Gov. Gianforte Highlights Innovation in Agriculture

Visits Felton Angus Ranch in Deer Lodge

Governor's Office

DEER LODGE, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday visited the Felton Angus Ranch in Deer Lodge on Montana Agriculture Day to highlight how Montana producers are using innovative technology to strengthen their operations.

"Our farmers and ranchers are embracing new and emerging technologies to improve their operations and ensure the health of our landscapes and their world-class product," Gov. Gianforte said. "On National Agriculture Day, we celebrate Montana ranchers like the Feltons, who are caring for the land and keeping Montana agriculture strong for the next generation."

Gov. Gianforte visiting the Felton Angus Ranch in Deer Lodge to view the collaring of cattle for virtual fencing technology

Since 1952, Felton Angus Ranch has operated as a multi-generational family ranch raising registered Angus cattle. In recent years, the ranch has adopted a new technology called Vence for virtual livestock fencing. Vence uses GPS-enabled collars and strategically placed towers to guide cattle movement to keep cattle within set boundaries, allowing ranchers to manage grazing patterns without the need for traditional fencing.

The governor's visit included a demonstration of the virtual fencing system, showing how ranchers can manage cattle movement and adapt to changing conditions on the ground in real time.

"Like a lot of ranchers, we're always looking for ways to do things better," said Jim Felton, owner of Felton Angus Ranch. "This technology helps us manage our cattle more efficiently, take better care of the land, and adapt to challenges we face out here. It's been a game changer for our operation."

One of the virtual fencing towers used by the ranch is located on U.S. Forest Service land. During the visit, the governor heard about the importance of landowner relationships with federal partners.

"Tools like virtual fencing give us more flexibility in managing grazing on public lands while supporting the health of the landscape," said U.S. Forest Service Rangeland Management Specialist Alicia Snow. "Working alongside producers, we can better balance resource stewardship with the needs of working lands."

The Felton Angus Ranch partnered with Merck Animal Health to deploy the virtual fencing technology. Vence allows ranchers to track cattle movement, dictate grazing behavior, and establish an easy-to-manage rotational grazing strategy while helping with predator mitigation and tracking loss of livestock. In Montana, 28 ranches utilize Vence.

"Producers are looking for practical solutions that improve efficiency without adding complexity," said Allison Burenheide of Merck Animal Health. "Virtual fencing technology helps ranchers make real-time decisions that benefit their operation, their animals, and the land."

Since taking office, Gov. Gianforte has worked to increase support for Montana's agriculture industry through tax relief, workforce development, and infrastructure investments that benefit farmers and ranchers.

To support Montana farmers and ranchers, the governor increased the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 to $1 million, eliminating the business equipment tax burden for more than 5,000 small businesses, farms, and ranches.

To learn more about Vence, see here .

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