Tag: Virtual Fencing

Is Virtual Fencing Right For Your Ranch

Posted on by A.Miller-Cattle-Admin

Is Virtual Fencing Right For Your Ranch

Pros, cons and what to know before buying into virtual fencing as an alternative to traditional permanent ortemporary fencing.

Do barbed-wire fences and adaptive grazing work in harmony? With labor shortages along with the cost of cross-fencing with either permanent or electric fences, traditional fencing isn’t always an option, especially in big pastures.

Virtual fencing, while not the be-all and end-all, can be a solution. Essentially, virtual fencing is a system a rancher can use to program virtual barriers on a smartphone or computer to include or exclude certain areas of a pasture. Animals are fitted with collars that have GPS transceivers, tracking their location and generating sound cues and humane electrical impulses when animals come near the boundary.

Leo Barthelmess is an early adopter who tested such a system on the ranch he and his family run south of Malta, Montana, half on private land and half on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leases. They run a commercial cow-calf outfit on 25,000acres in an ecosystem that he’s told is the largest intact grassland in the world.

The region is home to the second longest migration corridor in the country for wildlife, especially antelope, and is the summer home to around a dozen prairie bird species facing potential endangered species listings. “ a lot of conservation interest here,” he says, “and nobody wants more infrastructure out here.”

Technology to the Rescue

Barthelmess, through the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (www.ranchstewards.org), received a grant to discover if virtual fencing is a viable alternative to traditional fencing. In November 2019, he collared a herd of dry, pregnant cows grazing winter pasture.

Turns out that virtual fencing was indeed a viable alternative, allowing him to change adaptive grazing paddocks virtually, protect riparian areas and use animal impact to help restore native forages.

Barthelmess’ ranch has 40 permanent-fence pastures on both private and BLM land, the largest of which is 4,000 acres. The ranch’s 40 sections have 60 permanent water sources most years. And access to water is what determines how cattle graze a pasture.

He and his crew subdivided the largest pastures based on water availability and used virtual fencing to move cattle.  His goal was to increase stock density by applying traditional pasture rotation with a more targeted, high density grazing program.

Higher density grazing means cattle are moved more frequently, and each grazed pasture unit has a longer rest period.

“We just move from water source to water source with the virtual fence,” he says. On BLM ground, he can keep cattle away from streams, riparian areas and other places the public likes to use. Much of the rangeland in northeast Montana was tilled during the homestead era and has since supported non-native plants such as crested wheatgrass. “We have been using virtual fencing to target those non-native grass areas within the big pastures,” Barthelmess says

Long term, it will help the land return to native grasses and forbs. In the meantime, “It’s allowed us to freshen up the nutrition and palatability of the grass, because we’re knocking a bunch of that decadent material down to the ground to feed the soil.”

Some Questions Remain

However, the technology is new enough that questions remain, says Robin White, associate professor and associate director of the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture at Virginia Tech.“

These technologies typically rely on GPS collars on animals, and they work a lot like an electric dog fence,” she says. “Typically, there’s an audio stimulus when the animal comes close to a perimeter, and then there is an electric stimulus to encourage the animal to stay away from the barrier.”

The collars allow a beef producer to track the location of animals in near real time through web- and phone-based apps. “Of the things we don’t know is how often you can move the boundaries. Is the animal really responding to the visual or the auditory stimulus, or have they learned that that part of the field is where they get shocked and they don’t want to go over there?”

Virtual Herding

There are a lot of reasons that virtual fencing might make sense. Mike Williams has one very compelling reason. He leases a 12,000-acre ranch in the mountain’s northeast of Los Angeles. One of the lease stipulations is no cross fences. He herded his cattle when he first leased the ranch, keeping them in a bunch and moving them around every two or three days. While it worked, it was pretty much a full-time job, and Williams runs the ranch mostly by himself. “When you get sidetracked, the cows get spread out, and it’s a job getting them back together again. So, I saw virtual fences as a way of maybe reducing the amount of area I had to go to when I did put them back together,” he says.

“It’s been so successful that I don’t spend nearly as much time with herding as I do rely on the virtual fence. Although I still use herding when I want a specific herd impact in specific areas, more concentrated than what the virtual fence is really designed to do.” Beyond that, Williams says while cattle can be influenced by the virtual fence, they’re not necessarily confined by it. “Some cows learn how to beat it,” he says. “It’s not something you’d want to use next to a highway, for example.” In addition, battery life of the collars is something to keep in mind. However, he says the virtual fencing collars are effective in keeping track of the cattle in general.

“Just looking at the computer, you get an idea where they are at any given time, and you get an idea of the intensity that they’ve been in particular areas. I was surprised at some of the areas the cattle go to and some of the grazing patterns that the cattle were demonstrating.”

For More Information

If you’re interested in grants or other help to add virtual fencing, contact your preferred local conservationist, says Martin Townsend, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance conservation director. “NRCS is offering [cost-share] help through EQIP in most states.

National and state grazing land coalitions, conservation districts and other entities may be as well. “The challenge is that grants and similar support continue to change, according to Allison Burenheide with Vence, Merck Animal Health’s virtual fencing system. “We’ve seen great success working with BLM, Forest Service and conservation organizations such as Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Sage Grouse Conservation,” she says.

Things to consider about virtual fencing:
  • Available funding within your area.
  • Needs within your area: post-burn grazing, wildlife migration/protection, invasive grass species, conservation focus, etc.
  • Be prepared for what you’ll need for grants — most likely a grazing plan showing that you work with your range conservationist.
  • Knowledge of topography and cell signal availability, which can impact effectiveness.
May 2026

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Why Monil Is Bringing Virtual Fencing to the Midwest

Posted on by A.Miller-Cattle-Admin

Why Monil Is Bringing Virtual Fencing to the Midwest — and Moving a Family to Do It

As interest grows in tools that support rotational grazing and pasture management, Norwegian agtech company Monil has started its U.S. journey in the Midwest. But instead of launching from afar, the company is starting with ranch visits, conversations, and a Norwegian family with their boots on the ground in Kansas City.

Kansas City, Kansas — When Norwegian agtech company Monil decided to expand into the United States, they didn’t begin with a distributor agreement or a remote sales office. They moved a family.

Oliver Halvorsrød and Nina Volstad relocated to Kansas City with their children earlier this year to begin building Monil’s first permanent presence in the United States. Their kids are now attending school locally, and the family is settling into everyday life in the Midwest while traveling across Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma meeting cattle producers.

The goal is simple: learn from ranchers while introducing a technology that could change how producers manage pasture.

That technology is virtual fencing.

Managing Grass Without Moving Fence

Virtual fencing replaces traditional fence lines with digital boundaries drawn in a mobile app. Cattle wear GPS-enabled collars that guide them using audio cues acting as a sound barrier when they have learned the system and approach a boundary.

Instead of installing wire and posts, producers can move paddocks with a few taps on a phone.

For operations interested in rotational grazing, paddock grazing, and frequent shifts, the system makes it easier to manage where cattle graze without the labor of moving temporary fences.

“Most producers understand the value of managing grass more actively,” Oliver says. “But moving wire every couple of days takes time. Virtual fencing gives you another way to manage pasture.”

That flexibility allows producers to test different grazing patterns, protect sensitive areas, or adjust paddock size as grass conditions change.

Over time, those adjustments can support better pasture optimization, improved yield utilization, and more consistent grassland yield optimization.

A Tool for Regenerative Grazing and Soil Health

Across the Midwest, more cattle producers are experimenting with regenerative farming practices.

Many are interested in improving soil health, increasing pasture productivity, and making better use of the land they already manage.

Those goals often depend on controlling where cattle graze and how long they stay in each area.

Virtual fencing makes that level of management easier.

Producers can divide larger pastures into smaller paddocks and move cattle more frequently without installing new fence lines. These frequent shifts allow grass to recover and distribute grazing pressure more evenly.

For producers already practicing rotational grazing, virtual fencing can remove some of the practical barriers.

“We hear the same question everywhere,” Oliver says. “How do I manage grass better with the time and land I already have?”

Virtual fencing doesn’t replace good grazing management. It simply gives producers a more flexible tool for doing it.

A Different Type of Collar System

Monil’s approach to virtual fencing focuses on simplicity for everyday ranch use.

Each animal wears a small, lightweight collar that sits on top of the neck, where it creates minimal disturbance. The collars are solar powered, allowing them to recharge during normal grazing.

Monil’s collars operate independently using cellular coverage, without relying on base stations or fixed infrastructure. That means producers can manage virtual paddocks across large grazing areas without installing towers or additional equipment in the pasture.

For many operations—particularly small to medium-sized cattle operations—that flexibility can make adoption easier. Monil’s system was designed with practical ranch operations in mind: simple equipment, minimal infrastructure, and flexible grazing management.

“It’s a system designed to move with the herd,” Oliver explains.

The collars create a sound barrier that cattle learn to respect. When an animal approaches a virtual boundary, the collar delivers an audio cue first, allowing cattle to turn away before reaching the line. If she doesn’t respond, the collar delivers a brief, low-level electric stimulus that encourages her to turn back into the paddock.

Over time, most animals learn to respond to the sound alone.

Learning From Ranchers Across the Region

While the technology is new to many U.S. producers, Monil’s team believes the most important step in entering a new market is listening.

Since arriving in Kansas, Oliver and Nina have been traveling extensively across the region—visiting ranches, walking pastures, and talking with producers about grazing management.

Sometimes the whole family comes along.

“We’re here to learn,” Nina says. “Every ranch manages grass differently. Those conversations help us understand what producers actually need.”

That approach reflects Monil’s philosophy: technology in agriculture works best when it’s built with producers, not just for them.

What’s stood out most so far is the reception on the ranches themselves. Conversations have been open, practical, and often curious. Many producers want to understand how virtual fencing might fit into the way they already manage grass, cattle, and pasture.

For Oliver and Nina, those discussions have been one of the most meaningful parts of the move.

“Producers have been incredibly welcoming,” Nina says. “We’ve been invited to walk pastures, look at grazing plans, and talk through ideas. Building those relationships face to face has been one of the most rewarding parts of being here.”

Those early conversations are helping shape how Monil approaches the Midwest market—not just as a place to sell technology, but as a community to learn from and grow within.

From Norway to the UK — and Now the Midwest

This isn’t Oliver’s first time helping introduce virtual fencing to a new market.

Before coming to the United States, he led Monil’s expansion from Norway into the United Kingdom, working with producers there to adopt the technology.

Now he leads the company’s U.S. efforts while Nina helps manage operations and communications as the team grows.

The move to Kansas City is the first step toward building a full Midwest-based team.

“We’re here for the long term,” Oliver says. “The plan is to build a U.S. team from the ground up.”

That means hiring locally, continuing ranch visits, and working closely with cattle producers across the region.

Why the Midwest

The Midwest remains one of the most important cattle regions in the country, with a strong culture of grazing management and pasture-based production.

For Monil, that made it the natural place to begin building a U.S. presence.

Producers in Midwestern states manage diverse landscapes and grazing systems, from native prairie to improved pasture.

Many are also exploring ways to improve efficient farming practices while keeping operations practical and cost-effective.

Those conversations are shaping how Monil introduces virtual fencing in the United States.

“We’re meeting producers who care deeply about how they manage grass,” Oliver says. “That’s exactly the kind of environment where this technology can make sense.”

The First U.S. Rollout

Monil’s virtual fencing system is already used by hundreds of producers in Europe. Now the company is preparing for its first U.S. launch. Shipping to Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Missouri is expected in April pending FCC approval.

The system is designed to support operations looking to improve grazing flexibility while maintaining practical, day-to-day management.

For producers interested in managing grass more actively, virtual fencing offers a new way to experiment with paddock design and grazing patterns.

And for many ranches, that flexibility can mean better use of the land they already have.

What Comes Next

For now, the Monil team will continue traveling, visiting ranches, and learning from producers across the region.

Introducing new technology in agriculture rarely happens overnight. It happens pasture by pasture, conversation by conversation.

Technology alone doesn’t change ranch operations. Relationships and trust do.

Proposed End of Article (some sort of callout etc)

Monil is currently taking US pre-orders, building a Midwest team, and hosting video events for producers who want to learn more about virtual fencing.

Proposed Sidebar Fact Box

What Is Virtual Fencing?

Virtual fencing uses GPS technology and smart collars to guide cattle within digital pasture boundaries.

Instead of installing physical fence, producers create paddocks in a mobile app.

Key features

• Small, lightweight solar-powered collars
• Top-mounted collar design for minimal disturbance
• Digital paddocks created in a mobile app
• Audio cues and a sound barrier guide cattle away from boundaries
• Flexible paddock changes without moving wire
• Supports rotational grazing and frequent shifts

Designed for practical ranch use

Monil’s system is built for simplicity—minimal equipment, flexible pasture management, and tools that fit into everyday ranch operations.

Proposed Quotes

“We didn’t want to enter the U.S. market from behind a screen. If you want to work with cattle producers, you need to be where they are.”

“At the end of the day, this is about managing grass better. Virtual fencing just gives producers more flexibility to do that.”

“After working with farmers across Scandinavia and the UK, I can honestly say the producers I’ve spoken with here are far more progressive in how they manage grazing. This makes me extremely excited to be working with Midwestern ranchers.”

April 2026

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Virtual Fencing A game Changer for Ranchers

Posted on by Weicks-Webmaster

 

A rancher roundtable on using the eShepherd virtual fencing system

 As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, new technologies are reshaping the way ranchers manage their livestock. Gallagher’s eShepherd virtual fencing system is helping ranchers streamline operations, reduce labor, and improve pasture management.

eShepherd uses GPS tracking and solar-powered neckbands to create virtual boundaries, offering a significant shift from traditional fencing methods.

We spoke with four ranchers who have implemented eShepherd to hear firsthand how this technology has impacted their operations.

Meet the Panel:

   Nick Jorgensen – CEO, Jorgensen Land and Cattle, South Dakota

   Vannie Collins – Owner, Purisima Pastures, LP, Texas

   Greg Thoren – Owner, Thoren Farms, Illinois 

   Henry Burns – President, Wild Olive Cattle Company, Texas

Why Virtual Fencing? The Initial Motivation

When it comes to deciding whether to adopt virtual fencing, all the ranchers had unique reasons, but one common theme emerged: the desire to improve land and cattle management while reducing the physical labor involved.

Nick Jorgensen, who manages a 25,000-acre operation in South Dakota, explained that the decision was driven by logistical challenges. “We run a large number of cattle on expansive land, and managing rotational grazing with traditional physical infrastructure was becoming cumbersome. Virtual fencing allowed us to eliminate the need for additional staff and reduce the burden of manual moves,” he said. 

Jorgensen’s goal was clear: increase grazing efficiency without stretching his team too thin.

Vannie Collins in South Texas made the decision based on the inefficiencies of traditional fencing in their dense brushlands. Workers find setting up electric fences in our terrain labor-intensive. Collins noted that the eShepherd system has freed up labor. The system allows us to manage our grazing more intensively. The system also makes our team available for other tasks on the ranch.

Henry Burns who runs 6 000 acres in the same region was attracted to the technology’s ability to improve forage utilization. We aimed to place animals into smaller areas more easily and compel them to be less selective about their food choices. He explained that the eShepherd system has helped us achieve that.

Simple and Straightforward Implementation

A consistent point across all interviews was how easy the Gallagher eShepherd system was to implement. Ranchers found the installation process and daily use surprisingly simple, despite the technology’s sophistication.

“It’s really amazing how easy this is—cattle just will not cross it,” Thoren said. “I can move them at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m., whenever it fits my schedule. Once I get it fully set up, I’ll even be able to move them multiple times a day automatically. That’s going to benefit my soil health, my plant health, and ultimately, my cattle’s health.”

Collins highlighted the ease of setting up the system, especially compared to the challenges of managing traditional fencing. “All we had to do was draw the paddock on the computer. It’s so much simpler than the physical work of setting up electric fences in dense brush,” he shared.

Nick Jorgensen echoed this sentiment and praised the system’s user-friendly interface: “The neckbands came fully assembled, ready to use. There was no hassle in getting them up and running. It’s been incredibly easy to integrate into our existing operations.” :

Henry Burns pointed out that the use of GPS technology was a game-changer in helping manage his cattle. “The system allows me to track exactly where my animals are at any given time. It’s really given us control over their movements, especially when managing such a large herd across a vast area,” he said.

Improved Animal Management and Land Health

The impact on both animal management and land health has been immediate. One key benefit that all the ranchers observed was the ability to implement rotational grazing more effectively. eShepherd enables the movement of cattle with greater precision, ensuring that animals don’t overgraze specific areas.

Jorgensen explained, “We can graze the land harder in specific areas but then rest it for a full year. This approach mimics natural grazing patterns like those of bison, helping improve the grass health over time.”

Burns appreciates how the system helps to optimize forage utilization. “I’m able to control paddock size, recovery periods, and grazing intensity. It’s a more controlled, sustainable way to manage land and cattle.”

For Collins, the GPS tracking of the animals has made monitoring grazing efficiency much easier. “We can adjust paddock size and grazing frequency based on real-time data. It’s a huge improvement over our old methods,” he said.

Cost Savings and Labor Efficiency

The ranchers also mentioned significant labor and time savings along with the ecological benefits. With the need to set up and move physical fences virtually eliminated, labor is freed up for other crucial tasks on the ranch.

Burns, who previously spent considerable time managing portable electric fences, explained the labor-saving potential: “Picking up and putting down the wire was a huge time sink. The eShepherd system saves us both time and money.” 

Collins shared a similar sentiment: “Labor is always a challenge in ranching. The system has allowed us to be more efficient in our daily operations. It’s freed up my crew to focus on other important areas of ranching, and that’s made a big difference.” 

Thoren, who ranches in the furthest northwest county of Illinois along the Mississippi, said, “With traditional fencing, we’ve lost time and money repairing flood fences after high water takes them out. Sometimes, it takes days to get those fences back up, but with virtual fencing, that’s no longer an issue. The cattle stay contained, and we don’t have to keep rebuilding physical barriers—it’s a huge savings in both labor and materials.”

A Technology for the Future

Looking ahead, the panelists see virtual fencing as a key part of their future operations. 

Jorgensen envisions a future where 100% of his herd is outfitted with the eShepherd system. “In the next few years, we hope to have full utilization across our herd. The technology has already shown tremendous benefits in terms of labor efficiency and grazing management,” he said.

Collins echoed this goal and said, “We’re excited about the potential for virtual fencing to scale with our operation. The flexibility it provides is incredible.”

eSheperd, A Wise Investment

Thoren aid, “This system is going to free up so much time.  Spring keeps us busy with calving and planting stretching us thin. With this, I can move cattle faster, be more diligent with back fencing, and manage pastures more efficiently without adding extra labor. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about making better use of my time and resources.”

Burns summed it up best: “If you’re dealing with a lot of portable electric fence and it’s becoming a pain point, the eShepherd system is definitely worth considering. It’s been a great investment for us.”

For ranchers looking to streamline operations, improve grazing management, and increase labor efficiency, virtual fencing may just be the solution they’ve been searching for. Interested producers can visit TryVirtualFencing.com.

 

Content provided by Gallagher-eShepherd

 

American Cattlemen 2024

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