Fencing

What is a fence?

A fence is a structural barrier enclosing a specific area of ground as a boundary to control access and prevent the escape of livestock.

Fences are common on agricultural operations, but they can also serve a conservation purpose. Fencing can exclude livestock from environmentally sensitive areas and can reduce their impact on water and soil resources in the areas where they do have access.

Do you notice any of these issues on your farm?

• Overgrazed or unevenly grazed pasture
• Livestock accessing stream and riparian zones

Fences have many benefits

• Manage pastures effectively
• Control livestock movement
• Protect streams and other sensitive areas from livestock

Other practices are associated with fences

Several conservation practices can be associated with fences on farms. Some common associated practices include:

• Prescribed grazing
• Access control
• Watering facility
• Heavy use area protection
• Trails and walkways
• Riparian buffer

Assistance with design, construction, and obtaining any necessary permits is available (see URLs at the end of this fact sheet for more information).

Many design choices are possible

Before design and construction, it is necessary to identify the purposes the fence will serve, in addition to the landscape where it is being installed. Here are some of the most important factors to consider:

• Species and number of livestock
• Whether it is on the perimeter or acting as a subdivision
• Topography
• Depth to bedrock
• Location of gates and lanes for efficient livestock movement and equipment access
• Setbacks from sensitive areas
• Location of any existing infrastructure

Fence material choices include combinations of wood and different types of wire, such as high-tensile, woven, and barbed wire. High-tensile wire fences are strong and durable. Woven wire fences can be designed for different heights, gauges, and grid sizes that can be beneficial for multi-species use, but they can be challenging to install.

Temporary fences are used to subdivide fields into smaller grazing areas. Commonly used products include braided polywire and electric net, typically paired with step-in posts. Some producers may use exterior fence types to subdivide fields for rotational grazing, whereas other producers may use temporary fencing for flexibility.

What maintenance is required?

Regular monitoring and maintenance, especially after storms and other disturbance events, are needed to ensure that the fences remain in good working condition.

• Inspect posts for leaning, breakage, rot, or looseness. Replace or re-set posts that are compromised.
• Check wires for sagging, looseness, breaks, or stretching. Tighten any slack wires and splice or replace any broken sections. Replace any missing steeples or insulators.
• Regularly clear weeds, grass, and brush from along and under the fence lines, especially electric fences, to prevent shorts and maintain proper function. Remove any downed trees or limbs that are lying on the fence.

Interested in installing fences as a conservation practice?

Fences may be eligible for funding in Pennsylvania through several conservation programs administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). Additionally, several local funding sources may be available through organizations such as county conservation districts or local nongovernmental organizations.

For more information, reach out to

Penn State Extension staff at the  Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT), USDA NRCS, or your local conservation district office.

Prepared by Weiyun Hua, assistant teaching professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Penn State, Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training, and Leanna Duppstadt, Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training.