Heather Neikirk

Cows wearing GPS virtual fence grazing collars. (Farm and Dairy file photo) If you read Wyatt Feldner’s Farm and Dairy “Dirt on Conservation” column in last week’s edition, you already know virtual fencing is generating interest among livestock producers. That conversation is part of a larger movement toward remote grazing technologies, a growing category of tools that includes virtual fencing, GPS livestock tracking and other precision livestock management systems.

(Farm and Dairy file photo) Recent weather extremes in eastern Ohio just haven’t been playing fair. A run of unseasonably wet springs followed by late summer and fall droughts has made grazing seasons increasingly unpredictable, pushing many producers to look for options that help pastures recover faster and keep animals performing under stress.

As November ushers in colder temperatures across northeastern Ohio, it’s an ideal time for horse owners to begin preparing for winter pasture management. While grazing may continue into the winter months, doing so successfully requires intentional strategies to protect both horse health and the long-term productivity of pasture systems. Winter conditions present several challenges for managing horses on pasture.