Naturally, animals like cows, ox, and goats are attracted to green crops in fields. They don't know the purpose of agriculture. For them, the crop is just an easily available fodder.
Although it is not their fault farmers can't let the animals eat their hard work of growing crops throughout the time.
To save the agricultural land from animals, we use agricultural fencing. This fencing restricts the animals outside and provides security for growing crops.
Agricultural fencing and installation
It is challenging work to secure the crop area by yourself if you are a beginner. There is a possibility that you can injure yourself. For this, it is good to call the experts in fencing. It doesn't mean that without experts one can't make fencing around the crops but most of the time people do mistakes.
Types of agricultural fencing
There are various types of agricultural fencing based on the purpose. Following are some basic agricultural fencing-
- Barbed wire fencing
Barbed wire fencing is used to save crops from heavy animals. In this fencing, we use pointy barbed wire to cover the crops.
We use metal poles to fix the barbed wire in vertically horizontal layers. Later we add X shape fencing with these barbed wires to make it more effective. This is very long-lasting fencing and very general in agricultural areas.
- Chain link fencing
Chain link fencing is a chain link of strong metal wires. This is one of the best and strong fencing support available.
In this, metal wires are chained with each other in the same quadrilateral pattern on each other.
We can either use cement poles or metal poles to fix the fencing around agricultural land.
- Electric fencing
Electric fencing is one of the most dangerous fencings in the world. When we run electricity in fencing wires, it becomes very dangerous but effective fencing all around. For this, we use a voltage controlling device to control the intensity of electricity in the wires.
People still debate about the voltage limit to supply the wires. The purpose of electric fencing is to give a very thin shock and keep away the unwanted disturbance in crop fields.
It is always suggested to use a very less voltage to run in the wires.
- Solar fencing
Solar fencing is a kind of electric fencing. In this fencing, we use solar energy to give a shock to any living disturbance that appears near your fencing. Like electric fencing, this is not life-threatening but very effective to keep them away.
The installation cost of solar fencing is very high.
Types of poles of fencing
Although strong poles are enough for fencing there are multiple other factors in the selection of a proper pole for fencing like the cost of poles, material, age, maintenance, and safety.
Following are some basic fencing poles-
- Wooden poles
Wooden poles are easily available and cheaper than any other fencing pole. It is always best to use cylindrical wooden poles for fencing.
Wooden poles are easy to change after damage and even the cost of maintenance is very low.
- Metal angle rod poles
The best suitable and comfortable for barbed wire and chain link fencing is metal angle rod poles. These angle poles are ready-made and available on the market and it is easy to bind fencing with them.
With the help of binding wires, it is easy to replace and fix the fencing wires with the poles easily. But these poles are costlier and maintenance cost is higher than other poles.
- Cement poles
Cement poles are good for electric wire fencing. Cement poles are made of cement mixture(with sand), and inside with a couple of very thin rods. These cement poles are very helpful but once they broke, it is difficult to replace them. It takes much more time than other fencing poles to replace them. Also, these poles are not easily available in the market.
These poles are strong but not long-lasting.
Measurement of agricultural fencing
Generally, agricultural fencing is measured in two components; height and width. According to the particular purpose of fencing, the fencing pole's height is decided. But ideally, we take it 6.5 feet in height and 1.5 feet deep.
The pole to pole distance depends on the type of fencing. Most of the time, we keep poles at 20 feet.
If you are using barbed wires, then you should keep them at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
Various agricultural fencing costs per square feet and acre
Following are the cost of various agricultural fencing-
Barbed wire fencing cost( Angle rod poles)
- Per square feet- 60 INR
- Per acre- 2,60,000 INR
Chain link fencing( Angle rod poles)
- Per square feet- 80 INR
- Per acre- 3,50,000 INR
Solar fencing cost
- Per square feet- 120 INR
- Per acre- 4,30,000 INR
Electric fencing cost
- Per square feet- 95 INR
- Per acre- 3,80,000 INR
The various agricultural fencing repair cost
Following are the repairing cost of various agricultural fencing per square foot-
- Barbed wire fencing repair cost- 20 INR
- Chain link fencing repair cost- 35 INR
- Solar fencing repair cost- 70 INR
- Electric fencing repair cost- 45 INR
Agriculture fencing tips
If you are a beginner in agriculture fencing, then you should not try it. It is better to find someone who did that before or give this project to the professionals.
Following are some basic tips that you should follow during agricultural fencing-
- If you are using barbed wire fencing, then you should aware of keeping them towards the inside of the poles(in direction of a crop). In many cases, it is seen that if someone is walking near your fields, there are possibilities that barbed wires can catch his clothes.
- Your poles must be deeper in the ground with a proper concrete mixture. 1.5 feet is enough deep. More than that will increase your cost and be unnecessary.
- If you call professionals for fencing, then ask them for their insurance of wounds or wear required safety features during working.
- It is suggested to not use electric fencing in your poultry farms or agricultural fields. It can create trouble for you.
- If you want to do maintenance work by yourself, then be aware of all the basics you learned about fencing.
