Fencing Contractors working with industry to help farmers maximise tech

As fencing technology advances rapidly, fencing contractors play a critical role in assisting farmers in optimising their fencing systems, says Nick Terry, a Fencing Contractors Association New Zealand (FCANZ) member.

Nick has operated his own contracting business, Custom Fencing, from Waikouaiti in Otago for the past 13 years. He delivers projects ranging from larger-scale farm fencing to smaller lifestyle blocks, security fencing, and industrial and urban work.

He says advancement in fencing technology has played a huge role in helping to drive efficiency for both his business and the customers he serves, but he believes farmers aren’t always getting the best out of their fencing systems.

“The technology is advancing so rapidly, and farmers are time poor, so in many cases they aren’t getting the most out of their systems to make their jobs easier,” says Nick.

With that in mind, Nick, through FCANZ, has been involved in a series of Best Practice Fencing days supported by industry, including Gallagher Animal Management, to upskill fencing contractors and the farmers they serve on the tech that’s now available to them.

“The days have been about helping fencing contractors and farmers keep up with the latest advancements in fencing technology to ensure they get the most out of their fencing systems,” says Nick.

Grounding issues and tech optimisation

One of the biggest issues Nick has seen recently is farmers not having their fencing systems running at full capacity, risking stock breakouts or stray voltage.

“I have been to a job recently where a farmer was only getting half the capacity out of his energizer because of improper grounding, that’s a really common issue we see,” says Nick.

“It was a sixty-joule unit, and the farmer only had three earth pegs because that’s what older units need. Many farmers don’t know that today’s modern energizers need more earth pegs,” says Nick.

“It’s such a simple fix, but a poorly established earth system can lead to stock breakouts and stray voltage, which no one wants,” says Nick.

He was able to troubleshoot the issue and make sure the farmer’s stock stayed controlled.

Best Practice Days

Nick says FCANZ’s Best Practice Days are about highlighting issues just like this example, alongside showcasing new products and giving farmers the opportunity to ask questions and learn from industry experts like Gallagher.

Gallagher supported events in Te Anau and Invercargill with representatives on hand to provide advice and solve any issues farmers have been struggling with.

“Having the likes of Gallagher there was great for guys to be able to come along and ask about new products and troubleshoot any issues,” says Nick.

The increasing complexity of farm management and fencing systems requires constant learning an adaptation, and events like these are vital for equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools they need, says Nick.

Simplifying Repairs with Gallagher’s Technology

Nick says advancements like Gallagher’s i-Series remote and fault finder have been critical in his business. He uses his own remotely controlled energizer on some jobs to save him time and hassle.

With the terrible weather experienced in the South Island last year, Nick had a job where he had to repair insulators on a farm’s boundary fence after flooding.

“I had used Gallagher insulators when we did the job, and they had held up extremely well in the conditions, but we did need to replace a few of them,” says Nick.

He used his own M6000i energizer and the i-Series remote and was able to move around the fence line, turning the energizer on and off as he fixed each insulator and moved to the next one.

“Fixing the boundary fence became a one-person job that only took a couple of hours to find all the issues along the fence line and fix them,” says Nick. “It’s this type of technology that we need to get into the hands of all farmers to make their jobs easier and more efficient,” says Nick.

Contractor Support

Gallagher Territory Manager for Otago, James Brown, says that by taking part in the FCANZ Best Practice Days, Gallagher was able to support fencing contractors and farmers to ensure they have the right tools and equipment to get the most out of their systems.

“With technology advancing at a rapid pace and farmers facing increasing pressures, the role of fencing contractors has never been more vital in helping James Brown, Territory Manager for Otago farmers get the most out of their fencing systems,” says James.

“At Gallagher, we want to help farmers get the most out of their fencing systems and ensure they are using the technology to the best of its ability. We appreciate working with industry and organisations like FCANZ so we can help educate farmers about what’s available to make their jobs easier.”

Supplied by: