Working Ranch Magazine Summer 2025

Range Ward

S upporting regenerative agriculture is the heart of Texas-based Range Ward’s mission. Their all-in-one solar grazing units provide tools to help ranchers regenerate “above and below ground diversity, improve water cycles, improve carbon cycles, and help improve vitality and resilience of the ecosystem and the people on the land.” More than fifteen years ago, Norm Ward, in Canada’s Alberta foothills, saw a need for better-managed grazing and fencing tools. Combining his vast experience of land management, land sciences, and environmental and industrial concerns, he developed the Power Grazer, the first all-in-one portable electric fencing tool. This heavy-duty, large-scale portable fencing solution features high-strength powder-coated steel and torsion axles for superior durability and ability to power up to 30 miles of electrified fence. The unit is a premium all-in-one fence solution capable of fencing the largest farms and ranches. It connects to any

quad, side-by-side, or pickup with a 2-inch receiver hitch. Each Power Grazer includes a two-mile mounted reel of ¼-inch diameter Power Braid reflective rope, providing the industry’s best conductivity and 1200+ pounds of break strength, ensuring consistent power throughout a fence line. It is ideal for managing large livestock. The braid’s reflective tracer offers superb visibility, durability, and top-tier performance wherever it is used. The Razor Grazer, Range Ward’s most popular all-in-one fencer, features their innovative Power Arm™ and can hold up to three reels of Power Braid™. A perfect tool for setting up temporary fencing, Razor Grazer comes with a 2-inch ball hitch so it can be pulled behind a truck, side-by-side, or quad, offering freedom to fence anywhere. The Power Shepherd Solar offers a portable all-in-one electric fencing unit, designed especially for use in grazing solar farm sites. The unit saves time and helps effectively graze grasses growing between solar panels. Learn more at www.rangeward.com .

see exactly where my animals are at any given point in time. The system has been very beneficial and straight forward to implement. It was easy to get started.” Collins is among numerous vir tual fencing customers who have expressed satisfaction with the tech nology and its benefits. “The time and labor-saving ben efits of this technology cannot be underestimated,” Liebergreen adds. “Stay in touch with grazing coalitions and fencing associations and organi zations. These groups may have infor mation about virtual fencing events that could help determine whether or not this technology fits your system.” eShepherd is available directly through Gallagher. Learn more at www.eShepherd.com. To learn about other Gallagher virtual fencing prod ucts, visit this link and find your clos est dealer https://am.gallagher.com/ en-US/Store-List. SUMMER 2025 I 35

cast extra signals over the land. “There is also funding assistance available for those interested in vir tual fencing,” Liebergreen says. “This is a great way to enter this technology space, sharing the costs with NRCS/ EQIP or PERC/WWF, for example. I’d recommend finding those already using virtual fencing and seeing how they use it and what benefits they’re receiving.” Texas rancher Vannie Collins and his wife Julia operate on about 35,000 acres of leased land in Deep South, Texas, running a cow herd of about 2,000. Using Gallagher’s eShepherd has allowed them to move cattle multiple times per day without intense labor. “Moving is so much easier now,” Collins says. “I literally draw the shape of the paddock on the computer and make sure the animals are ready to move. I don’t have to set up an elec tric fence in our brush, which is pretty thick. I have more control over the animals and paddock size, and I can

Gallagher offers two forms of virtual fencing. eShepherd communicates directly to terrestrial cellular provid ers such as Verizon, AT&T, etc. The cellular neckband is on a cow or bull, and virtual paddocks are designed and saved to the rancher’s computer. The neckband (collar) has large solar pan els that continually charge an internal battery, so there is no need to change batteries for continual fencing. “A neckband could be fitted to a heifer and stay on her for her whole productive life,” Liebergreen says. “The neckbands are a robust device able to handle wet, muddy, and very cold conditions.” Using GPS data from satellites and internet service from cellular provid ers, cattle are fenced and managed virtually. The second form of virtual fencing is used in locations where cellular con nectivity isn’t as strong. For this, base stations and LORA communication