Virtual fencing startup “Halter” has struck a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to make its technology available to ranchers utilizing public lands. New Zealand-based Halter also recently closed a $100 million Series D funding round, which valued the company at $1 billion.
Halter launched its virtual fencing platform nearly a decade ago and has been steadily winning over ranchers ever since. According to the company, it has around 1,000 users in New Zealand, Australia, and the US. In the US, that includes some 150 ranchers across 18 states.
The new contract with the BLM, along with its charitable arm, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands (APL), includes $2.7 million in funding to support ranchers using Halter on BLM-managed land. The BLM is the largest land manager in the US, which includes nearly 245 million acres of surface land.
Halter’s system is simple, at least on the surface. Cows are outfitted with “smart collars” that allow ranchers to manage their herds from a mobile phone. With the Halter app, users can establish virtual fences anywhere on their land, eliminating the need for permanent fencing. Cows are trained to respond to the collar’s guidance cues as they approach the virtual fence.
Ranchers can also see a heatmap of grazing activity through the Halter app and take advantage of grass growth by moving cattle to optimize the best grazing opportunities. Users can create new fences directly from the app on their mobile phone and herd animals into the new pasture area using sound and vibration cues generated through the app.
Halter collars are lightweight and ergonomically designed and powered by two small solar cells at the top of the collar. The collars and the Halter app are connected via solar-powered towers on the ranch, which are provided by Halter.
Cotoni-Coast Dairies in California is the first ranch to take advantage of the new BLM program. Run by Wayne Pastorino and his daughter Paige, the duo’s herd grazes on BLM land that is set to become a new national monument in Santa Cruz County.
“Our collaboration with Halter demonstrates how partnerships can bring resources like virtual fencing to support land stewardship, modern ranching, and keep trails safe and clear for all to enjoy,” said I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. “Virtual fencing helps the Bureau of Land Management to manage these hardest-working lands for multiple uses, ensuring they remain productive and accessible for future generations.”
Halter’s deal with BLM follows a $100 million Series D funding round earlier this summer, which will go toward the company’s expansion push in the US. As Piggott notes, “Over half of U.S. ranchers and farmers are over 55, and rural labor shortages are severe.” Halter’s technology enables ranchers to manage their herds with fewer workers and without being constantly physically present. Learn more about Halter at their website HERE. (Sources: AgFunder, Drovers)
