Director of Greenfield Origination for Lightsource bp.  He has over 16 years of renewable energy development experience and has held key positions with multiple international IPP’s.  His experience spans the development cycle from project siting through construction.  He leverages his background in GIS to site and develop the most economically viable and community friendly projects in the industry. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSanchit Joshi has been a Sr. Project Manager at Lightsource bp for the past 4 years. He has worked in renewables for 8+ years and managed construction of some of the leading solar projects in the country in 7 states including multiple military bases and key US infrastructure projects. He has an extensive background in multiple solar areas – rooftop solar\, ground-mounted solar\, and large battery storage projects. He’s passionate about bringing economical\, sustainable\, and reliable forms of energy to our homes. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVirginia Brown is the Director of Ecosystem Services at Lightsource bp. She is a licensed soil scientist based in North Carolina\, with extensive experience in agriculture\, post construction land restoration\, and vegetation management. Her professional background has primarily been in the energy sector\, with a focus on stormwater and erosion. Incorporating science into the restoration process is at the forefront of all her work; she is enthusiastic about exploring the unique opportunities the solar industry has to positively impact the environment by improving soil\, water\, and habitat quality. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDan Shapiro is the Vice President of Projects and Construction at Lightsource bp. He has managed solar project construction in the United States and Chile during the last 10 years\, and currently oversees 15 projects in construction across the US. Dan’s background includes regulatory and permit compliance for development and construction of energy projects.
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-73-breaking-down-solar-farm-construction-for-graziers/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240207T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240207T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240202T042438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T170415Z
UID:6394-1707328800-1707332400@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 74: Myth-Busting Facts About Sustainable Solar Development
DESCRIPTION:Solar grazing offers an important avenue for making solar sites more ecologically sustainable\, but how can solar developers design and manage sites to ensure the site is eco-friendly from construction all the way through decommissioning? \n\n\n\n​Tyler Kanczuzewsk and his team from Inovateus Solar will join us to discuss approaches to building solar projects with eco-friendly practices. They’ll reveal how sustainable solar development can be cost effective and add extra value to the environment and the reputation of solar asset owners. Their presentation will cover a full life-cycle analysis of sustainable solar development (from design to decommissioning)\, including how smart site design can cut down on construction waste and reduce impacts on the land\, the economic and environmental value of agrivoltaics\, panel recycling\, and more. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n​There is quite a bit of misinformation about the environmental impacts of solar sites out there. This myth-busting webinar will be a great resource for solar graziers and enthusiasts to cut through the misinformation and hear from an expert about the reality of sustainable solar development. \n\n\n\n​Host: Kevin Richardson (ASGA) & Walker Adams \n\n\n\nEvents 10\n\n\n\nRegister for ASGA Call 74 here \n\n\n\n​Speakers \n\n\n\n​Tyler Kanczuzewskiis the Vice President of Marketing and Sustainability\, Board Member and an Investor of Inovateus Solar. Originally from South Bend\, IN\, he was recently immersed in the Grand Rapids and West Michigan sustainability community while working on his MBA at Grand Valley State University\, and with an emphasis in sustainable enterprise\, he graduated in 2019. Tyler now has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Sustainability. Tyler is excited to lead the company’s efforts in marketing and sustainable practices.  \n\n\n\n​Thanks to our sponsor! \n\n\n\n​
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-74-myth-busting-facts-about-sustainable-solar-development/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240313T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240313T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240304T171036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T171530Z
UID:6460-1710352800-1710356400@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 75: Digging into Vegetation and Soil Management Planning for Solar
DESCRIPTION:Events 11\n\n\n\nProper vegetation and soil management planning on solar sites is key to good land stewardship and setting up a project for successful vegetation cover. With the application of industry leading revegetation practices to prioritize soils\, vegetation establishment and success\, solar site development can have positive impacts on the foundation of these facilities with regards to soil health and the local ecology. The risks of getting this step wrong include soil erosion\, weed proliferation\, local community issues\, among others. \n\n\n\nFor this month’s call\, we’re joined by Rob Schultz from Invenergy’s Vegetation Management team\, who will discuss how they develop their vegetation and soil management plans. He’ll cover the path from development through operations and the best management practices they have been using to support vegetative success on their projects. These key aspects will include soil fertility testing\, seed mixture design\, pre-construction seeding\, in construction activities and the maintenance phase during operations. \n\n\n\nPreparing a site with grazing in mind can have big benefits for solar graziers and the vegetation management process. Rob will go over what they have been doing when planning for these grazing specific projects from a utility scale developers’ perspective. This includes the benefits as well as challenges that go into moving forward on this vegetation maintenance approach. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRob Schultz is a part of Invenergy’s well established Vegetation Management team\, which focuses on supporting their utility-scale solar portfolio across the country. He applies his experience and lessons learned from his time as a project manager for an ecological restoration firm based out of Minnesota where he planned\, implemented\, and managed large-scale\, revegetation projects across the Midwest. Now at Invenergy\, Rob oversees the development of Vegetation and Soil Management Plans (VSMPs) for each project\, ensuring a proactive and science-based approach where proper revegetation efforts are produced prior to construction. Additionally\, he applies his field experience to working with the project and asset management teams to ensure that the VSMPs are executed in a manner that allow for robust vegetative communities to thrive within Invenergy’s portfolio.
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-75-digging-into-vegetation-and-soil-management-planning-for-solar/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240324T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240324T170000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240314T162656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T162905Z
UID:6484-1711292400-1711299600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA's Fourth Annual Membership Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the Fourth Annual Membership Meeting of the American Solar Grazing Association! \n\n\n\n​2023 was a groundbreaking year as ASGA’s membership grew\, we launched a number of new initiatives\, and our members represented solar grazing and its benefits at events across the U.S.! We were excited to see solar grazing become even more important to the agricultural and the solar energy worlds and serve as a bridge between the two. \n\n\n\n​Join us for our 4th annual meeting as we reflect on the accomplishments of 2023 and look towards the exciting opportunities that 2024 will bring as solar grazing continues its nationwide growth. \n\n\n\n​Members can expect to: Vote in new board members\, meet your leadership team\, and hear about ASGA’s growth and accomplishments from the past year. We’ll also discuss ongoing initiatives and give you a glimpse of what to to expect from programming and ASGA’s projects in 2024. \n\n\n\n​The Annual Meeting will be hosted by ASGA’s leadership team. \n\n\n\n​Please make sure to RSVP to access the Zoom link! \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asgas-fourth-annual-membership-meeting/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://solargrazing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Fourth-Annual-meeting.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240403T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240403T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240314T161825Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T161832Z
UID:6479-1712167200-1712170800@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 76: How Big Is Solar Grazing in the U.S.? (ASGA Census Results)
DESCRIPTION:Events 12\n\n\n\nIn September we invited you to take part in the first-ever U.S. Solar Grazing Census. We received an outstanding 129 responses and are ready to share some preliminary results!  \n\n\n\n​For this month’s call we will share an updated picture of the scale and reach of solar grazing in the U.S. based on the census data. We’ll discuss what this means for the solar and sheep industries and the future of solar grazing. \n\n\n\n​We’ll also talk about how the census data can help us answer key questions that are often asked in the solar grazing industry. \n\n\n\n​These topics include: \n\n\n\n\n​How many acres of solar are being grazed\n\n\n\n​The average size of sites being grazed\, the scale of grazing\, and its geographic reach\n\n\n\n​The average cost per acre to graze solar\n\n\n\n​What grazing strategies are common\n\n\n\n​How many sheep per acre folks are using and what breeds are popular\n\n\n\n​And so much more!\n\n\n\n\n​The Census was designed to assess standardized metrics that can be used to evaluate solar sheep grazing and identify best practices for these systems. The Census is supported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s InSPIRE project. We welcome new and updated responses: https://solargrazing.org/ASGASurvey2023 \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-76-how-big-is-solar-grazing-in-the-u-s-asga-census-results/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240429T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240314T174650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T210339Z
UID:6494-1714348800-1714607999@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:CFAR Solar Grazing Workshop: April 2024
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a three-day workshop on solar grazing\, an innovative approach to sustainable land use that combines renewable energy production with responsible livestock grazing. Led by experts from White Oak Pastures and solar site owners/managers\, this unique experience offers a deep dive into the intricacies of solar grazing and its integration into diverse farm operations. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\nKey Highlights: \n\n\n\n\nField visits at two solar farms with differing designs\n\n\n\nRotational grazing field move demonstration with White Oak Pastures sheep/herd.\n\n\n\nOverview of capital expenditures and resources needed for solar grazing.\n\n\n\nPanel discussions with industry leaders in regenerative agriculture and solar grazing\n\n\n\nInsight into bidding\, contracting\, and execution phases of solar grazing.\n\n\n\nHistorical outline of regenerative agriculture implementation at White Oak Pastures\n\n\n\nIntroduction to fundamental soil health principles\n\n\n\nDemonstration of protecting solar equipment from grazing animals\n\n\n\nSite-specific discussion of animal delivery\, loading\, and handling\n\n\n\nDemonstration/discussion of watering methods and equipment\n\n\n\nDiscussion of grazing goals and stocking rates for solar grazing\n\n\n\nQuestion-and-answer discussion panels!\n\n\n\n\nLimited Scholarship Opportunities Available Provided by Renewa Energy\, these scholarships offer a chance to attend this workshop at reduced or no cost. \n\n\n\nDon’t miss this chance to learn about the environmental\, economic\, and social benefits of solar grazing. Register now to secure your spot! \n\n\n\nDates: April 29th-May 1st \n\n\n\nPrice: $2\,500 \n\n\n\nRegister: https://thecfar.org/products/cfar-solar-april-2024
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/cfar-solar-grazing-workshop-april-2024/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://solargrazing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CFAR-Solar-Grazing-Workshop-April-2024.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240419T165004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240419T165221Z
UID:6629-1714586400-1714590000@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 77 - Northern Exposure: Agrivoltaics in Alaska and the Northern U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Events 13\n\n\n\nWe’re heading north to check out what’s happening with agrivoltaics in the higher latitudes for our May webinar. \n\n\n\n​Alaska and the northern US are developing innovative agrisolar systems that respond to local food and energy needs. In this month’s webinar\, we will explore the unique challenges and opportunities that northern agrivoltaics holds for farmers\, solar developers\, and investors.  \n\n\n\n​The Alaska Agrivoltaics team will present solar opportunities in Alaska\, the state’s unique climate and soil characteristics\, and takeaways from their recent stakeholder survey. Through a FARMS grant\, the University of Alaska team will investigate how row crops and forage crops perform under a utility-scale solar farm.  \n\n\n\n​The Agricultural Research Service guest will speak to their plans for research grazing mixed sheep and cattle in an agrivoltaic system in North Dakota.  \n\n\n\nRegister here: https://lu.ma/ASGA77 \n\n\n\n​Event Speakers: \n\n\n\n\n​Glenna Gannon (University of Alaska Fairbanks)\n\n\n\n​Jenn Miller (Renewable IPP)\n\n\n\n​Justine Chausson-Roberts (CleanCapital)\n\n\n\n​Craig Whippo (USDA Agricultural Research Service: Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory)\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nRegister Here
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-77-northern-exposure-agrivoltaics-in-alaska-and-the-northern-u-s/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240508T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240510T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240410T180029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240429T172121Z
UID:6599-1715126400-1715385599@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ALB Solar Grazing Workshop: Temple\, TX
DESCRIPTION:Registration is now closed. \n\n\n\nThe American Lamb Board is excited to offer a Three-day intensive ASGA-Certified Solar Grazing Training  for sheep producers across the US. Solar grazing provides an opportunity for both new and experienced producers to expand their sheep operations and maintain a sustainable business. This training will provide the education for graziers to succeed as vegetation management service providers within solar arrays.  Participants completing the course will be recognized as ASGA-Certified Solar Graziers. \n\n\n\nThe American Lamb Board is dedicated to promoting the consumption of American raised lamb for America’s sheep producers. Along with this mission\, ALB is committed to supporting and curating education for the improved success of sheep producers across America. \n\n\n\nDetails: \n\n\n\nMayborn Civic CenterRegistration Fee: $200Agenda*Includes: Lunch & Refreshments \n\n\n\nLodging:Hilton Garden Inn Temple254-773-0200Room rate code: ALBWSRate $176
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/alb-solar-grazing-workshop-temple-tx/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240520T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240522T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240410T182119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240410T183142Z
UID:6601-1716163200-1716422399@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ALB Solar Grazing Workshop: Roxboro\, NC
DESCRIPTION:The American Lamb Board is excited to offer a Three-day intensive ASGA-Certified Solar Grazing Training  for sheep producers across the US. Solar grazing provides an opportunity for both new and experienced producers to expand their sheep operations and maintain a sustainable business. This training will provide the education for graziers to succeed as vegetation management service providers within solar arrays.  Participants completing the course will be recognized as ASGA-Certified Solar Graziers. \n\n\n\nThe American Lamb Board is dedicated to promoting the consumption of American raised lamb for America’s sheep producers. Along with this mission\, ALB is committed to supporting and curating education for the improved success of sheep producers across America. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\nDetails: \n\n\n\nRoxboro\, North CarolinaMay 20th-22nd \n\n\n\nRegistration Fee: $200* Includes: Lunch & RefreshmentsOnline Registration \n\n\n\nLodging:Hampton Inn336-599-8800Room rate: $149Link to reservations
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/alb-solar-grazing-workshop-roxboro-north-carolina/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://solargrazing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ALB_Badge_Black62023-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T190000
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240522T154326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240522T154331Z
UID:6671-1717524000-1717527600@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ASGA Call 78: Raising the Panels for Cattle Grazing
DESCRIPTION:How do you make solar arrays cattle proof and what does cattle grazing under solar panels look like now? \n\n\n\n​To provide an update on some of the latest developments in solar cattle\, we’ve invited 3 sets of speakers to discuss how they’re integrating cattle grazing operations on community scale arrays on farms in Minnesota\, Massachusetts\, and Pennsylvania. \n\n\n\n​At the webinar\, we’ll discuss site modifications to accommodate cattle\, and how farmers are integrating the arrays into their farms and managing their grazing operations. \n\n\n\nRegister here: https://solargrazing.org/ASGA-Call-78 \n\n\n\n​About the Speakers\n\n\n\nHere is the lineup of speakers and their respective cattle grazing projects: \n\n\n\n​Tom Roberts and his daughter Michelle run Burgundy Brook Farm in Belchertown\, MA. On their 700 acre farm\, they’ve installed a 16 acre array where they’ll be growing hay and doing rotational cattle grazing under the panels. Jesse Robertson-Dubois from BlueWave Energy will discuss the system design\, which uses single-axis trackers and 10-feet vertical clearance. \n\n\n\n​Doug Neidich from solar developer GreenWorks Development (www.greenworksdev.com) in Harrisburg\, PA\, will talk about his work on several 10-acre solar arrays on farms in Pennsylvania for cattle grazing. They use a 7-foot minimum height array for cattle\, but also do arrays at a 3-foot minimum height for sheep grazing and a 9-foot height for horses. In addition to discussing the site design and leasing approach\, Doug will also be joined by one of their future Pennsylvania solar cattle graziers to discuss how they will run their cattle grazing operation. \n\n\n\n​Brad Heins from the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center\, will give an update on the center’s ongoing agrivoltaics project on their dairy farm. They’ve been running the program since 2017 and are grazing up to 250 heads of cattle. Brad will discuss the system design\, the research results they’ve observed\, and their efforts to develop a 20kw portable solar system for pasture grazing. \n\n\n\nEvents 14\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRSVP
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/asga-call-78-raising-the-panels-for-cattle-grazing/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240715T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240717T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240410T182842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240410T183026Z
UID:6604-1721001600-1721260799@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:ALB Solar Grazing Workshop: Hopland\, CA
DESCRIPTION:The American Lamb Board is excited to offer a Three-day intensive ASGA-Certified Solar Grazing Training for sheep producers across the US. Solar grazing provides an opportunity for both new and experienced producers to expand their sheep operations and maintain a sustainable business. This training will provide the education for graziers to succeed as vegetation management service providers within solar arrays. Participants completing the course will be recognized as ASGA-Certified Solar Graziers. \n\n\n\nThe American Lamb Board is dedicated to promoting the consumption of American raised lamb for America’s sheep producers. Along with this mission\, ALB is committed to supporting and curating education for the improved success of sheep producers across America. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\nDetails: \n\n\n\nRegistration Fee: $200*Includes: Lunch & RefreshmentsOnline Registration \n\n\n\nDetails coming soon
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/alb-solar-grazing-workshop-hopland-ca/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240718T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241005T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240323T202625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240324T032546Z
UID:6539-1721260800-1728172799@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:Agrivoltaic Solutions Solar Grazing Training Program for the Northeast
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to the Agrivoltaic Solutions Solar Grazing Training Program. This comprehensive course brings together insights from solar industry professionals\, solar grazing managers\, veterinarians\, and livestock grazing experts to equip you with the skills needed to execute successful grazing operations within solar facilities across the Northeastern U.S. \n\n\n\nThroughout this program\, participants will acquire practical knowledge on how to establish and position their grazing businesses within this rapidly expanding industry. Additionally\, you will learn effective flock management techniques tailored to diverse field conditions while upholding exceptional service standards. \n\n\n\nAgrivoltaic Solutions has been commercially grazing since 2018\, and currently manages 43 solar sites in the Northeast. AVS has consulted on approximately 6GW of solar co-location across the U.S.  \n\n\n\nBy enrolling in this program\, you will join a cohort of Northeastern U.S. solar grazing managers\, gaining access to 12 months of continuous mentoring and support from Agrivoltaic Solutions. This initiative aims to cultivate enduring relationships among participants\, fostering a robust network of graduates committed to advancing the solar grazing field. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDates:Weekly (Thursday evenings) 2-hour live online lessons between July 18\, 2024\, and October 3\, 2024\, followed by an on-site workshop in Vermont on October 5\, 2024. \n\n\n\nRegister:   https://agrivoltaicsolutions.com/training/ \n\n\n\nHighlights: \n\n\n\n\nWorking with solar companies: Site operator identification\, project bidding\, onboarding process\, key site design recommendations\, construction\, and site preparation timelines.\n\n\n\nAssessment of site ecosystem conditions\, forage availability\, and quality.\n\n\n\nVegetation management performance targets and factors influencing forage growth curves.\n\n\n\nGrazing rotation planning and calculating stocking rates.\n\n\n\nSheep flock health\, disease management\, and biosecurity.\n\n\n\nFlock nutritional requirements and onsite management.\n\n\n\nWater delivery and management\, site infrastructure considerations\, predator control.\n\n\n\nContract language\, negotiations\, insurance\, and taxation.\n\n\n\nEnterprise budgeting\, discussion of mowing services\, winter management.\n\n\n\nSignage and public interaction.\n\n\n\nIn-person workshop: On-site safety training.\n\n\n\nIn-person workshops: Flock movement demonstration including paddock moves\, working chute usage and design\, and trailer loading.\n\n\n\n\nCost:  $2\,000 – includes all meals for October onsite training.
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/agrivoltaic-solutions-solar-grazing-training-program-for-the-northeast/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240729T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240731T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T060657
CREATED:20240314T210737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T210854Z
UID:6513-1722211200-1722470399@solargrazing.org
SUMMARY:CFAR Solar Grazing Workshop: July 2024
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a three-day workshop on solar grazing\, an innovative approach to sustainable land use that combines renewable energy production with responsible livestock grazing. Led by experts from White Oak Pastures and solar site owners/managers\, this unique experience offers a deep dive into the intricacies of solar grazing and its integration into diverse farm operations. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\nKey Highlights: \n\n\n\n\nField visits at two solar farms with differing designs\n\n\n\nRotational grazing field move demonstration with White Oak Pastures sheep/herd.\n\n\n\nOverview of capital expenditures and resources needed for solar grazing.\n\n\n\nPanel discussions with industry leaders in regenerative agriculture and solar grazing\n\n\n\nInsight into bidding\, contracting\, and execution phases of solar grazing.\n\n\n\nHistorical outline of regenerative agriculture implementation at White Oak Pastures\n\n\n\nIntroduction to fundamental soil health principles\n\n\n\nDemonstration of protecting solar equipment from grazing animals\n\n\n\nSite-specific discussion of animal delivery\, loading\, and handling\n\n\n\nDemonstration/discussion of watering methods and equipment\n\n\n\nDiscussion of grazing goals and stocking rates for solar grazing\n\n\n\nQuestion-and-answer discussion panels!\n\n\n\n\nLimited Scholarship Opportunities Available Provided by Renewa Energy\, these scholarships offer a chance to attend this workshop at reduced or no cost. \n\n\n\nDon’t miss this chance to learn about the environmental\, economic\, and social benefits of solar grazing. Register now to secure your spot! \n\n\n\nDates: July 29-31\, 2024 \n\n\n\nPrice: $2\,500 \n\n\n\nRegister: https://thecfar.org/products/cfar-solar-july-2024
URL:https://solargrazing.org/event/cfar-solar-grazing-workshop-july-2024/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://solargrazing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CFAR-Solar-Grazing-Workshop-July-2024.webp
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