A 27-year-old Tennessee diesel mechanic wanted to farm full-time; solar sites gave his sheep...

A 27-year-old Tennessee diesel mechanic has left his job to become a full-time livestock farmer after gaining grazing access to more than 400 acres of utility-scale solar farms. The arrangement, made through vegetation management contracts at solar sites, allowed the young farmer to expand his flock to more than 300 breeding ewes without having to buy the large amount of land usually needed for a commercial sheep operation. According to regional advocacy group Appalachian Voices, solar grazing, also known as agrivoltaics, is creating new opportunities for small livestock farmers across the American South. The practice involves using sheep to control grass and weeds growing beneath and around ground-mounted solar panels. Solar companies avoid using fuel-powered mowing equipment, while farmers gain access to fenced pasture through long-term grazing agreements.High land prices make farming difficult for young producersFinding enough affordable pasture remains one of the biggest challenges for people trying to start commercial livestock farms in the United States. In East and Middle Tennessee, rising land prices and suburban growth have pushed the cost of farmland beyond the reach of m...