PHIL DONATO
MEMBER FOR ORANGE
IF you asked someone outside agriculture how significant virtual fencing is for livestock farming, they might struggle to answer.
Yet industry experts compare its impact to innovations such as ATMs and internet banking, supermarket barcodes, streamed music, and MRI and CT scans – technologies that didn’t simply improve existing systems, they transformed entire industries.
That’s why I’m proud to have led the push to legalise virtual fencing for cattle in New South Wales, with the Government listening to my calls and responding by adopting regulations that have now made this technology legally available to livestock producers across our state.
The journey began almost four years ago when a cattle farmer told me outdated laws were preventing New South Wales producers from using technology already available elsewhere.
Since then, I have worked closely with researchers, veterinarians, industry organisations, government agencies and farmers, while travelling to Queensland and Tasmania to see virtual fencing operating successfully on beef and dairy farms.
Last week, it was gratifying to see just how quickly this technology is now being embraced closer to home when I attended a virtual fencing masterclass hosted by Local Land Services at Anna Shaw and James Rodgers’ cattle farm near Cudal.
Farmers, industry representatives, NSW Police, staff of the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and hundreds of GPS-collared cattle demonstrated that this is no longer a concept for the future – it is already delivering real benefits.
Virtual fencing allows farmers to manage livestock without relying solely on kilometres of physical fencing.
Grazing areas can be adjusted digitally, reducing labour, improving pasture management and helping protect environmentally sensitive areas such as waterways.
The technology also improves animal monitoring, enhances productivity and has the potential to reduce on-farm injuries by minimising the need for traditional stock movements. Just as importantly, it can improve farmers’ quality of life.
During my research in Tasmania, one dairy farmer told me virtual fencing had been life-changing, allowing him to spend more time with his family and less time undertaking physically demanding daily tasks.
Agriculture often operates out of sight for many Australians, but every one of us depends on the farmers who produce our food and fibre.
Giving those farmers access to world-leading technology isn’t simply good for agriculture – it strengthens regional communities, improves environmental stewardship and helps ensure New South Wales remains at the forefront of modern, sustainable farming.
This opinion piece appeared in the 22 July edition of the Molong Express.