Agricultural trends are moving towards larger and more standardized units, leaving sceneries like the one found in Klevgardan in danger of extinction. But despite small plots and heavy incline being far from the target of mainstream agritech innovation, development of new technology is exactly what might secure the continuation of farming here.
During the hustle and bustle of summer farmers Arnvid Sæther and Anne Stine Mathisen are busy harvesting grass for the winter. There’s definitely an air of optimism for the farm’s future – a new barn is being built and further up the hill their suckler cows are grazing with new Nofence collars. There’s plenty of vigor and bounce. The farmers on this slope are eager to find ways to improve business through technology that can meet their particular needs. Sæter farm keeps 45 cattle of the traditional Norwegian breed ‘sida trønder’, and the herd would normally roam the mountains this time of the year.
This summer is different though. The suckler cows and their calves now comprise a special task force whose mission it is to preserve the cultural landscape through grazing. Preventing overgrowth is a key element in this effort, but there are challenges related to topography, time and the cost of fencing materials. This is where Nofence comes in.
In 2018, the village of Klevgardan was awarded the status “Chosen Cultural Landscape”. The status allows the local farmers to funnel resources into landscape management, and given the topography in this particular area, Nofence is a tool with just the right fit. The virtual boundaries give great flexibility to move the animals about without much fencing effort at all. Previously, the farmers here have used snowmobiles to transport fencing material up the hills in winter. As spring came, the fence rolls were reeled down the hills before fence posts were erected in difficult terrain.
Arnvid is happy about how the system has worked. He explains that the batteries have kept a steady high level since the outset. After two months, the collars display the same battery level as when they were first put to use. He still needs to keep a barrier fence for sheep from other farms but is able to move his own animals just about wherever he wants to just by tapping his phone screen a few times. While the creation of landscapes like Klevgardan can be attributed to its past inhabitants, its prospect lies in the hands of its present and future dwellers. New technology such as Nofence may encourage coming generations to live and work in these hamlets not only by making farming easier but also opening up for a whole new range of possibilities of grazing and livestock management.