Why use sheep for vegetation maintenance?

Sheep are natural lawn mowers! If managed correctly, they will keep vegetation at an appropriate length while encouraging a healthy, natural ecosystem. Unlike goats, sheep keep their heads to the ground and only focus on eating forages, leaving wires and equipment alone. With limited man hours and limited use of fossil fuels, using sheep for vegetation maintenance is often more fiscally and environmentally responsible than typical landscaping methods.

What does my solar site need to accommodate sheep?

Absolutely nothing! Most sites with adequate perimeter fencing are already perfectly accommodating to sheep. Sheep are small enough to fit underneath solar panels and naturally docile enough to not damage any equipment.

While most sites are accommodating to sheep, some characteristics will make a site "preferred":

- A tensioned perimeter fence, flush to the ground

- Water source on site

- A grazing seed mix, rather than the fescue-turfgrass mix sometimes used at solar sites

Contact us to help make a plan for optimizing your future solar sites for solar grazing!

Are you insured?

Yes! We are fully insured.

How does using sheep for vegetation maintenance work? How long will they be there?

Sheep from Starlight Acres are usually at a site for the entire grazing season (May to October in New York). Starlight Acres practices rotational grazing within most sites, and adjusts stocking density thoughtout the season, necessitating access to the site for the duration of the grazing season. Starlight Acres will be an extra set of eyes on the site, checking in on our sheep several times a week!

How much do your services cost?

Starlight Acres typically charges by the acre, and every site is priced differently based on a number of factors.

- Terrain

- Layout of the solar panels

- Fencing quality

- Access to water

- Distance to home farm

- Length of contract (annual vs. multi-year)

Starlight Acres is happy to visit your site to provide a custom quote for grazing services!

What type of sheep do you have?

The Starlight Acres flock consists of strictly hair sheep. Hair sheep are a variety that grows their wool out in the winter, but unlike a typical sheep, do not require shearing because they naturally shed their wool out every spring. This makes them the perfect sheep to accommodate harsh New York winters, without getting overheated in the hot summers.

More specifically, the breeds of sheep on our farm are Dorpers, Katahdins, and crosses between the two. Dorpers and Katahdins are primarily meat sheep that grow quickly on forages alone. Hair sheep in general, and specifically Dorpers and Katahdins, are known for being low maintenance. In addition to naturally shedding instead of needing to be sheared, they don’t require tail docking, they have a high parasite resistance, and they are naturally polled (no horns).