A brand new documentary from the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) spotlights a rising motion that’s reworking each agriculture and renewable power. “Pastures and Panels” tells the story of farmers and ranchers revitalizing household farms by grazing sheep on photo voltaic power websites, making a resilient mannequin that produces meals, fiber and power for the nation — all on the identical land. The movie is now streaming on YouTube.
A nonetheless from the documentary “Pastures and Panels”
Photo voltaic grazing is the follow of elevating livestock on land that can be producing photo voltaic power. It turns photo voltaic initiatives into productive ranches that keep vegetation naturally whereas serving to feed and dress People by way of the manufacturing of meat and wool.
In keeping with ASGA’s 2024 Solar Grazing Census, greater than 130,000 acres of photo voltaic are being grazed by sheep throughout 30 states. The potential is even better. America presently imports greater than 70% of the lamb it consumes. By increasing photo voltaic grazing, farmers can strengthen home agriculture and produce extra of that manufacturing residence.
The movie follows households equivalent to Daniel Dotterer’s in Pennsylvania, whose farm dates again to the 1700s. After many years of financial battle, Dotterer discovered a brand new approach ahead by utilizing sheep to handle vegetation on giant photo voltaic websites.
“It’s not simply grazing,” Dotterer says within the movie. “It’s a brand new solution to farm — one which’s sustainable, worthwhile, and provides the following era an opportunity.”
Photo voltaic grazing supplies ranchers with entry to land that was beforehand unavailable or too pricey to lease. Now, photo voltaic undertaking homeowners pay livestock producers to handle vegetation, providing regular earnings whereas sustaining agricultural manufacturing. This partnership helps household farms keep viable and, in lots of instances, broaden.
Photo voltaic grazing advantages power firms as nicely. Actual-world knowledge from working websites reveals that grazing is cost-competitive with mowing and may scale back upkeep prices over time. Sheep are extremely efficient at controlling vegetation whereas supporting wholesome soil, pollinator habitat, and native land-use objectives. It’s a sensible answer that advantages each the land and the underside line.
Photo voltaic grazing can be drawing youthful farmers and extra ladies into agriculture. ASGA’s 2024 Census discovered that over one-third of photo voltaic graziers are ladies, and the common age of contributors is youthful than the nationwide common for farmers. By pairing ranching with photo voltaic, farmers are preserving multi-generational farms alive and constructing stronger native economies for the following era.
The documentary “Pastures and Panels” is now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9CY0IpkLNFY
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