Virtual fencing a step closer as Ag Vic jumps on board

FARMERS are continually looking at ways of making livestock management more efficient, and the shift towards virtual fencing has been given a boost with a partnership between Agriculture Victoria and Halter in trialling the use of virtual fencing technology at the government’s Ellinbank Smartfarm.

VFF president Emma Germano said this move was a forward step towards making the technology accessible to Victorian farmers.

“This year the VFF has been engaged in direct discussions with the Minister for Agriculture to progress the use of virtual fencing technology on Victorian farms.”

“The VFF has been encouraging the Victorian government to work on the regulations that will be required to enable its use commercially.

“Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory already have the ability to use virtual fencing, as well as in international benchmarks such as New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and the USA.”

Virtual fencing has a broad application across the livestock sectors but will also provide substantial benefit for the dairy industry.

It will help save farmers’ time, improve safety outcomes for farm workers, better manage pastures and improve environmental outcomes.

Ms Germano said this was productivity boosting technology that Victoria needed.

“As is the case with any regulatory change, there are complex issues that the government must deal with.

“This is a slow process, and we are not going to see change immediately.

“There is a strong body of scientific evidence that already supports the animal welfare benefits that virtual fencing creates and we expect the announced trial will add further weight to existing knowledge.”