Solar Grazing

SOLAR GRAZING MEANS THE CROSSROADS PROJECT AREA WILL REMAIN IN AGRICULTURAL USE FOR DECADES

The Crossroads Solar Grazing Center will host commercial sheep grazing operations within the fences of the project, utilizing sheep grazing as a means of managing the project area’s native vegetative ground cover.  This dual-use, or “solar grazing”, operation will not only keep virtually all of the project acreage in full agricultural production, but will also contribute to the growth and diversity of Morrow County’s agricultural economy.  Crossroads will ultimately be home to as many as 1,500 - 2,000 sheep per year. 

Grazers will establish a commercial rotational sheep grazing operation in between, beneath, and around the rows of solar panels.  As part of its OPSB permit application, Crossroads will prepare a Preliminary Grazing Plan that details the planting of robust ground vegetation (e.g. native turf grass, pollinators, etc.) to cover the project area in order to preserve the soil for cultivation, to provide erosion control and storm water management benefits, and to serve as a pasture and food source for the sheep.  Crossroads’s Preliminary Grazing Plan will also specify vegetative ground cover seed mixes informed by research published by The Ohio State University for the purpose of grazing sheep on solar facilities in Ohio.

Rotational sheep grazing has a number of ecological and environmental benefits vs. farming row crops. It helps to improve soil health by storing carbon and other nutrients in the soil, and by adding organic matter in the form of manure. It will also be beneficial to pollinating insects as there will be substantially less pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals in use, and it will help to improve water quality due to perennial plants that will slow soil erosion and filter out nutrients.

For farmers throughout Ohio—and particularly for young and new farmers—land access is one of the main hurdles to a thriving livestock business. For this reason, collaborating with the Crossroads Solar Grazing Center on a unique multi-year arrangement provides a unique opportunity to grow local agricultural businesses on hundreds acres of dual solar-agricultural land in Morrow County. 

Grazers across Ohio are happily learning that solar grazing offers the opportunity to expand a segment of Ohio’s agricultural industry to meet domestic agricultural demand that is currently being met by imports from foreign countries, allowing Ohio to produce more food in the US, diversify its agricultural economy, and become more competitive with foreign producers.  Solar grazing would allow Morrow County to not only be an exporter of corn and soy, but also an exporter of lamb and clean electricity, which means a lot more money staying in the county for the benefit of the local community. 

Crossroads will enter into contracts with local grazers as the project matures. Once prepared, Crossroads’s Preliminary Grazing Plan will be available here.

Learn More About Solar Grazing

Grazing Ready Solar Facilities

The use of grazing sheep has emerged across the United States as a cost-competitive alternative to solely mechanical and chemical control of vegetation under solar panels, as grazing sheep requires minimal changes to common ground-mount solar configurations. Animal grazing can be an attractive option for communities that host solar infrastructure because it supports continued agricultural land use, aligns with sustainability mandates, and—when managed with sound grazing practices—sheep can perform as well as mechanical mowing equipment in both cost and efficiency.

The American Solar Grazing Association

ASGA members are facilitating research, providing essential education, and developing best practices that support shepherds and solar developers to effectively manage solar installations and create new agribusiness profits.

ASGA provides educational resources, training, and bes practices for producers and project owners - ensuring that the solar grazing industry can thrive!

Research-Based Solutions

Many universities, international non-profits, and researchers are focused on making agrivoltaics the norm in the solar industry. This is a tremendous opportunity for landowners, local governments, and producers to embrace clean energy without compromising local agriculture.

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