WALKERTON, Ind. – Three years ago, the Indiana Sheep Association (ISA) held its first-ever Solar Grazing Seminar for producers interested in grazing their sheep on solar power facilities. That gathering took place at the Jasper County Fairgrounds.

Today, as solar panels continue to dot the Hoosier landscape, producers and their sheep are in high demand.

Breanna Reed, of Bee-ewe-tiful Farm in Walkerton, southwest of South Bend, Ind., attended that initial seminar and later connected with local solar array operators who needed vegetable management. In a short time, Reed began contracting her sheep to graze under solar panels, thus reducing the use of traditional mowing.

“If it weren’t for solar grazing I would not be farming and we would’ve lost another family farm in this state,” Reed said. “Because land is so expensive our opportunities to buy land really wasn’t there because you need so much money to buy it. This was a great venture for me because I don’t own this land, I don’t own this solar. I am truly just a vegetative management contractor, so my small flock of sheep are strictly eating grass and it’s a great way to get them in there and provide me with a long-term income.”

Reed and her husband, Justin, raise Suffolk sheep in JR Ranch in Walkerton.

“We have been on this site for the last three seasons. It’s a very intricate and different way of working with your sheep. They can operate in the rain, they can operate in the wind and they’re not kicking up rocks and dust, which would hinder these panels from absorbing as much energy and light as they possibly can. It’s definitely a win-win for both parties.

“We’ve been looking for something to get ahead of the curve because there’s not a ton of money on sheep,” Reed said. “Solar grazing kind of fell into our lap but now our operation has blossomed. Most of the money we’ve made in solar grazing we’ve put back into our farm and in our flock.”

The need for sheep producers and their flocks among solar panels is so strong that last month the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) released a short film titled “Counting Sheep,” featuring the solar panel grazing operation run by Greg and Evan Gunthorp in LaGrange, Ind.

“We have about 275 acres here and we raise pasture pigs, pasture poultry and grass-fed lambs,” Greg said. “We’re fortunate as we obtained a solar contract on almost 1,000 acres. We started here with 200 sheep and we have close to 1,000 new lambs. We’re absolutely doing the same thing at the solar site that we’d be doing here at our farm. They rotationally graze around this farm and rotationally graze around the solar sites. We just do it on more acres now with more sheep.”

Added Evan, “We are producing value on this land in significantly different ways than what would be done on typical farmland. Obviously surrounded by solar panels, the primary focus of this land right now is in energy production, but in addition to that we’re producing a large flock of high-productive, very nutritious lambs on that ground. I would anticipate that we will get to the point of being able to run probably 4,000 to 7,000 sheep on this site. Solar grazing is just a huge opportunity for us. It is financially viable, makes economic sense and it’s a really good lifestyle.”

ISA president Brett Kessler operates Clay Hill Ranch in LaPorte County, Ind. Kessler grazes his flock on solar sites as well, adding there is still a need for more sheep on more solar sites across Indiana.

“Solar farms are often equipped with high-quality perimeter fencing and 24-hour surveillance cameras to protect the panels,” Kessler said. “Grazing allows the land to remain productive while benefiting from the existing security infrastructure, which can deter trespassing or theft.”

While the Gunthorps are considered large sheep producers, small sheep producers like Reed can make a good profit with their smaller flock.

Reed recently spoke in Muncie, Ind., about managing sheep on solar fields during at an Earth Day event on April 25, hosted by the League of Women Voters.

“For me, solar grazing represents the future of agriculture, one where renewable energy and livestock work together, not against each other,” Reed said. “It shows farming doesn’t have to look the way it always has to be successful. Innovation, adaptability and partnerships can open new doors for farmers like me.”

The ISA’s solar grazing committee is ready to connect producers with resources and information that promote the practice of solar grazing in Indiana. Any questions pertaining to solar grazing can be sent to executive director Emma O’Brien at executive@indianasheep.com.

The ISA is one of the oldest livestock organizations in Indiana. It was originally founded as the Indiana Wool Growers Association in 1876 to encourage local shepherds to come together to share ideas and expertise, to promote lamb and wool in the state, and to educate communities about the value of sheep and the sheep industry.