You don’t need 100 head of cattle and acres of land to reap the benefits of rotational grazing. Portable electric fencing is a great small-farm tool for increasing soil fertility, taming some of the most stubborn weeds and feeding your animals all at the same time.
PURCHASE POINTERS
The energizer — what produces the electric zap — is critical and can be expensive. The amount of energy an energizer sends through a fence is measured in output joules. Higher output joules will cost more. Manufacturers suggest 0.5 to 1 output joules for corralling cows, horses, goats and pigs. More aggressive and better insulated animals (such as fluffy sheep) will need a greater shock as a deterrent. I started with an energizer of 0.8 output joules for my goats but replaced it with a less expensive, less powerful option of only 0.1 output joules. I’ll need to update this equipment when adding new animals.
Energizers can be powered by solar-powered batteries or hooked up to an outlet through an extension cord. The solar-power option is by far the easiest to move and set up, but it’s also more expensive. Though the extension cord isn’t the prettiest option, it does work just as well and is less expensive if you already have a couple hundred feet stored in a barn.
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The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
Be prepared to see increasing changes in weeds we fight, such as poison hemlock and poison ivy, and in the crops we grow.
LIVESTOCK Health
Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.
CUT FLOWER Farming
If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.
WINTER Survival
Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.
Preconditioning CALVES
Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.
Soil Conservation
Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.
Barn Improvements
Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.
