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Is virtual fencing right for you? Producer considerations for successfully deploying and managing livestock with a virtual fence system

Published Article

United States

Publication date: February 6, 2025

File format: URL

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Virtual fencing (VF) is an emerging livestock‑management tool with potential to transform grazing on public and private lands, but it is not universally beneficial. Drawing on three years of experience deploying VF on working U.S. ranches, this study identifies operational characteristics linked to successful adoption and clarifies when VF may fall short. Producers are guided through key suitability questions, practical considerations and a decision tree that highlights when VF can enhance management—and when traditional tools may be more effective. By setting realistic expectations and outlining situations requiring adaptation, the work supports producers in determining whether VF aligns with their goals and operating conditions.

Subject Tags

  • Conservation Technology
  • Land management

Abstract

  • Virtual fencing (VF) is a recent development in agriculture technology with a high potential to improve management outcomes on public and private grazing lands. Adoption is expected to accelerate as the technology improves in providing safe and effective management capabilities for diverse operating contexts.


  • Although the applications of VF are numerous, it is not a silver bullet to solve grazing management issues and is not always beneficial for farm and ranch operations.


  • We reflect on the operational characteristics that tend to lead to successful VF deployment based on direct experience using VF on working ranches in the United States over the last three years.


  • We provide a set of questions and considerations and a decision tree to help producers determine their suitability for adopting and benefiting from VF as well as highlight when producers may need to adapt to realize the full potential of VF. These questions also elucidate when producers may be better served to look to other management approaches or tools rather than investing in VF at this time.


  • Our goal is to provide realistic expectations of what VF can and cannot do and help producers be well prepared and succeed with deploying and using VF.

Citation

May, T. M., Burnidge, W. S., Vorster, A. G., Dalke, A. M., Aljoe, H., Lien, A. M., & Noelle, S. M. (2025). Is virtual fencing right for you? Producer considerations for successfully deploying and managing livestock with a virtual fence system. Rangelands, 47(1), 9-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2024.06.003

TNC Authors

  • Tegan M. May
    Regenerative Grazing Lands Project Manager, Midwest
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: tegan.may@tnc.org

  • William S. Burnidge
    North America Regenerative Grazing Lands Deputy Director
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: wburnidge@tnc.org