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By Agroempresario.com
Halter, the New Zealand-based agtech company specializing in virtual fencing, is set to expand its technology across US ranches through a new partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its charitable arm, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands (APL). The initiative provides financial and technical support to ranchers utilizing BLM-managed public lands.
“This partnership is about unlocking the full potential of our public lands,” said Zachary Ormsby from the Bureau of Land Management. “Joining forces with producers and embracing innovative tools like Halter’s virtual fencing allows us to create a blueprint for smarter grazing and thriving ecosystems.”
Leasing public land for cattle grazing is a longstanding US practice, formalized through the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, which created grazing districts, permits, and regulations. Today, the BLM issues nearly 18,000 permits and leases, covering over 155 million acres across more than 21,000 allotments.
Halter equips cattle with wireless “smart” collars that communicate with transmission towers installed on ranches. The collars use embedded sound and vibration cues to guide livestock within digital boundaries, which ranchers can manage via a mobile app. The system allows ranchers to monitor herd movement in real time, adjust grazing patterns, and keep cattle safely contained without the expense and labor of physical fences.
“This technology is key for supporting ranching on public lands,” says Halter president Andrew Fraser. “Virtual fencing reduces costs, saves time, and enables smarter land use.”
Virtual fencing also offers environmental benefits. By controlling grazing digitally, wildlife can migrate more freely, soil health improves, and biodiversity increases. Adjusting boundaries on a smartphone is far more efficient than constructing miles of traditional fencing, making Halter a scalable solution for large-scale ranching operations.
Halter currently serves 150 ranchers across 18 US states and has laid over 128,000 miles of virtual fencing in 2024 alone. Earlier this year, the company raised $100 million in Series D funding, signaling growing interest in the technology from ranchers and investors alike.
The BLM partnership includes $2.7 million in funding from the APL, designated to offset ranchers’ initial costs for implementing Halter’s system. Cotoni-Coast Dairies in California, which grazes cattle on BLM-managed lands becoming part of the California Coast National Monument, is the first ranch to receive support.
“This land has a lot more to offer beyond just grazing,” said Paige Pastorino, owner of Cotoni-Coast Dairies. “For the past 25 years, it has given my family a sense of purpose and connection. With Halter, we can manage it more thoughtfully and contribute to what the monument becomes over time.”
Halter’s virtual fencing technology not only streamlines livestock management but also demonstrates how collaboration between government agencies, producers, and technology companies can create sustainable outcomes. Fraser adds:
“We ensure ranchers maximize the benefits of the Halter system. Over the next year, we’ll support multiple ranches across various states, showing what’s possible when innovation meets public land stewardship.”
By offering both financial and technical assistance, the partnership reduces adoption barriers and encourages more ranchers to implement smart grazing practices. The scalable nature of the technology makes it a promising solution for livestock management nationwide.
As US ranchers face labor shortages, climate challenges, and increased scrutiny over land use, virtual fencing offers a practical and sustainable solution. Halter’s technology provides precision, efficiency, and environmental stewardship, potentially transforming grazing practices across millions of acres of public and private lands.
With the BLM partnership and Halter’s ongoing expansion, the future of livestock management in the United States is poised for a tech-driven transformation that balances profitability, animal welfare, and ecosystem health.
