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“The money’s too good not to take.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Some Australian farmers who once spent $1 million feeding livestock through a severe drought now see wind and solar projects as a way to better withstand the next dry spell, Renew Economy reported.
Near Uralla in northern New South Wales, Australia, sixth-generation farmers Hugh Sutherland and Cathie Sutherland said the 2019 drought nearly broke their property, Deerargee, according to Renew Economy.
Looking back on that period, they said the farm was reduced to a dustbowl.
Hugh Sutherland recalled, “It was just heartbreaking. The cattle were fighting sheep for the feed.”
That ordeal helped lead the Sutherlands to commit roughly half of their 3,400-acre property to the next stage of the nearby New England Solar farm. They also expect payment for hosting a section of the transmission line and a shared substation tied to the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
In an industry where income can swing with rainfall and feed costs, those payments offer predictability and a steadier income source than agriculture often provides.
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That consistency matters even more because the region was still unusually dry by the end of July. Bureau of Meteorology figures from Armidale Airport showed 8.5 inches of rain had fallen by then, versus a long-term average of 16.9 inches.
For many landholders, wind and solar projects can help invest back into farms and keep properties in family hands.
Chris and Jen Laurie, who run the 1,050-acre Talbarea property, see the prospect of hosting turbines and solar panels as something that would significantly reshape their future.
“It’s literally life-changing for us,” Chris Laurie said.
Landholders also said the infrastructure can bring day-to-day advantages. Roads built for turbines and solar installations can make distant parts of a property easier to reach.
On some farms, land can continue to be used productively around solar infrastructure, as sheep can still graze near panels while the property also earns another stream of income. This practice is known as agrivoltaics.
Renewable energy development in Australia’s New England region is taking shape through a mix of solar projects, wind proposals, transmission lines, and substations.
For farmers, those projects could provide income that helps them get through dry years and avoid having to spend heavily on emergency feed.
Some nearby landholders want the developments to proceed. 
Hugh Cordingley, who farms at Mihi Station, said, “The money’s too good not to take.”
The path forward, however, has become less certain because of politics. Renew Economy reported that in June 2026, the New South Wales Coalition downgraded the New England REZ and dropped its backing for the planned transmission line.
Farmers interviewed by Renew Economy said transmission infrastructure is crucial because many of the planned projects would not be able to go ahead without it.
“If they pull out, it will hurt,” Chris Laurie said.
If you want to read more about people implementing agrivoltaics and other sustainable farming practices, these stories have plenty of examples.
• In Wyoming, ranchers say the benefits of pairing solar power are helping them stay competitive.
• In arid regions, solar projects are turning deserts into fertile farmlands as they expand.
• Across the Midwest, farmers and developers are teaming up to grow produce together.
• On solar farms, pairing sheep with solar panels is giving graziers a massive leg-up.
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