Virtual fencing technology gains support from Montana ranchers and officials

DEER LODGE, Mont. — Ranchers, environmental groups and Governor Greg Gianforte gathered outside of Deer Lodge on National Ag Day to discuss virtual fencing technology that is changing how cattle are managed in Montana.

Virtual fencing acts sort of like an invisible fence for dogs would, where cows wear a collar that beeps and then gives a light shock to them as they approach a boundary set by GPS.

Jim Felton, the rancher who hosted the event, started using a virtual fencing system made by the company Vence last year and says that he's already seen the benefits.

"We have a forest service permit that has very bad fences, gates tend to be left open on the road and cattle wander," Felton said. "So, we used the virtual fencing to keep track of them and keep them in specific areas and then have the GPS location as well."

Felton owns Felton Angus Ranch.

Governor Greg Gianforte said that this was a technology he's excited about and that he sees more ranchers adopting.

"It allows ranchers to make better use of the forage in the pastures by seeing where the cattle have been," Gianforte said. "We heard the hand here say that it's easier to gather because you can actually move the virtual boundaries of the pasture when you want to get the cows together and transport them."

Jillien Streit, the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, says that there are a ton of upsides to these systems.

"Really excited about the idea of being able to be efficient with less labor force but at the same time have a great interface with nature with wildlife," Streit said. "Get rid of the physical fences, bring in the virtual fences and double the cows in the state."

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was also on hand at this event, with a representative saying that virtual fencing is much kinder to wildlife than traditional barbed wire.