Virtual Fencing Bus Tour to showcase grazing technology across three states
5/1/26
AMES, Iowa – Cattle producers and industry professionals will have a unique opportunity this summer to explore virtual fencing technology in real-world settings through a two-day, three-state bus tour hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Iowa State University.
Scheduled for June 16–17, the Virtual Fencing Bus Tour is designed to provide hands-on exposure to multiple commercially available systems while connecting participants directly with producers, researchers, and technology providers. The tour will include stops in Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, highlighting virtual fencing systems currently used in production.
On the first day, participants will visit Rolling Prairie Ranch in Hatfield, MO, where cattle are moved multiple times per day using the Halter system of virtual fencing, and Mud Ridge Ranch in Red Oak, Iowa, where the Nofence system of virtual fencing is used to rotate cattle and sheep for vegetation management. The day will conclude with an overnight stay in Lincoln, Nebraska.
On the second day, the tour will move to the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) near Mead. Attendees will see demonstrations of the eShepherd/Gallagher and Halter systems in action, and learn how virtual fencing can be integrated into intensive grazing management strategies. The event will conclude with a panel discussion featuring researchers and industry representatives.
This program addresses a growing need among producers to better understand how virtual fencing systems perform under real-world conditions. By offering side-by-side exposure and direct interaction with users and developers, the tour aims to support informed decision-making and accelerate adoption of precision livestock technologies.
Registration is $200 per person, which includes transportation, lodging, and lunches. This event is sponsored by Halter, Nofence, Gallagher, and Iowa Forage and Grassland Council. See program details and register online by June 9 at https://go.unl.edu/vf_bustour.
The Iowa pick up date, time and location are June 16, 8 a.m., at Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, 5400 University Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50266. Iowa attendees can expect to return to the same location around 4 p.m. on June 17. For more information, contact ISU program specialist Beth Reynolds.
-30-
The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
Contact:
Beth Reynolds, ISU Extension and Outreach program specialist, 515-294-9881, bethr@iastate.edu
Shelby Gruss, ISU extension forage specialist, 515-294-3832, sgruss@iastate.edu
