Most of the land on a farm is open to the sky, but that doesn’t mean that it completely lacks structure. Every agricultural property needs reliable fencing to delineate its borders and keep any roaming livestock from wandering away. We share the best materials for farm fences that you should use when building one.
Wood
Wood is a standard choice because it’s tough, you can obtain it in many different dimensions, and you can easily cut it to fit the shapes you need for your fence. It does need to have special substances, such as stains, applied to its surface to protect it from water and sunlight, though. If you’re prepared to stay on top of the maintenance, a wood fence can last for many years. There is also pressure-treated lumber on the market, which has a greater resistance to the outdoor elements even without staining or painting. Most people limit wood fences to use for smaller areas where the maintenance needs aren’t overwhelming.
Metal Wire
Metal wire is among the best materials for farm fences as well. Wire fences can come in several forms that you can choose from based on the animals that you raise.
- Barbed wire – For slow-moving livestock, barbed wire is effective because the animals stay away from it. However, it can seriously injure faster animals, such as horses. Some wild animals, like deer, can also get over it.
- Electric – An alternative to barbed wire fencing that functions similarly, except through electric shock.
- Welded wire – These have wire intertwined in grid patterns and are good for keeping in chickens and keeping out lightweight predators, including coyotes and foxes.
- Field – If you have bigger livestock that might push against your fence, field fences are ideal. Field fences have thicker-gauge, reinforced wire that has some give, so it won’t easily fall over.
Plastic Lumber
Plastic lumber is a modern alternative to wood. This material is inorganic, and manufacturers can place additives in its actual composition before they mold it into fence pieces. As a result, it resists water, insects, general rotting, and UV radiation. Furthermore, plastic lumber is robust enough to stand up to physical force from larger animals. All these qualities come together to make it incredibly resilient with few maintenance needs. If your farm is on the more expansive side, you may find that plastic lumber is better than wood—even preserved wood.
