An #Oregon #cattle #ranch just added #solar without losing #grazing land
The one‑acre, 120‑kilowatt array is the first real‑world installation of #RUTE’s patented, cable‑stayed solar tracker designed specifically to coexist with grazing cattle. RUTE supplies the hardware and is also acting as the developer for its first regional cattle‑plus‑solar demonstrations.
https://electrek.co/2025/12/19/an-oregon-cattle-ranch-just-added-solar-without-losing-grazing-land/

An #Oregon #cattle #ranch just added #solar without losing #grazing land
The one‑acre, 120‑kilowatt array is the first real‑world installation of #RUTE’s patented, cable‑stayed solar tracker designed specifically to coexist with grazing cattle. RUTE supplies the hardware and is also acting as the developer for its first regional cattle‑plus‑solar demonstrations.
https://electrek.co/2025/12/19/an-oregon-cattle-ranch-just-added-solar-without-losing-grazing-land/

"The UK has traditionally been largely self-sufficient in sheep meat. But high feed and farming costs, market uncertainty and low profitability have seen flocks fall to their lowest number ever recorded."

Does this mean that instead of exposed, subsidised #grazing maintaining ever barer #moorland which should be regrowing its tree-cover, we're trending towards using #sheep instead of oil-fueled machinery or herbicides to control the vegetation around solar #PV instalations? Win-win-win-win-win, I'd say. Or as another great account on here calls it #multiSolving @bethsawin

#farming #photovoltaik #solarGrazing

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/14/solar-grazing-triple-win-sheep-farmers-renewables-energy-companies

"The UK has traditionally been largely self-sufficient in sheep meat. But high feed and farming costs, market uncertainty and low profitability have seen flocks fall to their lowest number ever recorded."

Does this mean that instead of exposed, subsidised #grazing maintaining ever barer #moorland which should be regrowing its tree-cover, we're trending towards using #sheep instead of oil-fueled machinery or herbicides to control the vegetation around solar #PV instalations? Win-win-win-win-win, I'd say. Or as another great account on here calls it #multiSolving @bethsawin

#farming #photovoltaik #solarGrazing

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/14/solar-grazing-triple-win-sheep-farmers-renewables-energy-companies

As President Donald Trump’s administration pushes a pro-ranching agenda, ProPublica and High Country News investigated how public lands grazing has evolved.

Here are the biggest takeaways from our reporting.
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-public-lands-investigation-takeaways?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Government #Trump #Environment #Grazing #PublicLands #Law

Wealthy Ranchers Profit From Public Lands. Taxpayers Pick Up the Tab.
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A ProPublica and High Country News investigation found that government programs supporting grazing on public lands prop up a wealthy few while harming the environment. The Trump administration is supercharging the system.
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-ranchers-public-lands-trump?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Government #Trump #Environment #Grazing #PublicLands #Tax

Funny how that works:

"The wealthy profit from public lands, and taxpayers pick up the tab"

"Roughly two-thirds of grazing on Bureau of Land Management land is controlled by just 10% of permit holders. "

https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-12/the-wealthy-profit-from-public-lands-and-taxpayers-pick-up-the-tab/

#landuse #grazing #publiclands #profit #BLM

Wealthy Ranchers Profit From Public Lands. Taxpayers Pick Up the Tab.
---

A ProPublica and High Country News investigation found that government programs supporting grazing on public lands prop up a wealthy few while harming the environment. The Trump administration is supercharging the system.
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-ranchers-public-lands-trump?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Government #Trump #Environment #Grazing #PublicLands #Tax

Funny how that works:

"The wealthy profit from public lands, and taxpayers pick up the tab"

"Roughly two-thirds of grazing on Bureau of Land Management land is controlled by just 10% of permit holders. "

https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-12/the-wealthy-profit-from-public-lands-and-taxpayers-pick-up-the-tab/

#landuse #grazing #publiclands #profit #BLM

A Loophole Allows Ranchers to Renew Grazing Permits With Little Scrutiny of the Environmental Impact
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With dwindling oversight, cattle are grazing where they’re not supposed to and in greater numbers or for longer periods than permitted. This can spread invasive plants, pushing out native species and worsening wildfire risk.
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-environment-public-lands-oversight?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Environment #PublicLands #Cattle #Grazing #Law

What’s not to like?

“The solar arrays provide critical shelter during extreme weather events, protecting sheep from both intense heat and adverse weather conditions. This protection creates a more stable environment for the animals throughout seasonal variations. The panels’ shade effect helps retain soil moisture, which promotes healthier grass growth and more nutritious forage for the grazing animals.

Interestingly, researchers noted reduced parasite presence in the solar grazing areas, contributing to improved overall animal health. This unexpected benefit appears to stem from altered ground conditions beneath the panels, creating an environment less hospitable to common sheep parasites.”

Come on Aussie graziers, get on board. Not just for the sake of your animals, but think about free electricity and extra income year round… You’d have to be mad not to consider it.

#AgroVoltaics#Grazing#SolarFarms#PVPanelMicroclimate#ClimateAction#Electrification

Read more:

https://farmingdale-observer.com/2025/05/22/1700-sheep-installed-between-solar-panels-a-surprising-change-observed-in-the-animals/

What’s not to like?

“The solar arrays provide critical shelter during extreme weather events, protecting sheep from both intense heat and adverse weather conditions. This protection creates a more stable environment for the animals throughout seasonal variations. The panels’ shade effect helps retain soil moisture, which promotes healthier grass growth and more nutritious forage for the grazing animals.

Interestingly, researchers noted reduced parasite presence in the solar grazing areas, contributing to improved overall animal health. This unexpected benefit appears to stem from altered ground conditions beneath the panels, creating an environment less hospitable to common sheep parasites.”

Come on Aussie graziers, get on board. Not just for the sake of your animals, but think about free electricity and extra income year round… You’d have to be mad not to consider it.

#AgroVoltaics#Grazing#SolarFarms#PVPanelMicroclimate#ClimateAction#Electrification

Read more:

https://farmingdale-observer.com/2025/05/22/1700-sheep-installed-between-solar-panels-a-surprising-change-observed-in-the-animals/