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Are you looking to build an electric fence for your farm or ranch? Where do you buy electric fence parts and products? How much do I need to build the electric fence? How much will it cost me to build an electric fence for livestock?

If you think about it, building an electric fence is easy. There are basically three parts to an electric fence. First you have the electric fence charger. This can be powered by solar energy, mains power or 110 V current, or a 12 V battery or DC current.

Next you have the fence. The fence consists of three things fence posts, wire, and electric fence insulators.

Lastly, you have one of the most important parts which is your grounding system. Grounding is also known as the earth system. It consists of ground rods and a wire that leads back to your electric fence charger. It's important to have good grounding for many reasons. On animal touches the fence and the electric current passes through its body through the soil and back to the electric fence charger and the animal gets a shock.

 

That's the basics of how the electric fence works.
If you're looking for answers to your next electric fence building project, contact the professionals at www.valleyfarmsupply.com  We are here to help you in your next electric fence project. We offer service and sales of all kinds of electric fence components, fence chargers, fence post, wire, fence insulators and all the other things you need to build your fence.

There are a lot of companies where you can buy electric fence insulators today. There are many differences in quality and durability of electric fence products so it’s important to buy the best products you can when designing and building an electric fence for your farm or ranch.

A great item from the Gallagher Electric fence company is the SCREW-IN RING INSULATOR. Part number G66604. This is a high quality insulator designed for longevity in all kinds of weather and harsh environments. Your electric fence with be challenged throughout the years with everything from sunlight, to rain to snow loads.

Its available in black or white. It’s made to screw directly into wooden post without any pilot holes. It can also be used on trees. The insulators are made from high density, sunlight-resistant polyethylene plastic for durability. It has  an angled slot which allows quick securing and safe holding of electric fence wire. This electric fence insulator is strong enough to hold high tensile wire or poli-wire. Internally, they feature a long metal core.

Check out the Gallagher Screw-in insulator from Valley Farm Supply. They ship fast to you in a bag of 25.

-Did you know that when Valley Farm Supply just started out, we only sold one item?

-An Electric Fence Charger.

-As the years went on we expanded our products and our vision…. How to get what large scale farmers and ranchers require for their operations, as well as what small farms and hobbyists need, at the price they want.

-We are a retailer for farmers by farmers.

-We love agriculture and you will see that passion come out in what we stand for as a business.

-All our orders are picked, packed and shipped by people with a passion for ag.

-We are located in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, the #1 ag county east of the Mississippi river.

-We have an extensive website to find whatever you’re looking for, or if you chose, you can place an order over the phone.

-We offer a liberal return window, the latest products with competitive price matching, a superior product knowledge base and customer service that is unparalleled.

-So, anything you need, big or small, come visit us at, ValleyFarmSupply.com and get serious about saving on the farm and ranch supplies you need.

Rough, stony or steep areas: With power fencing it is easier and less expensive to “zig zag” around rather than go straight over rough, stony or steep areas. These rough areas require more posts and tie-downs, and possibly more maintenance in the future. If possible level the area first and re-grass the area because animals standing on grass get a greater shock than when standing on bare soil. Re-grassing also prevents erosion and weed growth.

 

1. Digital fault finders for electric fence.

These are great tools to have on any size farm or ranch that relies of electric fence to keep animals or livestock safe a secure. There are 2 kinds you should consider if this is what you need.

First is the Gallagher Smartfix. This is a great product which costs around $100. It comes with a ground probe which you insert into the soil, and acts as the ground. The Gallagher display is then placed against the electric fence wire. The digital readout will give you electric fence voltage and also show amperage, that the fence charger is producing, if there is power loss on the fence. Arrows will appear in the direction of any faults where loads are detected. You should head in the direction of the arrow until you find and correct the electric fence short. It may be a broken insulator, arcing onto the fence post, or vegetation on the fence wire.

The second fault finder we recommend is the Speedrite Fault Finder. This unit costs about $130. This unit is made by Trutest and may also be called a fence compass. The Fence Compass is a Stafix brand and green in color. The Speedrite Faultfinder is red and is the same device. The Speedrite product number is ST100, An advantage with this electric fence tester is that you hold the unit in your hand and you act as the ground. This lets you, quickly and easily walk the fence line, to correct any problems and keep you fence at peak performance. A down fall is that you cannot check current out of you fence controller with the electric fence disconnected like you can with the Gallagher Smartfix.

2. Remote Control/Digital Fault finders.

Electric Fence remotes are great tools to have on any size farm or ranch that relies of electric fence to keep animals or livestock safe a secure. Mostly you will have these if you purchase a smart energizer that the remote works with. There are 2 kinds you should consider if this is what you need.

Gallagher offers the I Series remote/ fault finder that accompanies the Gallagher I Series of energizers. These are smart fence energizers that offer very cool ways to show if there is any problem in an electric fence. Remotes allow you to turn off the energizer while you make repairs or move animals to different pastures. The I series chargers include the M1800i and M2800i.

The Speedrite Remote Fault Finder, product number ST102, is similar and also acts as a remote control for Speedrite RS Fence Chargers. See them here.

3. Digital Voltmeters.

Also known as DVM’s, Gallagher Digital voltmeters show the voltage of your electric fence on a digital readout display. Most will show in kilovolts or KV’s. A fence with 7.2 Kv’s is producing 7200 volts on the fence at that place in the electric fence. Most cattle and livestock fences should have at least 5000 volts energizing the fence to keep the animals in our predators out. Gallagher offers a very good DVM and can be found here for about $50. Do not use a voltmeter made for household current or any other electric current measuring device. Electric fence voltmeters are made to handle the high voltage and pulse of modern electric fence chargers.

4. 5 light testers or neon testers.

5 light electric fence testers are a simple and affordable way to determine the voltage of the fence. You stick the ground probe in the soil and the head to the fence. A row of lights with illuminate showing the fence voltage. The tester will blink with the pulse of the fence charger. It is better than a guess and can be a good tool for the farm.

5. Single light testers.

Single light fence testers are the most basic way to test your fence for current. These are inexpensive and handle to have to quickly check if the fence is on. You will not be able to check voltage or amperage. We offer these free when you purchase a fence chargers from Valley Farm Supply. We include them with most energizer orders and area nice gift to people new to electric fencing.

6. Blade of grass electric fence testing.

Testing an electric fence with a blade of grass is very low tech. It will let you know if its working but nothing else. Pluck a long blade of grass and put the tip on the fence wire while holding the other end. Slowly push the blade closer to the wire until you feel a slight pulse of current. That’s about it. Every farm kid in the country has done it and it’s a good way to know if the fence is on and you will be shocked.

7. GIAG, also known as, Grab it and Growl.

We do not recommend this method for testing your electric fence!! It is simple and easy but can really hurt you… This is how it works. Grab your electric fence, the current shocks you hard and it hurts bad. You yell, OUCH!, and jump back from the fence. Yep, the fence is working! You don’t know how strong it is but you got a nice shock.

Visit our website here and order the correct fence tester for your farm. Be thankful you are living and have a good day.

 

The Benefits of An Electric Fence

An electric fence helps you control animals on your property by allowing a safe amount of electric shock to be administered when animals come into contact with your fence. While an electrical fence DIY project might sound daunting, it is actually easier than you might imagine to install and electric fence on your property, including posts, wiring, and your electric fence charger. While other barrier fences can injure and scrape animals and livestock, an electric fence helps train animals to respect the limits of your property, as well as keep unwanted visitors at bay. We’ll walk you through the basics of what you’ll need to create a safe, effective electric fence with a charger that keeps your system running.

What You Need to Get Started

 Installing your electric fence charger shouldn’t be a headache. Starting with the right supplies will be the biggest hurdle you face in installing your charger—the actual procedure is quite straightforward. As far as the tools and equipment required, you’ll definitely need a screwdriver, as well as a charger, and you may need gauge wire, fencing pliers, a clamp, a wrench, a post pounder, needle nose pliers, and a grounding rod. Gloves should also be worn throughout the procedure for an extra layer of protection. Depending on the type of charger you plan on using, you may need some additional supplies that will be determined by how you mount your fence charger. As far as supplies go, we recommend shopping at an electrical supply site where you can stock up on your necessities in one go, rather than running from store to store to make sure you have everything you need for your project.

Grounding Your Fence System

 To get started, we’re assuming that you already have a fence in place and that you’ve selected a post to mount your charger on. It is crucial that you have a grounding rod system installed as a part of your fencing system. These grounding rods should be at least six feet long, and optimal grounding rod placement for proper safety protocol requires that the rod be within twenty feet of your fence controller. Your charger must be grounded, which will reduce the hazard of electrical shock if your fence malfunctions by providing a low-resistance path for the electrical current. If you are installing an electric fence in an area where there is asphalt, extremely dry, or extremely cold/frozen ground, you may need to take extra steps to insure that your system can be properly grounded.

Installing your Electric Fence Charger

It is key that you use a non-corrosive, metal electrical wiring made from steel or aluminum wire, with an appropriate gauge for your fencing project. Wiring is available specifically for electric fences and is designed to accommodate the proper voltage for your fence—the voltage of typical electrical wiring will be too low for this kind of a heavy-duty project. Your electric fence charger should have color-coded fence and ground terminals to help you determine one from the other. Attach a ground rod clamp and connect it with the ground rod wire. Connect the lead out wire of your electric fence charger to the fence terminal. This will allow your system to maintain a charge that is powerful enough to be effective, while the grounding system will ensure that it is safe and represents a minimal hazard.

Protecting your Electric Fence System

Eventually, it may be a good idea to have a bucket or some kind of covering for your post-mounted fence charger, in order to protect it from the elements. It is also possible to create your own wooden enclosure for your charger. To be on the safe side, cut a vent into your bucket or enclosure, in the case of extreme temperatures. Chargers are designed to withstand typical outdoor weather conditions but by protecting it, you’ll be able to increase it’s lifespan. Additional supplies, such as a volt meter, will help you measure the charge of your fence and make sure that your electric fence charger is doing its job.

A electric power fence is a psychological barrier that keeps farm animals in and wild animals and vermin out – even over long distances. A pulsed electric current is sent along the fence wire, about one pulse per second, from an energizer which is earthed. When the animal touches the fence it completes the circuit between the fence and the ground and receives a short, sharp but safe shock. The shock is sufficiently memorable that the animal never forgets. If the ground is very dry, the fence may require an earth return wire. A power fence is a psychological barrier so doesn’t need great physical strength. However, it must be well designed and constructed to absorb some pressure from animals, snow and wind. The energizer must have enough power for the length of fence and for the animals being controlled.

 

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Sherburne County, MN is considering interested cattle producers (other species will be considered) to graze on two designated areas on the Refuge.  One grazing cell is approximately 2,266 acres and the second is 4,670 acres.  Both grazing cells consist of mainly prairie openings with woodland, and wetland habitat types.  The refuge is seeking producers with herds consisting of roughly 120-150 animals or 100-125 cow/calf pairs.  The grazing period will be from May 1st to September 1st.

The permittee will be responsible for maintaining permanent boundary fence and installing and moving temporary fence.  Under this arrangement producers may be offered to graze up to a period of five years while within compliance of the grazing contract.
The purpose of the grazing program is to utilize this powerful habitat management tool as a biological control method to promote and enhance native grass and forb diversity in the prairies, reduce invasive species in the oak savanna and woodland habitats, and to aid in the control of reed canary and cattail in the wetlands.
Individuals will be selected based on receipt of a sealed high bid.  All bids must be received no later than 3:30 pm Tuesday, February 16.

Anyone interested in this program should please contact Greg Dehmer, Assistant Refuge Manager at 763-389-3323 to obtain a grazing bid package which will provide detailed information of the program, bidding requirements and expectations of the grazing permittee.

Sherburne Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and is located near the cities of Princeton, Zimmerman, and St. Cloud, in central Minnesota.  Website:  http://www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne/.
The mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. USFWS is both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service.  For more information on USFWSvisit http://www.fws.gov.

By Princeton Union-Eagle

As a nation, we are fascinated by the weather, particularly rainfall. Personally, I have an interest in measuring how much of it falls every 24 hours and as I was writing this piece, my rain gauge was telling me that 72mm had fallen in the first 10 days of February where I live close to Limerick city.