WHAT IS SHEEP GRAZING & SOLAR GRAZING:
It’s the practice of grazing sheep in urban or farmlands and on solar fields (some times referred to as solar farms). Sheep are the most common solar grazing animals, as they are the best-suited species.
Sheep are naturally suited to the job of solar grazing. They enjoy the shade of the solar panels on hot days, napping and grazing where humans would struggle to reach. They are resourceful foragers, walking to search for vegetation that might otherwise become a shady nuisance for the solar company
WHY NOT GOATS?
- Goats prefer browsing on shrubs, brush, poison ivy, bittersweet and multirosa flora as more grasses grow in solar fields
- Goats are not as accepted for solar grazing because they are more likely to chew on wires, climb on panels, and cause a bit of mischief.
- Some sites have taller panels to allow for cow grazing, but this is not common.
WHY SOLAR GRAZING:
- To prevent damage from vine and tree growth.
- To avoid reduced electricity production from panel shading.
- Sheep are generally considered the best fit for the job.
- More environmentally-friendly option to mowing to maintain vegetation requirements for Operations & Maintenance of the solar farms.
BENEFITS OF GRAZING:
- Nationwide expansion of ground-mounted photovoltaics (solar panels) causing increased need.
- Good partnership opportunity since solar companies are already targeting cropland for projects.
- Contributes to pollination, improved soil health and local production of dairy, meat, wool.
- Serves to diversify and increase revenue for farmers.
- Eliminates mechanical mowing & carbon emission & reduces costs.
- Is a good source of nutrition/pasture.
SOLAR GRAZING – SERVICES
- Centrally located – serving Eastern New England for Custom Grazing
- Sustainable agriculture – Our sheep promote environmental stewardship by cleaning up suburban backyards, parks, solar farms and conservation land.
- Best in class equipment – Katahdin sheep, large double-decker trailers, small stock trailers, tractors and specially designed mowing equipment able reach under solar panels.
- Growing season – For best results, we complete projects of all shapes and sizes generally from mid-May to Labor Day each year.
Contact Alan for more information on opportunities and a quote: Call/Text – 508-451-1987 or email us at GreatRockFarm@gmail.com
Page Source Information/Credit: some content has been used from the ASGA website.
Member of the American Solar Grazing Association
More information at: https://solargrazing.org/