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Sunlight, Sheep & Solar Farms: Agri-Energy with Rebecca Pierce | Ep. 47
Can solar farms grow food and renewable power at the same time? In this episode of Productive Passions, host Christy Tagye sits down with agri-energy advocate Rebekah Pierce to explore how sunlight, sheep, and solar can transform the future of farming. From upstate New York pastures to nationwide debates about land use, you will hear how agri-energy protects farmland, supports farmers, and powers our communities.
Whether you are a farmer, renewable energy professional, or simply care about where your food and power come from, this conversation will open your eyes to what is possible when agriculture and clean energy work together instead of competing. You will hear honest stories about risk, startup costs, aging farmers, community resistance, and the creative solutions that keep land productive and families on the farm.
Today’s Takeaways
Solar farms can be designed to accommodate sheep grazing, cattle, vegetable crops, and even hay production - creating dual-use systems that generate clean energy while keeping land in productive agriculture.
Livestock vegetation management eliminates fire risks from mechanical mowing equipment, prevents panel damage from flying rocks, reduces maintenance costs, and dramatically improves community perception of solar projects.
Solar lease agreements can pay landowners four to five times what traditional agricultural leasing generates, providing crucial retirement income for aging farmers who lack traditional pensions or 401(k)s.
Solar farms can accommodate various livestock species and even hay production when designed with agriculture in mind, including taller panel heights, buried cables, and appropriate spacing for equipment and animal movement.
Pictures of livestock on solar farms dramatically reduce community resistance to renewable energy projects, transforming opposition into support when people see agriculture continuing rather than disappearing.
Each solar farm presents unique challenges requiring different management approaches, from pollinator-friendly sites to those with tracker panels versus fixed panels, varying fence designs, and different water availability.
Solar projects often pass through multiple companies from planning to construction to operations, requiring consistent advocacy for agricultural integration at every stage to prevent the vision from getting diluted.
Beyond purchasing animals at $150-$200 per head, farmers must budget for hay, vaccinations, grain supplements, interior fencing, solar-powered electric fence systems, livestock trailers (thousands of dollars), and required insurance coverage.
30 million acres of U.S. farmland grow corn exclusively for ethanol production. Solar energy produces 30 times more energy per acre than corn ethanol and delivers 85 times more driving miles, a compelling case for rethinking land use priorities.
Agricultural land isn't truly "prime" if there's no farmer able or willing to work it. With the average U.S. farmer age at 58 and one-third over 65, we need innovative solutions that keep land productive while supporting aging farmers' retirement needs.
Moving animals to fresh pastures in rotational grazing systems produces more nutrient-dense food than conventional methods while improving soil health, water quality, and environmental outcomes—but it requires significantly more acreage.
Conventional monocropping, heavy chemical use, and intensive tilling cause us to lose roughly one pound of topsoil for every bushel of corn produced. This erosion increases fertilizer costs for farmers while contaminating waterways and contributing to healthcare expenses downstream.
No amount of book learning replaces hands-on farming experience. Success comes from experimenting, making mistakes, learning from failures, and staying open to continuous learning, especially in emerging industries like agri-energy.
Just as children can't survive on chicken nuggets alone, our economy needs diversified agricultural systems beyond commodity crops and varied energy sources beyond any single solution.
The concept of "food NIMBYism" (Not In My Backyard) reveals our disconnect from food production—we want agriculture to happen, just not where we can see it, often pushing it to communities with fewer resources to resist.
Want to learn more about agri-energy systems? Rebecca Pierce's book "Agri-Energy: Growing Power, Growing Food" released November 20th and is available wherever books are sold.
Find Rebekah Pierce
Stay Connected with Productive Passions
Website: https://www.productivepassions.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5sVM0bWVyyPfoq63jA2th7
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productive-passions/id1722526123
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad852885-1fd6-4fb5-8e09-702be230d5b3/productive-passions
iHeartRadio:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-productive-passions-158963722/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ProductivePassions
Social Links
Facebook: facebook.com/productivepassions
Instagram: instagram.com/productivepassions
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/productive-passions
Christy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christytagye
Email: [email protected]
If this episode opened your eyes to what is possible when farming and clean energy collaborate, follow the show, leave a review, or share it with someone who cares about the future of food and power.
Productive Passions — Helping you turn passion into purpose with Christy Tagye.
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By christytagyeCan solar farms grow food and renewable power at the same time? In this episode of Productive Passions, host Christy Tagye sits down with agri-energy advocate Rebekah Pierce to explore how sunlight, sheep, and solar can transform the future of farming. From upstate New York pastures to nationwide debates about land use, you will hear how agri-energy protects farmland, supports farmers, and powers our communities.
Whether you are a farmer, renewable energy professional, or simply care about where your food and power come from, this conversation will open your eyes to what is possible when agriculture and clean energy work together instead of competing. You will hear honest stories about risk, startup costs, aging farmers, community resistance, and the creative solutions that keep land productive and families on the farm.
Today’s Takeaways
Solar farms can be designed to accommodate sheep grazing, cattle, vegetable crops, and even hay production - creating dual-use systems that generate clean energy while keeping land in productive agriculture.
Livestock vegetation management eliminates fire risks from mechanical mowing equipment, prevents panel damage from flying rocks, reduces maintenance costs, and dramatically improves community perception of solar projects.
Solar lease agreements can pay landowners four to five times what traditional agricultural leasing generates, providing crucial retirement income for aging farmers who lack traditional pensions or 401(k)s.
Solar farms can accommodate various livestock species and even hay production when designed with agriculture in mind, including taller panel heights, buried cables, and appropriate spacing for equipment and animal movement.
Pictures of livestock on solar farms dramatically reduce community resistance to renewable energy projects, transforming opposition into support when people see agriculture continuing rather than disappearing.
Each solar farm presents unique challenges requiring different management approaches, from pollinator-friendly sites to those with tracker panels versus fixed panels, varying fence designs, and different water availability.
Solar projects often pass through multiple companies from planning to construction to operations, requiring consistent advocacy for agricultural integration at every stage to prevent the vision from getting diluted.
Beyond purchasing animals at $150-$200 per head, farmers must budget for hay, vaccinations, grain supplements, interior fencing, solar-powered electric fence systems, livestock trailers (thousands of dollars), and required insurance coverage.
30 million acres of U.S. farmland grow corn exclusively for ethanol production. Solar energy produces 30 times more energy per acre than corn ethanol and delivers 85 times more driving miles, a compelling case for rethinking land use priorities.
Agricultural land isn't truly "prime" if there's no farmer able or willing to work it. With the average U.S. farmer age at 58 and one-third over 65, we need innovative solutions that keep land productive while supporting aging farmers' retirement needs.
Moving animals to fresh pastures in rotational grazing systems produces more nutrient-dense food than conventional methods while improving soil health, water quality, and environmental outcomes—but it requires significantly more acreage.
Conventional monocropping, heavy chemical use, and intensive tilling cause us to lose roughly one pound of topsoil for every bushel of corn produced. This erosion increases fertilizer costs for farmers while contaminating waterways and contributing to healthcare expenses downstream.
No amount of book learning replaces hands-on farming experience. Success comes from experimenting, making mistakes, learning from failures, and staying open to continuous learning, especially in emerging industries like agri-energy.
Just as children can't survive on chicken nuggets alone, our economy needs diversified agricultural systems beyond commodity crops and varied energy sources beyond any single solution.
The concept of "food NIMBYism" (Not In My Backyard) reveals our disconnect from food production—we want agriculture to happen, just not where we can see it, often pushing it to communities with fewer resources to resist.
Want to learn more about agri-energy systems? Rebecca Pierce's book "Agri-Energy: Growing Power, Growing Food" released November 20th and is available wherever books are sold.
Find Rebekah Pierce
Stay Connected with Productive Passions
Website: https://www.productivepassions.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5sVM0bWVyyPfoq63jA2th7
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productive-passions/id1722526123
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad852885-1fd6-4fb5-8e09-702be230d5b3/productive-passions
iHeartRadio:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-productive-passions-158963722/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ProductivePassions
Social Links
Facebook: facebook.com/productivepassions
Instagram: instagram.com/productivepassions
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/productive-passions
Christy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christytagye
Email: [email protected]
If this episode opened your eyes to what is possible when farming and clean energy collaborate, follow the show, leave a review, or share it with someone who cares about the future of food and power.
Productive Passions — Helping you turn passion into purpose with Christy Tagye.