A farmer saved his business by grazing sheep under solar panels—a 'brilliant' solution to his land crisis.

Alex Greer strategically utilized a program that links farmers with solar developers to enhance his sheep business. By securing grazing contracts across 38 acres in Asheboro and Rowan counties, he faced hurdles like controlling vegetation and installing predator-proof fencing. Interestingly, studies indicate that sheep grazing can bolster soil health and remain financially viable compared to mechanical mowing over time. Greer's journey exemplifies the promising intersection of solar farming and agriculture.

For Alex Greer, expanding his small sheep business was difficult because he lacked access to enough land. In 2021, an opportunity in North Carolina offered a different route: grazing beneath solar panels. According to North Carolina State University's Centre for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), the NC Choices programme connected Greer, who runs 37 Roots Farm, with the solar company Renew Petra. The first agreement covered a 33-acre site near Asheboro. By autumn, he had secured a second contract at a five-acre solar site. Together, the locations gave him access to 38 acres for grazing and vegetation management without requiring him to buy additional farmland.