Sheep Industry News February 2024

PERC Investigates Sheep Solar Grazing KYLE PARTAIN A year ago, the Production, Education and Research Council featured a panel discussion on targeted grazing, but in 2024 the discussion narrowed even more. Solar to note issues with fencing, water, etc. She also understands why sheep grazing at solar sites has been so successful. “The reason it’s working is family farmers do a fabulous job,” she said. “Everything they’ve learned is valuable in solar grazing. The strength of the farmers is their knowledge.” Bishop said the additional grazing land has allowed her to ex pand far beyond what she could have otherwise on her five-acre grazing – quite possibly the biggest boon to the American sheep industry in decades – was the topic of discussion at the 2024 meeting in Denver.

farm. But it comes with its own set of chal lenges. Water is always a concern. Solar arrays don’t need water, but the sheep that graze them need it on a daily basis. “I’ve also had to deal with animal con trol,” said Bishop. “The neighbors called them because we got three flakes of snow and the sheep were out in it.” Bronson experienced phenomenal growth as well thanks to solar grazing. He went from 75 head to 1,000 in six years, but said it was a humbling experience at times. “I made every mistake on my own,” he said. “I was young and thought I knew everything, but it’s hot and humid in the Southeast and a lot can go wrong.” Hark said that’s a huge consideration when determining where to place sheep

A panel moderated by American Lamb Board Sustainability Director Camren Maierle brought in solar grazers from the Eastern half of the United States to share how they got involved in the industry’s fastest growing grazing opportunity. The panel consisted of Nick Armentrout of Maine, Julie Bishop of New Jersey, Eric Bronson of Virginia, Lexie Hain of New York and Arlo Hark of Minnesota. Armentrout serves as president of the American Solar Grazing Association and offered that solar grazing is simply targeted grazing on a solar array. It’s a service busi ness, he said, which is why shepherds de serve to be paid a fee for grazing livestock there. He shared that in 2023, some 72,000

Nick Armentrout American Solar Grazing Association

sheep grazed approximately 60,000 acres in the United States. That number will continue to increase dramatically as solar sites in all sizes come into operation in the future. ASGA is looking to work with ASI to provide guidance for sheep producers moving into solar grazing, and is developing a series of educational webinars while also providing sample contracts and moving toward a certification program that will be available in the near future. “The solar industry and the sheep industry need each other,” said Hain. One of the main reasons for that is utility companies have faced backlash for building solar arrays on what was traditionally agricultural land. Grazing sheep in the arrays allows for an ag ricultural use that quiets much of the backlash from the general public. And sheep are the perfect grazers – small enough to graze under the panels (which cows can’t) and gentle enough to cause minimal damage (unlike goats) at the site. Hain, a solar gazer and founder of ASGA, joined the staff at Lightsource bp and works to select sites the company will invest in. She looks at each site through the eyes of a grazer, and is quick

because eventually things will go wrong. “How far do you want to drive to go check those sheep,” he asked? “You have to consider that in your pricing structure. We also have to truck water to every site we graze.” Other things to consider include the length of the grazing con tract. Most grazers on the panel suggested a one year minimum, but said the industry is pushing for three, five and even 10-year contracts. Long-term contracts would definitely work better for established grazers, while short-term contracts would allow beginners to get their feet wet in the industry. Hain said there are also opportunities for grazers to pick up additional work at the solar sites because they are often on the sites more than the solar company employees. That might include mowing of areas that aren’t grazed, general clean up, etc. The council also heard an update on ASI’s Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan, which Dr. Danelle Bicket-Weddle provided for several council/committee meetings during the week. Sheep Heritage Foundation Scholarship winner Kelsey Bentley offered a presentation entitled Milking More from the Post-Wean ing Fecal Egg Count Estimated Breeding Value .

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