Mastering Fall and Cornstalk Fencing

Question of the Week: What do you invest in?

One tip shared by Robbie Johnson in this week’s episode was to buy the best you can afford when it comes to fencing supplies. Why? Because higher quality materials last longer and you get more bang for your buck!
That made me think about investing in general as ranchers. What do you invest your money in and why?

Is it great genetics, fencing/building materials, expert advice/coaching or new technology?

Mastering Fall and Cornstalk Fencing
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. Johnson is based out of Custer County, Nebraska and works with Gallagher North America. Johnson shares the common mistakes made when building a fence to graze cornstalks along with the proper way to avoid them during this podcast episode. Johnson also shows cattlemen and women what equipment and tools they need to properly build electric fences 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, the hurry and hustle are ultimately going to lead to more problems down the road.

“When it comes to fall and winter fencing, things happen quickly. In the Midwest, a lot of cattle get put out on stalks and with that comes with a lot of corners being cut when cattle producers are in a hurry,” said Johnson.

Take your time to make sure you are putting up the best fence you can and use the best products you can afford. We think about cornstalk grazing as being temporary, but cattle can graze stalks for 4-6 months depending on the region. That can be up to half a year!

Energizers
One of the first things you need to do when preparing to put up fences for cornstalks is to get your energizers ready, especially if they are solar-charged units.

“Take out your energizers and let them charge in the sun for two weeks before you need them to work,” said Johnson.

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 too if you live farther north. You’ll also want to look at how you will be mounting your energizer so that it is protected but continues charging.

Ground Rods
A good ground is critical to get a good charge on a fence and maximize the power coming from the energizer.

“A lot of times people will put the energizer on a t-post and then use the t-post as the ground rod. At most, those posts are in the ground two to three feet and are probably rusty. That isn’t enough of a ground,” said Johnson.

When looking for a ground rod, invest in one that at least six feet and use a clamp to get a tight connection.

Insulators
The components of your fence are just as important as the energizer and grounding system. You need to make sure these are effective and last you more than one year.

“When insulators have been re-used and hauled around, they can crack. You can lose current through these cracks, so be sure to check your insulators before you use them,” said Johnson.

Johnson also encourages cattle producers to be mindful of their problem and high-traffic areas for wildlife and cattle. The entire fence doesn’t have to be the same all the way around. You can use different materials for different areas if needed. 

At the end of the day, remember to take your time when building fences and invest in quality materials that will last. I know I’d rather take the extra time to build the fence right than to chase cows back in because I was in too big of a hurry!