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Recent Posts

  • Best Buy! Gallagher MBS1800i Charger + Remote / 18 Joule / 200 Mile

  • Best Buy! Gallagher MBS2800i AC/DC Dual Powered Energizer

  • Best Fence Charger: Gallagher M10000i Energizer

  • Best Gallagher MBS2800i AC/DC Dual Powered Fence Charger + Remote

  • Best Source for Gallagher M5800i Charger + Remote / 58 Joule

  • Best Buy! Gallagher MBS1800i Dual Powered Electric Fence Charger

  • Best Fence Charger: Gallagher M160 Electric Fence Energizer

  • Best Electric Fence Tester: Gallagher Digital Voltmeter / Free Shipping

  • Gallagher Fence | Livestock Fencing Cost Share Program

  • Best Fence Charger: Gallagher M10000i Charger + Remote / Free Shipping

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June 01, 2021

Best Buy! Gallagher MBS1800i Charger + Remote / 18 Joule / 200 Mile

 

 

Gallagher MBS1800i + Gallagher I Series Remote / Fault Finder

 FREE USA SHIPPING 

gallagher MB1800i 

 

 

 


* Cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and goats
* Uses 12 volt battery or 110 volt AC and features built-in lightning protection
* Clean Fence: 200 miles / 1,200 acres / Typical Fence: 42 miles / 420 acres
* Comes with waterproof Energizer Controller which displays fence information up to 164’ from the energizer, a 110v power DC adapter, and 12v battery lead set.
* 3-Year warranty

The i Series MBS1800i Fence System comes with:

MBS1800i Energizer G31500

This reliable and energy efficient Energizer with proven Gallagher i Series technology, provides complete confidence in continued fence performance irrespective of changes in power suppy, temperature and fence conditions.

  • Energy efficient – adjusts its power output to suit your fence conditions and minimise power consumption
  • Power your fence, your way – mains, battery or solar. Energizer comes complete with a mains and battery lead set for all power source options (battery and solar panel sold separately for battery and solar powered solutions)
  • Power adaptor input - easy to use, weather right power adaptor input. Simply insert the provided mains or battery lead set, depending on your chosen power source
  • Smart battery management - reduces pulse rate and output energy to manage battery life and ensure 24/7 stock control
  • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there’s a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
  • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms

*Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii 

 

  • DOWNLOAD THE OPERATORS MANUAL HERE

Energizer Controller G30337
Provides total peace of mind that your fence is working correctly. The Controller shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 50m away from the Energizer.

The M1800i fence system is also compatible with:

Fence Monitor (sold separately)
G51000
The Fence Monitor keeps a watchful eye on all corners of your fence. Install up to six Fence Monitors on your fence system to turn it into a fully monitored set up that keeps the Energizer Controller constantly up to date with fence performance.

SMS Energizer Controller (sold separately)
G56760
Receive immediate notification of fence performance via SMS text message to your phone. Turn the Energizer on and off from your mobile. Operates on GSM mobile networks. (Vodaphone and 2 Degrees).

Alarm System (sold separately)
G57900
Secure farm assets. Monitor a section of fence and drive external strobe lights, sirens or alarm panels if the circuit is broken eg: a gate is open or a wire cut.

Solar Panels (sold separately)
G49602 (130W Panel), G49582 (80W Panel)

High quality, fully tested solar panels for solar powered installations.

12v Deep Cycle Battery (sold separately)
G51700

Learn More Here!

Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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May 20, 2021

Best Buy! Gallagher MBS2800i AC/DC Dual Powered Energizer

gallagherfence.net

Gallagher MBS2800i Charger / 28 Joule / 250 Mile / 1500 Acre

 

FREE USA SHIPPING  

This 28 stored joule, dual purpose Energizer that powers up to 250 miles or 1,500 acres of clean fence in ideal conditions with the option of powering either as a 110v plug-in or battery/solar.  

  

Features

Clean Fence: 250 miles / 1,500 acres​

Typical Fence:​ 50 miles​ / 1,000 acres
28 Stored Joules
UL Approved

Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii 

  • DOWNLOAD THE OPERATORS MANUAL HERE

Working together the i Series MB2800i fence system provides fence information at a glance and if it detects any faults, leads you directly to them, saving hours of searching. The i Series MB2800i Fence System comes with:

MBS2800i Energizer
G31501
This reliable and energy efficient Energizer with proven Gallagher i Series technology, provides complete confidence in continued fence performance irrespective of changes in power supply, temperature and fence conditions.

  • Energy efficient – adjusts its power output to suit your fence conditions and minimize power consumption
  • Power your fence, your way – mains, battery or solar. Energizer comes complete with a mains and battery lead set for all power source options (battery and solar panel sold separately for battery and solar powered solutions)
  • Power adaptor input -easy to use, weather tight power adaptor input. Simply insert the provided mains or battery lead set, depending on your chosen power source
  • Smart battery management - reduces pulse rate and output energy to manage battery life and ensure 24/7 stock control
  • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there’s a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
  • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms

 

Energizer Controller

G30337
Provides total peace of mind that your fence is working correctly. The Controller shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 160’ away from the Energizer.

 

The MBS2800i fence system is also compatible with:

Fence Monitor (sold separately)
G51000
The Fence Monitor keeps a watchful eye on all corners of your fence. Add up to six Fence Monitors on your fence system to turn it into a fully monitored set up that keeps the Energizer Controller constantly up to date with fence performance.


Remote & Fault Finder (sold separately)
G50700
The Remote saves hours searching for & fixing faults – it pinpoints the fault within the monitored zone and enables you to turn off the Energizer during repair and on again once complete.


Alarm System (sold separately)
G57900
Secure farm assets. Monitor a section of fence and drive external strobe lights, sirens or alarm panels if the circuit is broken eg: a gate is open or a wire cut.

Solar Panels (sold separately)
G49602 (130W Panel), G49582 (80W Panel)

High quality, fully tested solar panels for solar powered installations.

Learn More Here!

 

Warranty 3 Years
Stored Energy 28 Joules
Clean Wire Fence Distance 250 Miles / 1,500 Acres
Typical Fence Distance 50 Miles / 1,000 Acres
Output Energy 15.5 Joules
Height 8.7"
Width or Length 13.6"
Depth 3.5"
Product Weight 8.4 lbs
Watts 15 Watts

Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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May 19, 2021

Best Fence Charger: Gallagher M10000i Energizer

gallagher electric fence

Gallagher M10000i Charger / 100 Joule / 1000 Mile / 6000 Acre

The Worlds Most Powerful Electric Fence Charger!

 

FREE USA SHIPPING 

The world’s most powerful Energizer. Combining the brute force power of 100 joules with the fence monitoring capabilities of the i Series’ adaptive technology, the new M10000i will deliver more power than any other Energizer available today.

gallagher M10000i worlds most powerful fence charger

Clean Fence: 1000 miles / 6000 acres​
Typical Fence:​ 125 miles​ / 3000 acres
100 Stored Joules
UL Approved

Gallagher i Series Fence Charger features

Features:

  • 100 joules stored energy
  • Up to 1000 Miles / 6,000 Acres
  • Operates on standard 110V current.
  • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there's a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
  • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms
  • Energizer controller included :
  • Shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 160 ft. away from the energizer
  • Turn energizer ON/OFF from controller
  • Compatible with the full line of Gallagher i Series accessories
  • Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii gallagher M10000i series energizer fence charger

 

Combining the brute force power of 100 stored joules with the fence monitoring smarts of the i Series accessories, the new M10000i will deliver more power to the back of the farm than any other energizer. Suitable for fencing all types of animals on up to 1000 acres. The M10000i provides incredible fence performance regardless of extreme temperature conditions or unreliable power supply - adjusting power output to suit your fence conditions and minimize power consumption.
All Gallagher power fence energizers carry a 2-year warranty, including lightning damage if lightning protection is used. In addition, each carries a 30-day, money-back, customer satisfaction guarantee.

Learn More Here!

Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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April 30, 2021

Best Gallagher MBS2800i AC/DC Dual Powered Fence Charger + Remote

Gallagher MBS2800i Charger + Remote / 28 Joule / 250 Mile

 

FREE USA SHIPPING  

This 28 stored joule, dual purpose Energizer powers up to 250 miles or 1,500 acres of clean fence in ideal conditions with the option of powering either as a 110v plug-in or battery/solar.  This package deal comes with the Gallagher Remote Control / Fault Finder to test your fence, and turn it off and on to service it anywhere along the fenceline.

mb2800 and remote control fence charger

  

Features

Clean Fence: 250 miles / 1,500 acres​

Typical Fence:​ 50 miles​ / 1,000 acres
28 Stored Joules
UL Approved

Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii 

  • DOWNLOAD THE OPERATORS MANUAL HERE

Working together the i Series MB2800i fence system provides fence information at a glance and if it detects any faults, leads you directly to them, saving hours of searching. The i Series MB2800i Fence System comes with:

MBS2800i Energizer
G31501
This reliable and energy efficient Energizer with proven Gallagher i Series technology, provides complete confidence in continued fence performance irrespective of changes in power supply, temperature and fence conditions.

  • Energy efficient – adjusts its power output to suit your fence conditions and minimize power consumption
  • Power your fence, your way – mains, battery or solar. Energizer comes complete with a mains and battery lead set for all power source options (battery and solar panel sold separately for battery and solar powered solutions)
  • Power adaptor input -easy to use, weather tight power adaptor input. Simply insert the provided mains or battery lead set, depending on your chosen power source
  • Smart battery management - reduces pulse rate and output energy to manage battery life and ensure 24/7 stock control
  • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there’s a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
  • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms

 

Energizer Controller

G30337
Provides total peace of mind that your fence is working correctly. The Controller shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 160’ away from the Energizer.

 

The MBS2800i fence system is also compatible with:

Fence Monitor (sold separately)
G51000
The Fence Monitor keeps a watchful eye on all corners of your fence. Add up to six Fence Monitors on your fence system to turn it into a fully monitored set up that keeps the Energizer Controller constantly up to date with fence performance.


Remote & Fault Finder (sold separately)
G50700
The Remote saves hours searching for & fixing faults – it pinpoints the fault within the monitored zone and enables you to turn off the Energizer during repair and on again once complete.


Alarm System (sold separately)
G57900
Secure farm assets. Monitor a section of fence and drive external strobe lights, sirens or alarm panels if the circuit is broken eg: a gate is open or a wire cut.

Solar Panels (sold separately)
G49602 (130W Panel), G49582 (80W Panel)

High quality, fully tested solar panels for solar powered installations.

Learn More Here!

 

Warranty 3 Years
Stored Energy 28 Joules
Clean Wire Fence Distance 250 Miles / 1,500 Acres
Typical Fence Distance 50 Miles / 1,000 Acres
Output Energy 15.5 Joules
Height 8.7"
Width or Length 13.6"
Depth 3.5"
Product Weight 8.4 lbs
Watts 15 Watts

Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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April 27, 2021

Best Source for Gallagher M5800i Charger + Remote / 58 Joule

gallagherfence.net

 

Gallagher M5800i Electric Fence Charger plus the Gallagher Remote / Fault Finder

58 Joules of Power

Free USA Shipping

 

Maximum stock control. Combines 58 joules of power with adaptive technology which allows the unit to adjust to changing fence conditions.

This package deal comes with the Gallagher Remote Control / Fault Finder to test your fence, and turn it off and on to service it anywhere along the fenceline.

Gallagher M5800i and remote control electric fence charger energizer

Gallagher 5800i Series Fence Charger energizer electric fencer

 

Clean Fence: 430 miles / 2700 acres​
Typical Fence:​ 87 miles​ / 2200 acres
58 Stored Joules
UL Approved

Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii 

The M5800i energizer has 58 joules of stored energy and is suitable for fencing all types of animals on up to 2700 acres. The intelligent i Series system provides fence information at a glance, informing you of any problems immediately so you can take action to save time and money.

Gallagher i Series Electric Fence Charger 5800i

Features:

  • 58 joules stored energy
  • Up to 430 Miles / 2,700 Acres
  • 110V Powered
  • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there's a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
  • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms
  • Energizer controller included
  • Shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 160 ft. away from the energizer
  • Turn energizer ON/OFF from controller
  • Compatible with the full line of Gallagher i Series accessories

gallagher 5800i electric fence charger energizer features

 

All Gallagher power fence energizers carry a 2-year warranty, including lightning damage if lightning protection is used. In addition, each carries a 30-day, money-back, customer satisfaction guarantee.

Learn More Here!

Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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April 18, 2021

Best Buy! Gallagher MBS1800i Dual Powered Electric Fence Charger

Gallagher MBS1800i Charger / 18 Joule / 200 Mile / 1200 Acre

 

Best Value!

 

FREE USA SHIPPING 

 Gallagher MB1800i

All the smarts and power of the Gallagher i series with the NEW ability to power your energizer your way. Mains, battery or solar. The MB1800i provides fence information at a glance, informing you of any problems immediately  so you can take action to save time and money. With 18 Joules of stored energy, this energizer is suitable for fencing all types of animals..

 

Working together the i Series MB1800i fence system provides fence information at a glance and if it detects any faults, leads you directly to them, saving hours of searching.

Gallagher iSeries Fence Energizers carry a powerful shock, but they also offer 24/7 peace of mind by monitoring your fence performance and informing you of any voltage drops or issues so immediate action can be taken.


* Cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and goats
* Uses 12 volt battery or 110 volt AC and features built-in lightning protection
* Clean Fence: 200 miles / 1,200 acres / Typical Fence: 42 miles / 420 acres
* Comes with waterproof Energizer Controller which displays fence information up to 164’ from the energizer, a 110v power DC adapter, and 12v battery lead set.
* 3-Year warranty

  • DOWNLOAD THE OPERATORS MANUAL HERE

The i Series MB1800i Fence System comes with:

MBS1800i Energizer G31500

This reliable and energy efficient Energizer with proven Gallagher i Series technology, provides complete confidence in continued fence performance irrespective of changes in power suppy, temperature and fence conditions.

  • Energy efficient – adjusts its power output to suit your fence conditions and minimise power consumption
  • Power your fence, your way – mains, battery or solar. Energizer comes complete with a mains and battery lead set for all power source options (battery and solar panel sold separately for battery and solar powered solutions)
  • Power adaptor input - easy to use, weather right power adaptor input. Simply insert the provided mains or battery lead set, depending on your chosen power source
  • Smart battery management - reduces pulse rate and output energy to manage battery life and ensure 24/7 stock control
  • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there’s a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
  • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
  • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
  • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms

*Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii 

 

    Energizer Controller G30337
    Provides total peace of mind that your fence is working correctly. The Controller shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 50m away from the Energizer.

    The M1800i fence system is also compatible with:

    Fence Monitor (sold separately)
    G51000
    The Fence Monitor keeps a watchful eye on all corners of your fence. Install up to six Fence Monitors on your fence system to turn it into a fully monitored set up that keeps the Energizer Controller constantly up to date with fence performance.

    Remote & Fault Finder (sold separately)
    G50700
    The Remote saves hours searching for & fixing faults – it pinpoints the fault within the monitored zone and enables you to turn off the Energizer during repair and on again once complete.

    SMS Energizer Controller (sold separately)
    G56760
    Receive immediate notification of fence performance via SMS text message to your phone. Turn the Energizer on and off from your mobile. Operates on GSM mobile networks. (Vodaphone and 2 Degrees).

    Alarm System (sold separately)
    G57900
    Secure farm assets. Monitor a section of fence and drive external strobe lights, sirens or alarm panels if the circuit is broken eg: a gate is open or a wire cut.

    Solar Panels (sold separately)
    G49602 (130W Panel), G49582 (80W Panel)

    High quality, fully tested solar panels for solar powered installations.

    12v Deep Cycle Battery (sold separately)
    G51700

    The i Series System separates the fence information from the Energizer. This means the Energizer can still be hidden away where you’ve always kept it, at the back of the shed, but you can position the Energizer Controller where it is more accessible (up to 50m) away from the Energizer. The Controller shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box – providing greater visibility and control.

    The MB1800i system is modular and there are other products available in the i Series range that enhance its capability.

    Learn More Here!

    Single Wire Distance Maximum Length 195km
    Multiwire Distance Ideal Conditions 65km
    Multiwire Distance Gallagher Recommended 17km
    Output Energy 12.4 Joules
    Height 205mm
    Width or Length 345mm
    Depth 95mm
    Product Weight 2.6kg

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    April 16, 2021

    Best Fence Charger: Gallagher M160 Electric Fence Energizer

    gallagher fence from valleyfarmsupply.com

    Gallagher M160 Charger / 1.6 Joule / 30 Mile / 100 Acre

     

    Gallagher M160 Electric Fence Energizer 

     

      

    FREE USA SHIPPING 

    The Gallagher M160 AC Powered Fence Charger / Energizer powers up to 100 acres or 30 miles of clean fence. It has the energy of  1.6 stored joules and the M160 is great for small to medium pastures, areas, and gardens.

    Features

    •  Powers up to 100 acres/30 miles of multi-wire permanent fence.
    • Stored energy: 1.6 Joules.
    • Check power at a glance with the power on indicator
    • Perfect for small to medium size pastures
    • Indicator light flashes with every pulse.
    • Maintains output voltage through heavy fence load.
    • Low impedance.
    • Stainless steel terminals.
    • 3-year warranty.
    • UL Approved
    • Easy to use and install
    • Free Energizer shipping in USA!!! 
    • Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii Gallagher M160 

    Clean Fence:  30 miles / 100 acres
    Typical Fence: 11 miles / 60 acres
    Stored Energy (Joules): 1.6
    Output Energy (Joules): .86

    Product Number G330444

    From Valley Farm Supply, Your best source for Gallagher electric fencing.

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    April 13, 2021

    Best Electric Fence Tester: Gallagher Digital Voltmeter / Free Shipping

     

    Gallagher Fence Digital Voltmeter & Free Shipping

     

     

    Quickly and easily obtain a digital reading of your fence voltage with the Gallagher Fence Volt Meter. Monitors fence voltage and helps trace shorts in the fence line. 

    Features

    • Monitors fence voltage and helps trace fence-line shorts and faults.
    • The DVM reads the voltage for battery energizers even when the energizers are in Battery Save Mode.
    • Powered by one 9V battery with a life of 6-12 months.
    • Water resistant.  
    • Pocket size.

     

    Dimensions:  66 (mm) / 26.8 (inch) /  136 (mm) / 55.3 (inch) /  25 (mm) / 10.2 (inch)
    Weight: 0.20 (kgs) / 0.44 (lbs)
    Warranty: 1 year
    Colors: Orange
    Product Code: G503014

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    April 12, 2021

    Gallagher Fence | Livestock Fencing Cost Share Program

    VA livestock fencing program sees jump in sign-ups

    Farmers respond after state offers to pay up to 100% of costs

    Stream fencing on VA farm

    Jeanne Hoffman, co-owner of Whiskey Creek Angus cattle operation in Churchville, VA, stands by a newly installed exclusion fence at the Shenandoah Valley farm joined by her dog, Val. (Bobby Whitescarver)

    Environmentalists and farmers have long been at loggerheads over agricultural best management practices. It’s where environmentalism comes up against tradition and self-determination, and where farm economics come into sharp relief.

    So when government soil conservationist Bobby Whitescarver set out to romance Jeanne Trimble Hoffman, a ninth-generation beef cattle farmer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, it may not have been straight up Romeo and Juliet, but at least it wasn’t Hatfield and McCoy.

    Despite a gap in farming philosophies, the two married in 2004. They’ve been closing that gap ever since.

    Livestock fencing is a case in point.

    On the Hoffman farm, there was never anything to prevent cattle from literally cooling their hoofs — and defecating, urinating and even calving — in the Middle River, which cuts right through their Augusta County property.

    But during 16 years of marriage, the couple has come to terms on the need for fencing to keep the animals out of the river. They installed exclusion fencing and planted a 20-foot-wide strip of woods along the river banks to capture stormwater runoff from the pasture. Whitescarver wanted the buffer to be wider — 50 feet — but they negotiated a deal for the smaller buffer that both could live with.

    “When we laid out the buffers … she wanted more grass and I wanted more buffer, so we had a great compromise,” Whitescarver said. “We compromise on a lot of things.”

    Then last September, when the couple bought and relocated to a second cattle farm in Churchville, also in Augusta County, best management practices, or BMPs, took front and center.

    They enrolled in the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Healthy Streams Farm Stewardship program and are not only installing fencing to exclude cattle from the unnamed headwater stream that runs through this property, but they’re also putting in stream crossings and watering corrals for rotational grazing. And they are preparing to plant acres of trees and shrubs to create a 35-foot streamside buffer.

    They’re doing so with a mix of volunteer labor, free technical assistance, proceeds from a pollution settlement and government funds — including a recent boost in the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program, which now offers to reimburse as much as the entire cost of livestock fencing.

    Whitescarver and Hoffman aren’t alone in benefiting from the fencing program. After Virginia increased the maximum reimbursement in 2019 from 80% to 100%, sign-ups across the state tripled.

    From 2016 to 2019, an average of 290 farmers per year signed up for the program. When the increase kicked in for fiscal year 2020, signups jumped to 692. For fiscal year 2021, signups are on track to top 900.

    And the majority of those signups are for farms located within the Bay watershed. In 2020, for instance, Bay signups totaled 399. In 2021, Bay signups so far total 263, versus 201 outside of the Bay drainage area.

    It’s a far cry, Whitescarver said, from options available to farmers 31 years ago, when he began his career as a soil conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.Cattle in creek, VA

    Cattle cool off in an unfenced section of a creek in Augusta County, VA. (Shenandoah Riverkeeper photo by Alan Lehman)

    “I’m so proud of [the conservation service], because they adapt and change,” Whitescarver said. “When I started in Virginia in 2001, it was a completely different program than what we have now.” Now, he said, they listen to farmers.

    The couple is also benefitting from another new state initiative to help farmers create vegetated buffers along their streams, providing upfront payments for as much as $80 per acre per year, maxing out at 15 years. Planted with trees, shrubs and other native vegetation, the buffers serve as natural filters to keep manure and other pollutants from entering waterways.

    Whitescarver said he’s not sure yet if all of the BMPs under way on the new farm will be fully covered through the various reimbursements or grants, “but it’s enough.”

    ‘Give Virginia a lot of credit’

    If Virginia is to meet its own goal under the 2010 Chesapeake Bay cleanup agreement to protect virtually every stream that runs through livestock farms by the end of 2025, it still has a lot of fencing to do.

    In 2019, the Environmental Integrity Project and Shenandoah Riverkeeper released a report based on aerial surveys of Augusta and Rockingham counties showing that only 19% of 1,676 livestock farms with streams or rivers running through them fenced cattle from waterways. Augusta and Rockingham are the biggest farming counties in the state.

    “We looked into it because Virginia was not looking into it,” EIP director of communications Tom Pelton said. “EPA was not looking into it. Even the Chesapeake Bay Commission — no one had looked into the question of how many farmers are actually doing this.”

    Among other recommendations, the report urged the state to conduct its own investigation and fully reimburse fencing projects.

    Soon after, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation conducted its own aerial survey of Rockingham County and in May 2020 released its own report. It found that 41% of livestock farms fenced their cattle from streams.

    The difference in percentages? The state considered only perennial streams — waterways that flow year-round — while the EIP and Shenandoah Riverkeeper also counted seasonal streams.

    Virginia lawmakers then pumped more money into its livestock fencing program, which now offers full reimbursement to farmers who sign the lengthy contract and meet certain criteria, like creating 50-foot-wide buffers.

    “I have to give Virginia a lot of credit here,” Pelton said. “They responded to a negative report with some really positive steps that have made a difference.”

    The last time the state offered farmers full reimbursement for fencing and buffers, the demand was so great that three years’ worth of funds were committed in just the first year. The state had to whittle down the backlog through special appropriations year after year.Fence construction on VA farm

    A post driver, in the distance far right, does its work in the installation of a new cattle exclusion fence at Whiskey Creek Angus, a cattle operation in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. (Bobby Whitescarver)

    Beginning July 1, the state will also offer a new stream exclusion option: portable stream fencing. Darryl M. Glover, director of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, said the option answers a real need.

    “A lot of beef cattle in Virginia are on rented land, and some property owners who lease their land out for pasture are hesitant to have permanent [fencing] erected on their property,” Glover said.

    Also in July, the state is introducing a “small herd initiative” that will pay up to $25,000 in fencing costs to farmers in the Bay watershed who have 20–35 head of cattle.

    Bay cleanup 101

    Livestock fencing helps protect the environment, the public and even the livestock, Pelton said.

    “If you have cows that are wading into the streams, they defecate directly into the streams, creating a lot of fecal bacteria that is dangerous for swimmers or people in inner tubes or rafting or enjoying the Shenandoah,” Pelton said. “It’s also bad for the cows themselves. They can get infections if they’re in water that’s full of bacteria all the time. They can get sick.”

    A cow in labor will also often wade into a nearby waterway to give birth, risking drowning her newborn calf.

    Agriculture is the biggest source of nutrient and sediment pollution in local streams and the Chesapeake Bay, so livestock fencing, Pelton said, is “Bay cleanup 101.”

    Virginia’s cost-share program is administered by the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Board and Department of Conservation and Recreation, and it is managed by 47 local soil and water conservation districts. The program encourages a host of agricultural BMPs and offers technical assistance on anti-pollution measures.

    Funding for the program has been inconsistent, though, fluctuating wildly from year to year, depending on the priorities of lawmakers. Since 1988, the state estimates that it’s spent more than $171 million on agricultural BMPs on thousands of farms. For fiscal year 2020, lawmakers were far more generous, allocating an unprecedented $83.8 million. Now, lawmakers have allocated nearly $61 million for fiscal year 2021 and about $65 million for 2022.

    From 2010 through 2019, Virginia cut the amount of nitrogen pollution reaching the Bay from farms each year by about 167,100 pounds, according to Chesapeake Bay Program computer model estimates. To meet its 2025 cleanup commitment, it will need to cut 6.9 million more.

    If the state and its agricultural sector don’t meet that runoff reduction goal, the state could make stream fencing mandatory.

    “But you know what? It’s very doable,” Pelton said of voluntary fencing. “It’s not that hard, and it’s something Virginia can definitely achieve. And they’ve shown that just in the last year with this incredible resurgence in farmers taking advantage of this program.”

    Running the numbers

    Not wanting to engage in what he called “gross oversimplification,” Glover declined to estimate what a farmer might pay for fencing. “It depends on where you are, how many water troughs you need, how many stream crossings you need, whether they’re going to plant trees or not,” he said.

    Costs vary not only from farm to farm, but from one soil conservation district to the next. Every year, each district draws up its own costs list for farmers for different components of BMPs.Cattle in Middle River tributary, VA

    Cattle congregate in and near an unnamed tributary of the Middle River in Augusta County, VA. (Shenandoah Riverkeeper photo by Alan Lehman)

    But Whitescarver, who blogs about farming best practices, outdoors and environmental issues, recently posted a rundown of his BMP projects, expected costs and reimbursements.

    Installing a 3,500-foot woven wire fence with a 35-foot buffer, for instance, will cost $4.50 per foot, totaling $15,750. The Headwaters SWCD will reimburse 90% of that through the cost-share program, while the remaining 10% is coming from a $42 million settlement fund established in 2017 after mercury seeping from a DuPont plant in Waynesboro contaminated the South River.

    Installing a $2,500 watering trough is likewise covered through the conservation district and the DuPont settlement.

    The forested streamside buffer will be planted this fall — 6 acres of native hardwoods and shrubs. The Virginia Department of Forestry and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay helped with the design, and volunteers from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Friends of Middle River, along with students from James Madison University, will help with planting. The Alliance is also providing funds to hire a contractor to maintain the buffer.

    The cost-share program for buffers paid the couple $7,200 ($80 times 6 acres times 15 years) — money they plan to use to upgrade their watering corrals by adding guardrails.

    Without such assistance, Whitescarver said, they couldn’t have undertaken such projects.

    While interest in the cost-share program is surging, many farmers remain reluctant.

    “I think the main reason more farmers don’t enroll in these programs is that they don’t want to change,” Whitescarver said. “And they don’t want the government … telling them what to do. It’s the same old story: ‘We’ve always done it this way, we don’t want to change now.’ And they don’t think they’re contributing to the problem of pollution in the streams.”

    Whitescarver retired from the conservation service in 2011. If he were active today, he knows how he’d try to change hearts and minds about BMPs like livestock fencing.

    “I guess I would start by listening to the farmers to see what their needs are,” Whitescarver said. “We have to listen to the farmers.” n

    For more information about stream fencing, contact a local soil and water conservation district office. Go to https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/ to find your district.

    To learn more about the cost-share program, enter "Program Year 2021 Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share BMP Manual" in your search engine.Gall

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    April 08, 2021

    Best Fence Charger: Gallagher M10000i Charger + Remote / Free Shipping

    Gallagher M10000i Energizer and Gallagher Remote Control / Fault Finder

    The Worlds Most Powerful Electric Fence Charger!

     

    FREE USA SHIPPING 

    The world’s most powerful Energizer. Combining the brute force power of 100 joules with the fence monitoring capabilities of the i Series’ adaptive technology, the new M10000i will deliver more power than any other Energizer available today.

    This package deal comes with the Gallagher Remote Control / Fault Finder to test your fence, and turn it off and on to service it anywhere along the fenceline.

    gallagher m10000i and remote control electric fence energizer

     

    gallagher M10000i worlds most powerful fence charger

    Clean Fence: 1000 miles / 6000 acres​
    Typical Fence:​ 125 miles​ / 3000 acres
    100 Stored Joules
    UL Approved

    Gallagher i Series Fence Charger features

    Features:

    • 100 joules stored energy
    • Up to 1000 Miles / 6,000 Acres
    • Operates on standard 110V current.
    • Quick scan LED fence performance lights: green light shows fence ok, red light flashes if there's a fence fault and solid red light shows sudden increase in fence load
    • Easy installation and good connection using split bolt recessed terminals
    • User safety and reliable animal control with in-built lightning and short circuit protection
    • Better fence management with output, earth and fence voltage alarms
    • Energizer controller included :
    • Shows all of your fence performance information (e.g. voltage, faults and location) in one convenient separate display box that can be located up to 160 ft. away from the energizer
    • Turn energizer ON/OFF from controller
    • Compatible with the full line of Gallagher i Series accessories
    • Extra shipping charges may be required for Alaska and Hawaii gallagher M10000i series energizer fence charger

     

    Combining the brute force power of 100 stored joules with the fence monitoring smarts of the i Series accessories, the new M10000i will deliver more power to the back of the farm than any other energizer. Suitable for fencing all types of animals on up to 1000 acres. The M10000i provides incredible fence performance regardless of extreme temperature conditions or unreliable power supply - adjusting power output to suit your fence conditions and minimize power consumption.
    All Gallagher power fence energizers carry a 2-year warranty, including lightning damage if lightning protection is used. In addition, each carries a 30-day, money-back, customer satisfaction guarantee.

    Learn More Here!

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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