Sheep grazing in solar fields offers farmers economic, ecological gains
Two new research papers shed light on the growing practice of grazing sheep in fields with solar arrays. One demonstrates that, in the right numbers, sheep grazing increases populations of beneficial insects like bees and lady beetles compared to mowing around solar panels. The other research describes a decision-making support tool to help farmers profitably grow their solar grazing herds.
Two recent studies highlight the benefits of grazing sheep in solar fields. A Cornell University research team found that when two sheep per hectare grazed around solar arrays, beneficial insect populations like bees and lady beetles increased by 38% compared to a mowed control plot. The increase was primarily driven by an 83% rise in honey bees, according to the findings published in Environmental Research Letters.
Another study from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business developed a decision-making tool for farmers to profitably grow their solar grazing herds. The tool helps farmers optimize procurement and sales decisions based on factors like target flock size, costs, revenues and expected vegetation in particular solar sites. By integrating sheep grazing and ecological benefits into solar development, farmers and communities can make informed decisions to maximize the potential of agrivoltaic systems.
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