Ricketts Introduces FENCE Act to Support Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers

Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act. The legislation would authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include virtual fencing as another option for farmers and ranchers under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Including virtual fencing in this program would provide American farmers and ranchers with greater flexibility to rebuild and recover.

"Nebraska's ranchers are the best in the world. They've shown it this year in response to this spring's devastating fires across our state," said Senator Ricketts. "Ranchers recently shared with me that one-size-fits-all policies are hindering their ability to rebuild. The FENCE Act encouragesUSDA to continue finding new ways to support Nebraska's recovery efforts."

"As a kid, I helped repair fences on our small calf-cow operation, and I know exactly how time consuming it is. As a sportsman, I've also seen how built infrastructure can dramatically alter wildlife migration corridors," said Senator Heinrich. "My FENCE Act ensures producers in New Mexico and across the country can access federal funding for virtual fencing technology, helping them manage livestock more efficiently while also restoring the landscapes wildlife rely on."

"When the Senate passed my Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act in March, I said that flexibility is my top priority in improving disaster assistance. The FENCE Act is no different. This legislation opens the door for producers to use new technology, like virtual fencing, to replace their damaged or lost fence lines after disasters strike. This would be a great opportunity for farmers and ranchers to seize if it makes sense for their operation," said Senator Fischer.

"Colorado ranchers have endured years of challenges, particularly as wildfires grow more frequent across the West," said Senator Bennet. "We need to give farmers and ranchers the tools to navigate changing conditions, adopt new technologies, and build resilient operations. This bill provides the flexibility ranchers need to recover in ways that work best for them."

The FENCE Act would:

• Authorize USDA to include virtual fencing as an option for farmers and ranchers to utilize under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).

• Currently, the ECP covers up to 75% of the cost of the restoration or replacement of permanent agricultural fences.
• Allowing for "new or emerging technologies" under the program will provide another resource for farmers and ranchers to opt into.
• The use of electronic fencing technology may not result in an increase in cost of the repair or replacement of current permanent fencing structures.

BACKGROUND

Virtual fencing technology allows for controlled cattle placement through GPS-enabled collars that deliver audio cues and electrical pulses. After the devastating wildfires in Nebraska, farmers and ranchers highlighted the need for greater flexibility in recovering and rebuilding resources. TheFENCE Act would unlock virtual fencing as another tool for farmers and ranchers under the ECP. Virtual fencing is useful for grazing and land management. It could also extend to operations in the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Senator Ricketts worked with this Administration to allow Nebraska farmers and ranchers to have access to those grasslands.

Bill text for the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act can be found here.