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Solar farms and livestock grazing

1,075 Views | 16 Replies | Last: 2 days ago by Serious Lee
B-1 83
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2:29p, 12/5/25
AG
You people know and see things…

I've had an inquiry to assist a company with an "agrivoltaic" project combining cattle grazing and a solar farm. I understand there are panels now that will sit 8-10 feet above the ground and allow sunlight under the panels as well as shade for livestock. Anybody seen this out in your travels? One would think cattle would tear things up, but where there's a will there's a way.
Being in TexAgs jail changes a man……..no, not really
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MAROON
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In reply to B-1 83 • 2:41p, 12/5/25
AG
I've only heard of goats being used on solar farms. Cattle could screw that place up quickly.
What do you boys want for breakfast BBQ ?.....OK Chili.
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B-1 83
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In reply to MAROON • 2:47p, 12/5/25
AG
I've heard of sheep. They don't jump on stuff as badly as goats, and are less apt to chew on wires.
Being in TexAgs jail changes a man……..no, not really
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Hoyt Ag
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2:49p, 12/5/25
AG
Tri State build something like 88,000 panels in the elk migration path on my commute to work (here). they put up an 8 foot chain-link type fence around the entire facility. Fast forward to about 3 weeks ago when the elk started to move down the mountains to migrate to winter grounds. Those elk said " F these panels and your green energy". There were like 200 head in the solar farm f'ing them all up. It made me smile.

I know this has no benefit to your questions asked, but it was funny as hell for us locals in NW Colorado to watch.

I imagine cows rubbing on the posts of the panels will be loose in no time based on how I have watched them being installed. Did not look entirely secure, let alone to uphold against a large cow that has an itch on his backside.
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Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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3:04p, 12/5/25
AG
JR Howard owns Texas Solar Sheep. From what I know, he was kinda the pioneer on this solar grazing stuff. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to get paid to have free forage if you have a bunch of sheep.

I think there are all sorts of requirements, I know they can't overgraze the solar farm or erosion issues will start to pop up. So it's a lot of shuffling around to different farms to keep the grass above and below a certain height requirement.
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rme
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In reply to MAROON • 3:09p, 12/5/25
AG
MAROON said:
I've only heard of goats being used on solar farms. Cattle could screw that place up quickly.

Sheep, not goats.
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MAROON
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In reply to B-1 83 • 3:09p, 12/5/25
AG
An agrivoltaic approach provides an array of benefits | University of Minnesota System

What do you boys want for breakfast BBQ ?.....OK Chili.
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rme
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In reply to Dirty-8-thirty Ag • 3:10p, 12/5/25
AG
Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:
JR Howard owns Texas Solar Sheep. From what I know, he was kinda the pioneer on this solar grazing stuff. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to get paid to have free forage if you have a bunch of sheep.

I think there are all sorts of requirements, I know they can't overgraze the solar farm or erosion issues will start to pop up. So it's a lot of shuffling around to different farms to keep the grass above and below a certain height requirement.

JR Howard has done an amazing job growing his business and leading the industry.
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AgLA06
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3:39p, 12/5/25
AG
I've had several articles come across my feed the last couple weeks of this or similar. All singing the praises. I think I even saw one about solar farms over top of crops allowing for sun when wanted and less watering.

Seems the livestock would appreciate the shade, rubbing posts, and rain / hail protection.

We all know about the dreaded lighting strike on the lone tree or feed pen that decimates a herd. Do all the electrified panels increase that risk?

Can they add irrigation to the solar structure since you can't have a pivot for the grass / hay? Can you produce hay from these with regular equipment?
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OnlyForNow
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In reply to AgLA06 • 3:50p, 12/5/25
AG
They are typically well grounded.

I wonder what the wind rating is getting it that high up? Lots of drag…

But a cool concept, would allow for grazing, mowing, maybe even haying, cost increase would probably not be that much greater - deeper sink for the posts and more metal in the post, maybe that'd be it?
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Max06
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5:14p, 12/5/25
AG
There's a large solar farm going in next to us, I'll let you know once they get the panels up.

Coyotes going to have a field day on sheep.
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SteveBott
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5:38p, 12/5/25
AG
The US has not been very innovative in placing solar panels. For example Germans are replacing privacy fences with solar panels. Japan has been installing them between train rails. Panels combined with grazing makes sense.
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Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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In reply to Max06 • 6:36p, 12/5/25
AG
Most guys run a couple guard dogs with their sheep in every solar farm I've seen.
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spud1910
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7:42p, 12/5/25
AG
About 2500 acre solar farm just across a county road from me. They put in sheep a few weeks ago. Nothing exciting yet.
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Mas89
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8:27p, 12/5/25
AG
Solar/ sheep farm is being proposed locally. Of course the first step is to ask the county for property tax abatements.
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jagsdad
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9:12p, 12/5/25
They have a solar farm along I35 south of Gainesville. First few years they tried mowing, guess they thought that wasn't very cost efficient. Have sheep and goats on it now.
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Serious Lee
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11:01p, 12/5/25
the one guy i know that had his flock on a solar farm ended up losing several of them after they got tangled up in the gears of the rotating panels. Murphy's law always finds a way to rear its ugly head with sheep/goats.
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