From the Pastures: Grazing solar sites

Hello from Graze-N-Grow. Everything is still green in our pastures this August, much like the corn and beans. Since we have had numerous rain events after wheat harvest, the volunteer wheat has been a boon for the ewes and lambs. I’ve put cover crops out on some ground, but decided to delay some to allow a little more free grazing. By the time you read this, it will all be in covers, I hope. I’m using from eight to 11 species, depending on field needs, but can only graze about 40 acres that are close by and fenced. We usually get two grazings out of it before mid-December.

Since we don’t have fescue for the winter months, the hay feeding follows. Hopefully, we can do that out in the pasture instead of the feedlot and barnyards like last January’s snow and mud prevented. I don’t mind choring in winter since I can keep warm easier than I can keep cool in the summer heat. This past month of heat and humidity tended to wilt me more than it used to, so I take a break now and then and find a shade tree and have a popsicle and there have been a few three-popsicle days lately.

I hope you readers saw the recent AgriNews article on sheep grazing under solar farms. That’s what’s called synergy. Land stays in production while generating electricity for the grid and cash for shepherds while saving on mowing and spraying costs. Another opportunity for those close enough to a site to manage. A rancher down in Georgia at White Oak Pastures is doing it on a grand scale starting with 1,450 acres. He’s a cattle guy with 2,500 head grazing, but now has that many sheep, as well, since solar grazing has been such a success.

[ Grazing sheep on solar farms provides huge opportunity for industry ]

While cleaning out her parents house, Ruth found a 1928 issue of “Illinois Farmer,” a twice-a-month publication that had an article called “The Golden Hoof Leaves Its Trail,” describing how her grandfather shipped 300 lambs from Montana to Wyanet, Illinois, in September to graze his clover aftermath, volunteer grain and weeds and they then went to a small cornfield in mid-fall to first graze the undergrowth and eventually left them to “sheep off” the corn.

He said they cleaned up the field as good as hogs and only lost three head; no coyote back then. They cost him 13 cents weighing 66 pounds and after finishing in the feedlot were ready for market at 90 pounds while bringing 14 cents. Those were the good old days. I’ve had similar experiences grazing cornfields with sheep, but only by accident. These stories are but two examples of opportunities that the “other red meat” can offer. Give me a call and we’ll talk about it! Happy trails.