Across the U.S., farmers are facing steeper costs, from fuel to labor and feed. Many are looking for practical ways to keep operations efficient without sacrificing land quality or animal care. That’s where virtual fencing is starting to make a real difference.

Virtual fencing is helping American producers manage their land, time, and resources more efficiently by replacing physical fences with flexible, digital boundaries. It empowers farmers to make informed grazing decisions, adapt quickly to changing conditions, and maximize the potential of every acre.

One of the leading companies in this space is Nofence, which offers a GPS-based technology developed by farmers for farmers. Their collars allow livestock to graze within virtual boundaries set by a mobile app, making it possible to reclaim hard-to-reach land, cut input costs, and simplify some of the time consuming tasks farmers face, all while promoting sustainable practices, enhancing animal welfare, and contributing to biodiversity.

Unlocking the potential of farmers’ lands

For Idaho cattle farmer Tyson Coles, the shift to virtual fencing—and Nofence in particular—has brought significant benefits. “Virtual fencing has completely changed how I manage my cattle,” he says. “I can create smaller paddocks, rotate them efficiently, and extend my grazing season by up to two months. That’s $8,000 saved in hay costs this year alone.”

Tyson’s operation now runs with more flexibility and less wear on equipment. “I used to spend seven hours a week feeding hay in winter. Now, I spend just three hours setting up a week’s worth of feed—and I save $2,000 a month in tractor fuel and wear,” he says.

It has also meant more time with his family, which he values just as much as the financial gains.

Will Oberton and Erin Gervais, a father-daughter team in Minnesota, are seeing similar results. Using Nofence to graze 80 cows, they’ve tapped into steep, marginal areas of their land that were once unusable. “We’ve got some land that’s not ideal for traditional farming, but Nofence helps us unlock its potential—and turn it into profit,” Will says.

The duo estimates a $25,000 annual savings from increased grazing efficiency and reduced feed use. “The cows seem a lot calmer,” Erin adds. “They can move through different grazing areas that are more natural for them. We’re seeing healthier animals because of it.”

A user-friendly app

At the heart of the technology is Nofence’s user-friendly app, which was developed with the assistance of Nofence software engineer Malin Kildal. From the outset, her focus has been on making the app’s sophisticated technology as user-friendly as possible, with livestock at the heart of it. With a few taps on a smartphone, farmers can set or shift grazing areas, monitor herds in real time, and receive alerts if an animal crosses the set boundaries. Malin notes that farmers are “at ease just by knowing where their animals are, they can go on vacation if it’s just a week a year. They can do that now with Nofence.”

The flexibility of Nofence’s virtual fencing allows farmers to rotate grazing more precisely and reduce the need for costly infrastructure. Tyson notes that he’s avoided $35,000 in fencing costs and opened up 100 additional acres for grazing. It also opens up underutilized areas of land, allowing animals to roam and graze in areas previously restricted by physical barriers.

That level of control is most appealing to farmers like Stephanie Mathis, who manages a goat herd on 14,000 acres of rugged land in Santa Barbara County, California. “I’m not very tech-savvy, but the Nofence app is so intuitive. It makes managing my goats simple, even on steep hillsides and dense brush,” she says.

Malin has seen firsthand how the technology serves as a valuable tool for farmers, supporting their work in caring for both their land and livestock. “Our customers using managed grazing see improvements in soil quality and plant growth,” she says. “Grazing in controlled areas prevents nutrient depletion and keeps grasslands robust, which is vital as we adapt to climate impacts.”

As Nofence continues to expand in the U.S., its promise is simple: better land use, lower operating costs, improved livestock management, and a better quality of life for the people who make farming work.

Want to see what virtual fencing can do for your land? Visit Nofence.no/us for more information on Nofence’s virtual fencing product and to explore how land managers are transforming their pastures.