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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes. Sheep can graze beneath and between solar panels, helping manage vegetation while keeping land in agricultural use. In the United States, the American Solar Grazing Association reported about 113,050 sheep grazing across roughly 129,000 acres at more than 500 solar sites as of October 2024. It can benefit both a solar operator and a farmer, but only when the site, flock plan, responsibilities and economics work together.
What solar grazing is—and what it is not
Solar grazing is livestock grazing at a solar facility, usually with sheep grazing vegetation beneath and between panels. It is one form of agrivoltaics: the U.S. Department of Energy defines agrivoltaics as agriculture—including livestock grazing and crop production—located underneath or between rows of solar panels. Solar grazing is not the same as growing crops around panels, and benefits documented for agrivoltaics broadly should not automatically be assumed for every sheep-grazing project.
Sheep are a common fit because standard utility-scale panel heights generally accommodate them. Cattle typically require higher arrays. Whether a particular flock can use a site depends on the equipment layout, access, fencing, water and management plan.
How large is solar grazing in the United States?
The American Solar Grazing Association’s October 2024 census reported 113,050 sheep, 129,261 acres and 506 sites across 30 states in its webinar summary. These are reported census figures, not an audited national registry, and describe the association’s census rather than every U.S. project. The figures nevertheless show that solar grazing is an operating land-use arrangement at substantial scale, not merely a proposed concept.
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- Protects a wide variety of crops & livestock from nuisance animals such as deer, bear, raccoon, rabbit, foxe, coyote, skunk, & more
- Great for goats, sheep, pigs, and other medium to large livestock
- Moves easily to rotate grazing areas
- Starkline Electric Netting is versatile enough for the farm or the backyard
- Take the confusion out of electric fencing!
What farmers and solar operators may gain
Potential value for the solar operator
Solar facilities need vegetation controlled to maintain access and operate equipment. Grazing may reduce some mowing, trimming or herbicide use. It does not necessarily eliminate other vegetation work: about two-thirds of respondents in the association’s census said they were responsible for management methods beyond sheep grazing, including mechanical mowing.
Potential value for the farmer or grazier
A grazier may gain access to land and may be paid for vegetation-management services. For a farmer, this can create another use for a flock and a potential source of income. Neither payment nor savings is guaranteed: terms vary by project, and the sources do not establish a current standard contract price or prove that every site is cheaper to maintain with sheep.
Rank #2
- Protects a wide variety of crops & livestock from nuisance animals such as deer, bear, raccoon, rabbit, foxes, coyote, skunk, & more
- Perfect for goats, sheep, pigs, and other medium to large breeds of livestock
- 10 Horizontal strands with vertical strands spaced every 10"
- Moves easily to rotate grazing areas
- Electric Netting is great for the farm or the backyard
These possible gains are shared, but they are not automatic. DOE describes agrivoltaics as a developing business model and identifies cost, worker safety, liability, and legal and regulatory questions. The parties need to compare the practical costs and duties of grazing with the vegetation-management work it is expected to replace.
What can make a solar-grazing site difficult?
Panel layout, wiring and access
Array design affects whether sheep and people can move through the site safely and whether the flock can reach the vegetation that needs control. Panel height, wire placement, electrical boxes, gates and work routes all matter. Livestock needs are easier to account for during project planning and design than after equipment and access routes are fixed.
Rank #3
- Comprehensive Size Design: The electric fence netting measures 50 in x 164 ft/1.27 x 49.98 m, with scientifically spaced grids and double-spiked stakes, ensuring a secure and stable enclosure for animals of all sizes.
- Sturdy and Durable: Built to endure the elements, this electric netting includes windproof kits and fiberglass posts for long-lasting durability. A warning sign and repair kit simplify maintenance, keeping your fence in top condition.
- Wide Applicability: This electric netting fence is ideal for sheep, deer, hogs, dogs, and other large livestock, providing reliable protection for your farm or pasture.
- Effective Electric Current: Designed to regulate electric current intensity, this electric livestock net fence offers effective protection without causing harm to animals, ensuring safety for poultry and livestock.
- Multiple Power Supply Options: Compatible with AC110-240V, solar panels, and DC power sources (not included), this electric fence offers eco-friendly and efficient energy options for your farm.
Water and fencing
Water access and fencing were among the leading factors associated with grazing difficulty in the association’s October 2024 census. The parties should determine who supplies, installs, maintains and moves fencing, and how animals will reliably reach water. Portable electric net fencing is one category to consider for sheep, not a universal recommendation: the right system and layout depend on the site and flock.
Vegetation control may still need mowing
Grazing does not guarantee that sheep will control every plant or reach every part of the facility. The contract and management plan should identify any mowing, trimming or other work that remains, who performs it and who pays. This avoids treating sheep as a complete substitute for all other vegetation management.
Rank #4
- Portable Solar Fence Kit: Our portable solar powered electric netting fence kit for goats,sheep and more medium to large livestock includes everything you need for an electric fence system.You do not need to find extra fence parts.
- What's in the Package: 1 roll of 35" X164' electric fence netting, 0.2 Joule output solar energizer, Fence tester, Warning sign, Connector leads, Repair Kit, and a Grounding Rod that doubles as a mount for the solar energizer.
- For Medium and Large Livestock or Crops: Protects a wide variety of crops & livestock from nuisance animals such as deer, bear, raccoon, rabbit, foxe, coyote, skunk, & more.
- Easy to Install: Simply unfold the electric fence, insert the posts and double-spikes into ground, connect the fence end to end and connect the power. Its user-friendly design makes installation quick and hassle-free, saving your time and effort.
- Durable Construction: The electric fence netting solar kit is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. With windproof kits, stainless steel spikes and 10 sturdy PVC & fiberglass posts, it ensures long-term durability.
Forage, stocking rate and flock care
Shade and grazing pressure can affect forage and flock condition, so stocking decisions need to fit local conditions rather than a headline number. A 2025 USGS-recorded study at one 21.85-hectare, 18-megawatt facility in New York reported 8 sheep per hectare as the optimal rate for its combined forage, flock-health and vegetation-management objectives across two grazing seasons. The study also found that shade affected herbage yield. That site-specific result is not a general stocking recommendation for different climates, arrays, breeds or forage conditions.
Animal care also requires practical arrangements for transport, veterinary needs, wintering and any periods when forage is insufficient. The parties should establish who has day-to-day responsibility for the flock and what happens when the grazing plan cannot meet vegetation-control needs.
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Best Value
- Dual Power Supply Protection: Powered by a solar panel and built-in 5000mAh battery, this solar electric fence charger keeps your fence running day and night. Enjoy up to 8 days of operation without sunlight, making it a reliable solar powered electric fence solution even in cloudy or low-light conditions
- Keep Your Animals Safe: Delivering a strong 0.2 joule output with 1.5-second pulse interval, this electric fence energizer effectively powers fences up to 10 miles, helping contain horses, cattle, sheep, and goats while deterring wildlife from entering your property. Ideal as an electric fence charger for livestock
- Portable Lightweight Design: Weighing just 3.08 lb, this compact solar fence charger is easy to carry, reposition, and install without heavy lifting. Perfect for rotational grazing, temporary fencing, or remote areas where flexibility matters most
- All Weather Protection: Reliable in Rain, Heat, and Cold. Designed with an IP64 weather-resistant housing, this electric fence solar charger performs in extreme temperatures, humidity, and rain, making it a dependable fence charger for year-round outdoor use
- Versatile for Any Setup: Ideal for Farm, Ranch, and Garden. Compatible with T-posts, Y-posts, and wooden posts, this electric fence charger adapts easily to different fence systems. Perfect for garden protection, poultry, and small livestock enclosures, supporting various electric fence for livestock applications while also helping keep pets contained
Safety, liability and project coordination
Farmers and solar developers need clear rules for site access, worker training, protective equipment, electrical hazards, animal-health responsibility and insurance. Planning and permitting can add complexity, and the farmer’s priorities may not match the developer’s unless both are addressed early. Legal and regulatory requirements can vary by location; the parties should resolve them for the specific project rather than assume a generic arrangement applies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to agree on before grazing begins
There is no single contract structure or published price schedule established by the cited sources. Before committing, the farmer and operator can use these questions to test whether the arrangement is workable:
- Payment and scope: Who pays whom, for which services, and what vegetation work is included?
- Site readiness: Are panel height, wiring, gates, access routes and electrical equipment compatible with the flock and people managing it?
- Fencing and water: Who provides and maintains each, and how will water be available across the grazing area?
- Flock and forage plan: What stocking rate, rotation and monitoring approach fits this site, and who is responsible for animal care?
- Residual work: Which areas or conditions still require mowing or other vegetation management, and who handles the work?
- Safety and risk: What training, protective equipment, access rules, insurance and liability terms apply?
- Seasonal logistics: How will transport, wintering and periods of limited forage be handled?
- Measures of success: What will the parties track—such as vegetation coverage, remaining mowing work, flock condition or costs—and how will they review the results?
These are practical decision points, not a standard contract prescribed by an industry authority. Site-specific professional advice may be needed for insurance, safety, permitting and legal terms.
Is solar grazing a good fit?
It is most plausible when the array can safely accommodate the flock, water and fencing can be provided, forage and animal care are manageable, and the solar operator has vegetation-control needs that grazing can meet. It is a weaker fit when the layout blocks access, necessary infrastructure is uneconomic, animal-care responsibilities are unclear, or the operator expects sheep to eliminate all other maintenance. Farmers and developers should evaluate the arrangement as a land-use and service contract—not assume that co-location alone guarantees extra income, lower costs or improved farm outcomes.
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