Compared to other parts of the agricultural community, graziers of cattle depend less on fossil fuel and more on solar energy to turn a natural resource like grass into a sellable commodity, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg.
Graziers can save on operating expenses and provide quality feed to meet nutritional needs by allowing cows to do selective harvesting, he says.
The job of a grazier, often referred to as a solar panel manager, is to maintain plenty of grass blades (solar panels) to convert the sun’s energy through photosynthesis into carbohydrates for livestock to graze. Graziers continually look for ways to reduce undesirable solar panels such as bare soil, overgrazed plants, mature plants and weeds.