Lamberton Farmer Combines Solar and Grazing

Adam Kronback's family farm uses solar panels to generate renewable energy while also allowing sheep to graze underneath.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:41pm

An abstract, textured painting in earthy tones of yellow, green, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric shapes and concentric circles that evoke the interconnected systems of renewable energy and regenerative agriculture.A family farm in Minnesota finds a way to harness the sun's energy while also allowing sheep to graze freely beneath the solar panels.Lamberton Today

Adam Kronback, a fourth-generation farmer in Lamberton, Minnesota, has found a way to combine solar energy production with traditional livestock grazing on his family's land. After returning to the farm following eight years as a food scientist, Kronback has been looking for innovative ways to diversify the operation and make it more sustainable.

Why it matters

As more farmers and landowners explore renewable energy options, the ability to co-locate solar panels with other agricultural uses like grazing can help maximize the productivity of limited land resources. This approach also reduces the environmental impact compared to clearing land solely for solar farms.

The details

Kronback has installed solar panels across several acres of his family's farmland, allowing his flock of sheep to graze freely underneath the elevated panels. This dual-use system generates clean electricity while also providing forage for the livestock, creating a symbiotic relationship between the solar and agricultural components of the operation.

  • Kronback returned to the family farm in Lamberton after working as a food scientist for 8 years.
  • The solar panel installation and sheep grazing program was implemented over the past 2 years.

The players

Adam Kronback

A fourth-generation farmer in Lamberton, Minnesota who has combined solar energy production with traditional livestock grazing on his family's land.

Lamberton

A small town in southwestern Minnesota where Kronback's family farm is located.

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What they’re saying

“Putting the solar panels up has allowed us to generate clean energy while still being able to use the land for our sheep. It's a win-win that makes our farm more sustainable.”

— Adam Kronback, Farmer

What’s next

Kronback plans to expand the solar panel array and grazing area over the next few years to further increase the farm's renewable energy production and diversify its agricultural output.

The takeaway

Innovative farmers like Adam Kronback are finding creative ways to integrate renewable energy infrastructure with traditional farming practices, demonstrating how solar and agriculture can coexist to create more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.