Sheep For Hire!

Sheep are putting the “farm” back in “solar farm”! Rows of gleaming solar panels cover more than 600,000 acres of land across the U.S. While solar panels convert the sun’s rays into energy, grass and other plants are doing the same underneath through photosynthesis.

But if the land isn’t cared for, overgrown plants could damage the solar panels and create a wildfire risk. That’s where sheep come in: Power companies are hiring herds of sheep to eat the plants under the panels. This practice is called
solar grazing.

Sheep are putting the "farm" back in "solar farm"! Solar panels cover more than 600,000 acres of land across the U.S. The rows of shining panels convert the sun's rays into energy. Grass and other plants under the panels also turn the sun's rays into energy. This process is called photosynthesis. 

But it's important to care for those plants. If they grow too much, the plants could damage the solar panels. They could even create a wildfire risk. That's where sheep come in! Power companies are hiring herds of sheep to eat the plants under the panels. This practice is called solar grazing. 

Because solar panels are low to the ground and made of delicate electronics, it’s difficult for a person to mow the grass. Sheep in particular are “pretty much the perfect size and height for grazing underneath panels,” says Josie Trople, owner of Cannon Valley Graziers in Minnesota.

Unlike other grazing animals—like goats—sheep don’t try to snack on the panels and wires. “Sheep exclusively graze with their heads down,” Trople adds. “They don’t have that crazy goat attitude.” On average, it takes six sheep four days to graze an acre of land under solar panels. Sheep also spread seeds in their poop, which helps new plants grow and maintain healthy meadowland.

Solar panels are close to the ground and made of delicate electronics. That makes it difficult for someone to mow underneath them. Sheep are "pretty much the perfect size and height for grazing underneath panels," says Josie Trople. She owns a solar grazing company in Minnesota. It's called Cannon Valley Graziers. 

Why sheep instead of goats? Goats will try to snack on the panels and wires! But sheep don't do that. "Sheep exclusively graze with their heads down," Trople says. "They don't have that crazy goat attitude." On average, it takes six sheep four days to graze an acre of land under solar panels. Sheep also spread seeds in their poop. The seeds grow into new plants and create a healthy meadowland.

Trople’s herd rotates through a handful of solar farms in Minnesota. They graze for several weeks at each solar farm about four times a year. And her sheep are far from the only ones! There are thousands of sheep grazing on tens of thousands of acres of solar farms across the U.S.

 Trople always thought she would go into farming because it’s been her family’s business for generations. She’s turned to solar grazing to keep those traditions alive. “We feel really honored to steward the land,” Trople says. “We’re returning animals to the landscape.”   

Trople's herd has been hired by a handful of solar farms in Minnesota. They graze for several weeks at each solar farm. The herd visits each farm about four times a year. And Trople's sheep aren't the only ones! Thousands of sheep are grazing on solar farms across the U.S. 

Trople always thought she would become a farmer. It's been her family's business for generations. Solar grazing helps her keep those traditions alive. "We feel really honored to steward the land," Trople says. "We're returning animals to the landscape."

MATH TALK
Do you think solar grazing works best for larger or smaller solar farms? Explain your reasoning.

MATH TALK
Do you think solar grazing works best for larger or smaller solar farms? Explain your reasoning.