Effective Fences for Cornstalk Grazing

Robbie Johnson joins the show to discuss how ranchers in the Midwest and Northern Plains can effectively graze cornstalks while keeping cattle where they belong. Robbie is based out of Nebraska and works with Gallagher North America. Robbie covers common mistakes, solutions and shows cattlemen and women what equipment they need in the video form of this episode.

Properly Building Fences for Cornstalks

It’s easy to get in a hurry and want to get your cows onto stalks. It’s a beautiful sight and an important part of your plan. However, getting in a hurry and cutting corners when fencing is going to cause other problems down the road. Basically, take the time to build your fence correctly the first time to save you time having to get cows back in.

Energizers

Start with the energizer. If you are using a solar-powered energizer, make sure it has enough power to go around your fence. You may need to use a larger paneled energizer to accommodate for having less sunlight during the day. Make sure you take the solar units out at least 2 weeks in advance to get it charging and allow you time to make sure it works.

Ground Rods

Don’t forget about your ground rods either! Putting your energizer on a t-post and then clamping the ground rod to the post is not going to be adequate. Take the time to put in a good ground rod or two and use an actual ground rod clamp.

Insulators

You get what you pay for. This is true with insulators too. Pay for the best quality that you can afford, because they will last you longer and are less likely to get knocked off your posts by wildlife or cattle. There are different types of insulators available depending on the type of posts you use and your climate.