Summer is a productive time on the farm, but it also presents unique challenges when it comes to maintaining your agricultural fencing. From intense heat to rapid vegetation growth and unpredictable storms, your fence line endures a lot in just a few short months. Performing regular maintenance during this season isn’t just about appearance, it’s about protecting your property, your livestock, and your investment.
Inspect and Repair Early
Before summer is in full swing, conduct a thorough inspection of all fencing on your property. Walk the perimeter, looking for any obvious damage such as broken boards, rusted wire, sagging lines, or cracked posts. Pay special attention to areas near gates and corners where tension tends to be highest.
Promptly addressing small issues can prevent them from becoming expensive repairs. If you discover major damage, consider calling in a professional fencing contractor for a long-term fix.
Manage Vegetation Growth
One of the biggest summertime threats to agricultural fencing is overgrown vegetation. Vines, tall grass, and weeds can wrap around fencing materials, trap moisture, and slowly cause deterioration. They can also interfere with electric fencing or reduce visibility along your property line.
If you’re using barbed wire or high-tensile wire fencing, remember that vegetation can increase the chance of entanglement, making regular trimming even more important for animal safety.
Protect Against Weather Damage
Summer doesn’t just bring sunshine. It also brings thunderstorms, high winds, and even drought conditions, all of which can take a toll on fencing. Wooden fences may crack or warp due to intense heat or heavy rain. Metal components can expand and contract, loosening joints or increasing rust risk. Storms may even blow down poorly supported sections.
Use weather-resistant paint or sealant on wood and apply rust inhibitors on metal parts. If your fence posts are untreated wood, consider upgrading to pressure-treated lumber or alternative materials like composite or steel. After any major storm, reinspect the fence and surrounding soil to ensure posts remain properly set.
Maintain Electric Fencing
Electric fencing is effective and widely used, but it demands regular upkeep, especially in summer. High weeds can ground out electric fences, rendering them useless. Hot weather can strain solar-powered fence chargers, and wildlife activity can increase shorts or breaks. To keep things running smoothly:
- Test voltage at multiple points along the fence.
- Clear vegetation that touches the fence.
- Check insulators for cracks or UV damage.
- Replace weak batteries in solar chargers.
Reinforce Gates and Entry Points
Gates often experience more wear and tear than the rest of your fence. They’re opened, closed, leaned on, and sometimes even climbed. Check that all gate hardware is functional and secure.
Ensure that the gate frame hasn’t warped or shifted and that it closes properly without sagging. For livestock fencing, it’s important that gates are escape-proof and don’t leave gaps where animals can push through or injure themselves.
Don’t Ignore Your Corners
The corners of your fence are crucial. They bear the brunt of wire tension and often face the most environmental exposure. If these areas fail, the rest of your fence becomes compromised.
Check that braces are intact and that tension wires are tight. Reinforce corner posts as needed with diagonal bracing or deep-set anchor posts. Even the best-built fences will suffer if corner posts fail, so give them the attention they deserve.
Straight Shooter Game Fencing: Your Partner in Reliable Fencing
If you want your fencing to last, it pays to partner with professionals who know the terrain. Straight Shooter Game Fencing has over 28 years of experience installing high-tensile, long-lasting fencing systems for agricultural and wildlife applications. As a family-owned company, we understand the value of doing the job right the first time.
From helping landowners contain livestock to securing large properties against wildlife intrusion, Straight Shooter Game Fencing delivers customized solutions and unparalleled workmanship. We’re proud to offer:
- High-tensile game fencing
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
- Projects throughout the U.S.
- Outstanding service backed by decades of expertise
Don’t wait until something goes wrong. Maintain your fence today with the help of Straight Shooter Game Fencing. Your land, livestock, and peace of mind are worth it.