Virtual Fencing Utilization on Wetland Reserve Easements

Commodities

• Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial)
• Additional Plants: native plants
• Animals: bovine

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing management
• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
• Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement

Maddalena Ranch has grazed on a piece of property currently owned
by the Feather River Land Trust (FRLT) for approximately 80
years. Our family owned 575 acres of the property, which was sold
to FRLT in 2003. Since then, FRLT has entered into a Wetland
Reserve Easement (WRE) on the property to meet their ecological
and preservation goals. In doing so, it has become increasingly
difficult to manage grazing on the property with the new easement
regulations and fencing requirements. Currently, approximately
five miles of high tensile/poly wire electric fence is built and
removed EACH grazing season to keep cattle out of designated
wetlands and off the Feather River. This requires hours of labor
and little flexibility when weather conditions change. We believe
that virtual fencing could be the sustainable and efficient
answer to this issue. By facilitating more intensive grazing
management, we will enhance other property sustainability goals
such as invasive weed management, wildlife habitat and fire fuel
loads. Our research question is: Can virtual fencing enhance the
effectiveness of grazing management on wetland reserve easements?

To answer this question, we will use a virtual fencing program
and place electric collars on 100 head of cattle on the 1,200
acre property for three grazing seasons. We will use the program
to virtually move fences depending on the date requirements of
the WRE and other sustainability objectives. Data and notes will
be used to track the effectiveness of cattle retention, ease of
software, and positives and negatives of the study.

Potential outcomes will include: an understanding of new
technology in our local ranching community which could lead to
more successful and sustainable cattle grazing, improved targeted
grazing management, ecological outcomes, and much more. We will
disseminate our findings amongst producers at meetings, through
UCCE, and via social media.

1. To determine if virtual fencing is a feasible fencing option
   on wetland reserve easements to meet conservation goals and
   ranching economic viability. 
2. To identify strengths and weaknesses of virtual fencing on
   wetland reserve easements, meeting monitoring terms and
   conditions. 
3. To acquire a solution that will allow for enhanced grazing
   management and sustainable agricultural practices on wetland
   reserve easements
4. To collaborate with the local land trust to improve
   ecological outcomes and enhance livestock forage utilization.
5. To pilot test a type of fencing that is new to our community.
6. To share both positive and negative feedback with local
   ranchers and agricultural organizations to promote agricultural
   sustainability through a diversity of mechanisms, such as
   personal networks, social media, extension newsletters and
   more.