Joy English · Level B2 · Farming and technologyjoy-english.com

Virtual fences: good for farms and nature?

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Read an excerpt from a VOA Learning English report comparing traditional fences with GPS-based virtual fences for cattle.

Virtual Fences for Cows Show Benefits

Physical fences take time, labor and money to build. It can be difficult to put them in areas such as rocky and hilly land, wet areas, or places with thick vegetation. Over time, fences need to be fixed or new ones need to be built.

When hurricane Ian hit Florida last year, it destroyed four houses and 45 kilometers of physical fence on the land where Strickland works. But the cell towers for the virtual fence system kept working.

Physical fences can also harm wild animals by making it difficult for them to move within and to areas they need for survival.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a U.S-based environmental non-profit organization. It has partnered with cattle ranches in the states of Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado to research the effects of virtual fencing.

William Burnidge is Deputy Director of TNC’s North America Regenerative Grazing Lands Strategy. He said that by changing fence boundaries, the systems prevent animals from eating too much vegetation within one area. This helps plants regenerate, or grow again.

He added that virtual fences could help protect rare plants and areas near rivers and streams. They could also support conservation of wild animals, improve the health of animals and help ranch workers have a better quality of life.

Strickland works with partners at Florida Conservation Group and the University of Florida. With virtual fences, they can carefully control grazing. This helps them research the effects of grazing patterns on the growth of young cows, birth rates, and even the effects on nesting birds.

Understand the text

Read the text. Choose the correct answer.

What does the text say about physical fences?
- a) They are cheap and quick to build.
- b) They take time, labour and money to build.
- c) They never need to be repaired.
Where is it especially difficult to put physical fences?
- a) On rocky, hilly or wet land
- b) In cities and towns
- c) Near main roads
What happened when Hurricane Ian hit Florida?
- a) The virtual fence towers stopped working.
- b) Strickland lost all of his cattle.
- c) Kilometres of physical fence were destroyed, but the virtual fence system kept working.
How can physical fences harm wild animals?
- a) By giving them electric shocks
- b) By making it hard for them to move to areas they need to survive
- c) By frightening them with noise
What is The Nature Conservancy?
- a) An environmental non-profit organisation
- b) A government department
- c) A cattle ranch in Kansas
According to William Burnidge, how do virtual fences help plants?
- a) By giving the plants more water
- b) By stopping animals from eating too much in one area
- c) By keeping all animals out of the fields
Burnidge believes virtual fences could improve life for ranch workers.
- a) True
- b) False
What do Strickland and his partners study with the help of virtual fences?
- a) How to build cheaper cell towers
- b) How hurricanes form
- c) How grazing patterns affect young cows, birth rates and nesting birds

Words and details

Choose the best answer, or type one word from the text.

"places with thick vegetation" Vegetation means ...
- a) deep water
- b) plants in general
- c) large rocks
The text explains that regenerate means to grow ___.
TNC "has partnered with cattle ranches". This means it has ...
- a) worked together with them
- b) competed against them
- c) bought land from them
Virtual fences "could also support conservation of wild animals". Conservation means ...
- a) hunting
- b) counting
- c) protection
TNC works with cattle ranches in Kansas, New Mexico and ___.
The text mentions a better quality of life. This means ...
- a) a life that is more comfortable and satisfying
- b) longer working hours
- c) a move to a bigger city

Answer key

Understand the text

b) They take time, labour and money to build.Physical fences take time, labor and money to build, and they need to be fixed over time.
a) On rocky, hilly or wet landIt can be difficult to put them in rocky and hilly land, wet areas, or places with thick vegetation.
c) Kilometres of physical fence were destroyed, but the virtual fence system kept working.The hurricane destroyed 45 kilometers of physical fence, but the cell towers for the virtual fence system kept working.
b) By making it hard for them to move to areas they need to survivePhysical fences can make it difficult for wild animals to move to areas they need for survival.
a) An environmental non-profit organisationThe text describes TNC as a U.S.-based environmental non-profit organization.
b) By stopping animals from eating too much in one areaBy changing fence boundaries, the systems prevent animals from eating too much vegetation within one area.
a) TrueHe said they could help ranch workers have a better quality of life.
c) How grazing patterns affect young cows, birth rates and nesting birdsThey research the effects of grazing patterns on the growth of young cows, birth rates and nesting birds.

Words and details

b) plants in generalVegetation means plants, especially the plants that grow in a particular area.
againThe text says: This helps plants regenerate, or grow again.
a) worked together with themTo partner with someone means to work together with them.
c) protectionConservation is the protection of animals, plants and natural areas.
ColoradoTNC has partnered with cattle ranches in Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado.
a) a life that is more comfortable and satisfyingQuality of life describes how good, comfortable and satisfying someone's life is.