Solar Grazing Study: Moderate flocks boost bees at solar farm; heavy grazing cuts gains

Solar farms could offer more than clean energy. A three-year study by Cornell University researchers in New York has found that allowing sheep to graze beneath solar panels may also benefit insects, including bees and lady beetles, when the animals are kept at the right density. The findings, published in Environmental Research Letters on October 7, 2026, suggest that using sheep to manage vegetation can deliver ecological benefits alongside renewable power generation. Cornell Chronicle and science news outlet Phys.org reported the findings on October 14. At a grazing density of two sheep per hectare, researchers recorded 38% more beneficial insects than in plots where vegetation was controlled by mowing. Honey bees accounted for much of the increase, with their abundance rising by 83%. However, the study also found that increasing the number of sheep did not necessarily produce better results for insect populations, highlighting the importance of balancing vegetation management with biodiversity.How sheep grazing can benefit solar farmsThe research was conducted at Cornell University's Cascadilla Community Solar Farm in Dryden, New York. Over three years, researchers examined how ...