This workshop focused on how virtual fencing is emerging as a promising alternative to traditional temporary fencing for managing sheep on solar sites. Because physical fencing is labor-intensive to install and move, graziers are exploring GPS-based systems such as NoFence, which use collars to create invisible boundaries. These collars communicate via cellular and Bluetooth networks, allowing graziers to adjust paddocks in real time from a smartphone app. Animals are trained to respond to an audio cue near boundaries, reducing the need for physical barriers. The system also provides valuable data, including grazing heat maps, location tracking, and health alerts.

Graziers from Wisconsin and Virginia shared real-world experiences, highlighting key benefits such as significant labor savings, improved grazing precision, and greater operational flexibility. The speakers emphasized that virtual fencing not only improves day-to-day efficiency but also supports scalability and strengthens the case for integrating livestock grazing into large-scale solar operations.

Speakers:

• Jess & Marcus Gray, Gray’s LAMBscaping 
• Beau Stafford, Wiscovery Farm
• Meghan Filbert, NoFence

What Is NoFence and How Does It Work?
NoFence is a GPS- and cellular-enabled virtual fencing system that replaces physical fencing with collars and a smartphone app. The solar-assisted collars communicate over IoT cellular networks and Bluetooth, enabling fast pasture moves and real-time animal tracking. After a short training period using audio and mild electrical cues, animals learn to respond to sound alone, while the system provides location updates, grazing data, and health alerts.

How Does the App Enable Solar Grazing Management?
The app serves as the control hub for managing livestock on solar sites, allowing graziers to draw virtual pastures and adjust them instantly. Exclusion zones can be created or modified in real time to protect sensitive infrastructure or respond to changing site conditions. Tools like heat maps, herd replay, and individual animal monitoring support informed decisions without requiring constant site visits.

What Does Adoption Require?
Adopting the system involves an upfront investment in collars, along with an ongoing subscription for app access and data services. Successful use depends on consistent training protocols, where animals are gradually transitioned from physical fencing to virtual boundaries. Maintaining an adequate inventory of collars and planning for battery management are also key to smooth operation.

When Do Challenges Occur?
Challenges typically arise around battery management, collar recovery, and initial site setup. Batteries require planned swaps based on usage, while lost collars can usually be recovered using GPS tracking and audio signals. On newer solar sites, incomplete satellite imagery may require manual boundary setup during initial deployment.

What Are the Key Takeaways for Solar Graziers?
Virtual fencing offers significant labor savings by reducing paddock moves to a quick app-based task while improving grazing precision and flexibility. It also enhances communication with solar site operators by eliminating physical fence issues and providing real-time herd visibility. Overall, the system supports scalability, improves animal health monitoring, and reduces day-to-day stress for operators managing large or remote grazing sites.