Wisconsin Farmers Adopt Sheep to Manage Solar Sites

Livestock are grazing vegetation under panels to improve energy efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration of sheep grazing beneath solar panels in a green pasture, evocative of sustainable agricultural land management. — Wisconsin farmers are deploying sheep to graze vegetation under solar arrays, a practice that increases energy output by reducing shading on equipment. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support using livestock to manage vegetation at local solar farm sites?

Wisconsin farmers have increasingly turned to sheep to maintain vegetation around solar arrays. The practice aims to boost energy efficiency while serving as a cost-effective alternative to mechanical mowing.

Why it matters

Keeping vegetation low under panels can increase energy production by 5 to 10 percent. Utilizing livestock for this task helps farmers manage land more efficiently while supporting local solar infrastructure needs.

Beau Stafford currently utilizes 75 sheep to graze 109 acres of solar installations, with plans to expand by 400 additional acres. Across the U.S., there are 500 sites implementing this practice.

The players

Beau Stafford

He is an organic farmer who manages sheep grazing operations at solar sites in Fitchburg.

Alliant Energy

This public utility company utilizes solar grazing at its sites in Fond du Lac County and Grant County.

American Solar Grazing Association

The organization tracks solar grazing activity across the U.S. and provides certification to solar grazers.

We Energies

This energy company previously attempted solar grazing at infrastructure projects in Texas.

The details

Sheep graze around ground-installed panels to prevent vegetation from shading the equipment, which would otherwise reduce panel efficiency. Fencing is installed around these sites to protect the grazing animals from local predators.

Beau Stafford purchased a 56-acre organic farm in 2019.
The annual sheep grazing season spans from mid-April through October.
The American Solar Grazing Association held a workshop in the Madison area in September 2026.
State elections in November 2026 may influence the development of future grazing incentives.

Roadmap

The adoption of solar grazing signals a shift in land management within the renewable energy sector. By integrating livestock, solar operators aim to replace industrial mowing with sustainable, lower-cost vegetation control.

The expansion of solar grazing may offer new land-use opportunities for local farmers looking to diversify their agricultural operations. Residents near solar sites may see increased livestock presence as part of standard site maintenance.

The takeaway

Solar grazing represents a practical merger of agriculture and renewable energy that benefits both the farmer and the utility operator. Those interested in the practice should monitor upcoming state legislative sessions for potential support programs.