{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"We Tried Virtual Fence on Goats &amp; Sheep (Real Farm Results) (Ep. 360)","description":"What if you could finally have goats and sheep \u2014 without building miles of netting or chasing escapes? That's exactly what virtual collars made possible for Meg Greske, and she breaks down EVERYTHING in this episode. \ud83d\udc49 Follow Mary Jo Here: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ&amp;nbsp;  \ud83d\udc49 Get the book: hhttps:\/\/www.farmingwithoutthebank.com\/book&amp;nbsp; Mary Jo sits down with client and regional conservation consultant Meg Greske (Oklahoma Conservation District) to dig into real-world results of using NoFence virtual collars on sheep and goats \u2014 from cost and training to wool vs. hair breed differences, company comparisons, and whether the data privacy concerns are worth worrying about. In this episode: \ud83d\udcb2 Real cost breakdown: NoFence collars ($240\u2013$270\/collar + ~$3\u20134\/month after year 1) \ud83d\udc10 Why goats train fast \u2014 and why wool sheep take weeks longer \ud83c\udd9a NoFence vs. Halter vs. Gallagher vs. Moneal vs. Vence \u2014 what's actually different \ud83d\udce1 Base station drama: why Halter just went base-station-free and what it means \ud83d\udd12 The &quot;tinfoil hat&quot; question: data privacy, tracking, and who owns your herd data \ud83d\udc11 OSU research on animal stress \u2014 is virtual fence cruel? (No. Here's the proof.) \ud83d\udcc8 How virtual collars are making intensive rotational grazing feasible for small producers \ud83d\udcb0 Grants &amp;amp; cost share: SHIP program, EQIP applications, and what's coming \u23f3 Should you buy NOW or wait for better tech? Chapters 0:00 - &quot;Buy Now or Wait?&quot; (Cold Open) 0:50 - Intro: Meet Meg Greske 2:19 - NoFence Collar Costs &amp;amp; Pricing Breakdown 3:19 - Comparing the Companies: NoFence, Halter, Gallagher, Vence &amp;amp; Moneal 5:08 - Halter Just Went Base-Station-Free 6:40 - Base Stations: History &amp;amp; Why They're Becoming Obsolete 8:41 - Collar Lifespan &amp;amp; Battery Life 11:32 - Training Sheep &amp;amp; Goats: Wool vs. Hair Breed Differences 13:22 - Minimum Size Requirements &amp;amp; Flocking Behavior 14:05 - Running Sheep, Goats &amp;amp; Cattle Together 16:33 - App Ease of Use &amp;amp; Customer Support 18:24 - Grants &amp;amp; Cost-Share Programs (SHIP, EQIP) 20:43 - Data Privacy: Who Owns Your Herd Data? 22:12 - Terrain, Cell Service &amp;amp; Connectivity 24:42 - Intensifying Rotational Grazing With Virtual Fencing 27:18 - Goats for Hire: Brush Clearing as a Business 28:44 - Training Process Step-by-Step 29:44 - Animal Welfare &amp;amp; OSU Stress Research 30:46 - Health Monitoring &amp;amp; Future Tech Integration 32:07 - Buy Now or Wait? Meg's Final Answer 34:35 - Could Virtual Collars Work for Horses? 38:04 - Meg's Diversified Ranch Operation 39:35 - How to Reach Meg &amp;amp; Outro \ud83d\udd14 Subscribe for weekly episodes: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ&amp;nbsp;  \ud83d\udcc5 Client Summit \u2014 January 2027, Chandler, AZ. Watch your email for the save-the-date! \ud83d\udcd6 Learn more: https:\/\/farmingwithoutthebank.com&amp;nbsp;  \ud83d\udc8c Email: maryjo@withoutthebank.com&amp;nbsp;  \ud83d\udce7 Meg's contact: mgcows@gmail.com&amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"Farming Without the Bank Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/www.farmingwithoutthebank.com\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41804760\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/87A93A\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/203363470"}