New virtual fencing technology aims to help farmers in Washington [Video]

GRANT COUNTY, Wash. — Ranching plays an essential role in many communities across Washington. It drives local economies, structures growth and land management practices, and impacts local government decisions. These communities supply livestock and agricultural products essential to Washington residents, thereby influencing state policies as well. The Department is committed to maintaining a working landscape on our wildlife areas that aligns with local community values if the land’s ecological integrity is preserved.

In central Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and permittees have partnered — with financial assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) — to use virtual fencing technology to improve grazing management. This cutting-edge approach is currently being tested on the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Grant County, the first implementation of virtual fencing on …