So... how do I keep animals from spawning around my crops? (1.22.2)

[Vexxvididu]

So I have my crops in my new world surrounded with a wall.  I'm pretty sure they can't get in there. ...but I had a couple deer spawn in there and eat stuff.  I don't think I had this issue in 1.21 ever but of course know that version had a bug that prevented animals from actually eating crops anyway.  How do I keep them from spawning in my farm?

[Nathan Flaminio]

I believe you have to get rid of or replace all grass/soil blocks that don't have crops planted on them with another type of material (stone, packed dirt, rammed earth)

[Vexxvididu]

that's kind of annoying....  makes it hard to plan extra room to grow my farm...  but that does fit in with what I read.  thanks!