Nofence Wins at AgriScot

An exciting new product which allows farmers to graze their livestock within set areas, but without the need for traditional fencing, has won the top prize at this year’s AgriScot Innovation Awards.

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This was Nofence Grazing Technology’s GPS-controlled head collars for cattle, sheep and goats, which allow users to digitally set grazing areas, with an audible signal acting as a the first ‘fence’ and a small electric pulse as the final deterrent to keep them within those boundaries.
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It consists of a solar-powered GPS collar which mark the digital ‘fields’ farmers set for any given area via a web portal run by the company and an easy-to-use app on your mobile phone network. It relies on the GNSS positioning system for accuracy (GPS and GLONASS satellites) but good mobile coverage is also a plus point for handy control.

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This means that the fence can be easily adjusted or moved, giving animals access to new areas and fresh pastures. Nofence also lets users track their animals’ movements and alerts owners if anything untoward happens.

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As well as being used in conservation and habitat grazing projects, the technology also has a role to play in managed grazing systems which means that messy job of shifting the electric fend in strip grazing situations, for example, can be eliminated.

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The technology was developed in Norway by a hill farmer who wanted to make use of grazing areas, but without the added cost of fencing. From a standing start 10 years ago, there are now 35,000 collars in use around the world, with 3500 of these in the UK, where the company now has its only base outside its home country.
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With a similar terrain to Norway, Scotland is seen as an ideal place where the Nofence technology can be utilised. It costs £239 per head collar for cattle, or £149 for sheep and goats, and is already being successfully used for conservation grazing by the likes of RSPB and other wildlife trusts, plus it’s ideal for common grazing or near dangerous cliffs.

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This system, felt the judging panel, could have wide-ranging applications ranging from conservation grazing in the likes of National Parks and nature reserves, to encouraging all-arable farmers to consider including livestock in their rotations once again.

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The judging panel was made up of well-known Borders’ farmer, John Elliot jnr; Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland CEO, Alan Laidlaw; and Ken Fletcher, editor of The Scottish Farmer.

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Chair of the panel, Ken Fletcher, said: “Innovation is the foundation of continuing success for agriculture and if the entries for this year’s AgriScot Innovation Awards are anything to go by, then there’s a solid future ahead for Scottish farming.
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“Scotland’s farmers have a reputation for coming up with and implementing new ideas and technology – and they have to be, given the geography and climate we have to contend with. That means it’s great to see so many new products coming through yet again for these awards.”
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The judges also felt that two other companies entered machines and technology that offer significant benefits to farming businesses.
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First of those was Merlo UK for its e-Worker, an all-electric telehandler which packs a punch from its 90KW electric motor, capable of an eight-hour working day from an overnight charge of its lead acid battery. The telescopic boom offers a maximum lift height of 4.80 metres with up to 2.5 tonnes of lift.
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Also highly commended was iLivestock’s eWeigh system which boasts the features of advanced weigh indicators at an entry level price.
Weights and records are saved immediately and there is no need to plug the device in to a computer to upload the data. This system was developed, tested and built in Scotland.

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The AgriScot Innovation Awards were sponsored by The Scottish Farmer, with the winner receiving £1000 towards advertising in the newspaper.