Learn how to implement and improve electric fencing systems, discuss theory and best practices when designing new fences.

The Small-Scale Meat Producers Association is hosting a 6-hour introductory electric fencing workshop next Monday at a certified organic orchard exploring seasonal livestock integration. Grazing mentors, Tristan Banwell & Julia Smith will guide participants through this fun and informative day at beautiful Claremont Ranch in Lake Country.

This hands-on workshop is designed for both livestock producers and crop growers, including orchardists and vegetable producers who are curious about incorporating livestock into orchards or crop rotations. Seasonal grazing can offer significant benefits, including improved soil structure, increased organic matter, enhanced moisture retention, nutrient cycling, weed suppression, reduced mowing costs, and more resilient agroecosystems. When managed properly through rotational grazing, livestock can become a powerful soil-building and land management tool.

Using Claremont Ranch as a case study, participants will learn the fundamentals of electric fencing systems, including how electric fences work, grounding systems, energizer selection, permanent versus portable fencing, and species-specific design considerations for sheep, cattle, poultry, and pigs. We will also discuss food safety regulations, organic certification considerations, and withdrawal periods that impact grazing orchards and crop systems. The workshop includes a substantial hands-on component where participants will install fencing and explore practical tools, troubleshooting techniques, and management strategies that support successful livestock integration.

Whether you are raising livestock or growing crops and considering seasonal grazing partnerships, this workshop will provide the foundational knowledge needed to design effective, compliant, and resilient electric fencing systems.

Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/electric-fencing-masterclass-tickets-1982832189455

This class is funded by the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund. Funding for the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund.