Premier Solar Sheep

Solar grazing indeed offers a promising solution for the American sheep industry. By utilizing sheep to manage vegetation on utility-scale solar farms, sheep farmers gain consistent access to land while contributing to the sustainability goals of solar projects. This innovative approach not only helps manage land more efficiently but also opens up opportunities for sheep producers to scale their operations, overcoming the challenges that traditionally limit expansion.

With the rise in demand for lamb in the U.S., meeting this demand domestically can reduce reliance on imports, which currently dominate the market. As sheep help maintain the land around solar installations by grazing, the arrangement can reduce issues with predators and parasites due to the secured and often monitored environments of these farms.

Additionally, the anticipated growth of solar energy projects could offer farmers long-term land access contracts, supporting both the energy sector and the livestock industry. Solar grazing truly represents a win-win solution for both renewable energy and sheep farmers.

Parasite Management is very important to maintaining a healthy flock of sheep in warm environments. It takes a multifaceted approach; genetics, rotational grazing, nutrition, and strategic deworming. Simplistic approaches, such as deworming on a predetermined set of dates, will often fail.

We use f***l egg count testing to do flock surveillance for parasites, specifically haemonchus contortus. When egg count starts to rise, we’ll conduct FAMCHA (eye color) scoring to treat animals with early signs of parasitism. First sheep photo is what it should look like and it wasn’t treated. The second photo is starting to develop anemia from too high of a parasite load, which required treatment. Leaving the heathy sheep untreated protects the flock from developing parasites that are resistant to deworming products.

Exposure to parasites may seem like a bad thing. However, low levels of exposure helps the animal develop a immunological response that will help it manage parasites later on in life.

There are only three major classes of dewormers available in the US. Worms with genetic resistance for each of these products are common in sheep flocks across the US. Several new generation dewormer products have been available in other countries for decades but haven’t been approved for us in the US. Protecting the efficacy of these dewormers is extremely important.

Big thanks to Vistra Corp. for adding sheep to their vegetation management plan. These lambs are loving all the green grass.

Why Sheep? They are self-replicating mowers that are fueled by sun and rain.

Happy Birthday America!!!!

Hello ladies. We are baaack! Any ewes looking for a good time?

This research aligns very well how grass grows on solar farms that experience hot and dry conditions. We published a YouTube Video a couple months ago demonstrating grass growth under and between panels. See video in comments below.

New agrivoltaics data shows improved grass, forage production under solar panels The National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) is carrying out two agrivoltaics research projects on solar parks operated by BayWa r.e. and Valorem in several regions of France. Despite the different climatic conditions, similar positive trends were observed with a...

Dual land use is more than just a buzz word. It can result in food for thousands upon thousands of people that wouldn’t be produced domestically without an agricultural approach to vegetation management. A huge thanks to those solar companies who see value in dual land use and work with agriculture-based vegetation management service providers.

As an example, last week we marketed the first load of lambs from the 2024 lamb crop. This lamb will be the protein centerpiece of roughly 20,000 meals. Several more loads will go to market through the summer and into the fall. This is happening on solar farms all over the US and it’s growing at a rapid pace. There is real potential for lamb production coming off solar farms in the US to help meet domestic lamb demand, which hasn’t happened in decades.

In addition, this agricultural trade supports American jobs and infrastructure beyond the solar arrays. Specifically, companies and people who harvest, process, distribute and market this safe wholesome food supply.

This block was intensively grazed for 30 days to remove ~90% of vegetation. Sheep were moved to new block and the site received a significant rainfall event. The grass has grown back so evenly that it resembles a freshly mowed field. Sheep grazing isn’t always going to look like mechanical mowing, but with good management and timely rains, it can!

Access to water is a must for solar grazing. We prefer to set up semi-permanent water system for the sheep. A lot of work on the front end to avoid the constant chore of transporting water. Working dogs appreciate it on hot summer days.

Hats off to the service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom!

At Premier we strive to create opportunities for professional growth in our company and reward those who rise to the occasion!

Think this is one of those areas that has had 20 inches of rain this year? Think again! This is in South Texas that has had only a couple inches of rain in 2024. We mowed it about a month days ago to knock down dormant grass from 2023. ~2 inches of rain later and the grass has exploded. A large group of sheep will visit this area soon for a short duration grazing period.

Solar vegetation management requires more than sheep grazing. Mowing has several advantages that compliment grazing to better meet vegetation goals, such as reducing potential fire risk of dormant grass, increasing palatability of vegetation, and meeting vegetation goals without overstocking.

We couldn’t do what we do without Livestock Guardian Dogs. They have been bred for thousands of years to protect sheep from predators. Lots of people assume they are aggressive. But in reality they are gentle giants that spend every day of their lives with sheep. Their presence warns intruders to seek a meal elsewhere. Confrontations with predators are rare. However, they’ll do what is necessary to protect their sheep.

Some recent photos from Corazon. While it has been dry, the rain weekend will bring plenty of work for the 4 legged mowing crew!

Even after 15 hour days, we are all smiles at Premier. Sheep working days are the best days!

First Ewe Off the Truck!
It is a great sense of accomplishment seeing the first sheep hit the ground at a new site. Mountain of work getting it to this point. It is all worth it!!!

https://youtu.be/Gv0Jov4nz7k?si=ymbEZgL9gqbvxiNf

Agricultural Impact of Developing Solar Farm Building a solar farm on rangeland in South Texas can turn a brush canopy into a grass dominated landscape.