This year marks the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), a global recognition of the people, landscapes and knowledge systems that sustain grasslands around the world. As Canada contributes to this international effort, the CFGA is highlighting the innovations, partnerships and producer-led solutions that strengthen our rangeland and grazing systems. 
 
The Canadian Virtual Fencing Showcase Panel at the CFGA’s 16th Annual Conference in November is one example of how technology, stewardship and collaboration are coming together to support resilient rangelands and the communities who depend on them. 
 
Hosted by CFGA’s national grazing coordinator, Adrienne Hanson, the panel followed a virtual fencing national update which heard from provincial On Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) representatives Serena Black from British Columbia, Sonja Shank from Alberta, Cindy Green from Saskatchewan and Marie-Pier Beaulieu from Quebec. Andrea White, director of marketing and stakeholder relations at the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), also joined the discussion. 
 
The update began by comparing the virtual fence products: Eshepherd, Halter, NoFence and Vence. Virtual fences are GPS or cellular network-enabled collars used to control the movement of cattle by emitting a tone or mild stimulant. The comparison looked at software, collar battery, herd and pasture sizes as well as upfront and ongoing costs associated with the products. The comparison of products was followed by a general examination of the environmental and economic benefits as well as the overall adaptability and implementation challenges.  
 
Each region provided updates on specific-use cases including key learnings, future plans and challenges. The examples included the use of the collars on both cattle and goats, as well as beef and diary herds. One interesting application was using these tools to better understand grazing behaviour (including night grazing). 
 
The panel addressed a variety of questions from the audience about the use of virtual fencing and potential for these products. Environmental benefits of virtual fencing include using livestock to help mitigate climate change impacts by allowing cows to graze in forested areas and control the undergrowth. This reduces the risk of wildfires. From an economic perspective, physical fencing is expensive and can be difficult to install in areas where the terrain is steep or rocky. Additionally, it allows producers to graze on large areas which may not be practical to fence due to cost, especially in the Prairie provinces where cattle may graze thousands of acres. 
 
Producers can use the fencing to gain access to additional land, including grazing cover crops planted by other producers and other grazing opportunities. The virtual fencing also makes it easier for producers to protect riparian areas, which helps support biodiversity.  
 
Other questions touched on the effectiveness of virtual fencing in areas with pipelines and power transmission lines, the attractiveness of technology to younger farmers and the use of collars with small ruminants. Future innovations in the works with some of the brands include the ability to monitor the health of animals and detect if they are pregnant. 
 
As Canada celebrates the IYRP, the insights shared during the virtual fencing panel underscore how innovation can enhance the long-standing stewardship values that define our grazing landscapes. Virtual fencing is more than a technological tool; it reflects a broader shift toward adaptive, climate‑smart grazing that supports biodiversity, strengthens producer resilience and honours the deep connection between people, livestock and the land. By continuing to explore and share these advancements, the CFGA is helping position Canada as an active contributor to global conversations on sustainable rangeland management throughout the IYRP and beyond. 
 
2025 conference recordings 
With the theme Greener Horizons: Technological Innovations in Forage and Grassland Management, the 2025 CFGA conference took place Nov. 18 to 21 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and was organized in partnership with the New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement Association (NBSCIA). 
 
Online access to recordings of all the conference sessions is available for free to those who registered for the 2025 conference. To purchase access, email [email protected].