American agriculture is becoming increasingly reliant on technology. From precision agriculture to virtual fencing, farmers and ranchers are finding smarter ways to manage their operations, driving productivity and environmental gains at the same time. But most of these tools depend on one thing: reliable connectivity.

Because nearly one-quarter of American farms still lack internet access, these tools can be out of reach for many farmers and ranchers. Expanding broadband access would help, and there are ways Congress can speed up that process, but one company is taking a different approach.

Virtual fencing company Halter has launched the world’s first satellite-based virtual fencing system, allowing ranchers to manage cattle anywhere, without needing broadband at all. 

>>>READ: Could Incentives for Ranchers Protect Wildlife?

This is a major step for an industry where many of the most promising tools still depend on connectivity that rural America does not always have. Instead of waiting for broadband to reach every pasture, Halter’s system lets ranchers use virtual fencing in remote areas today.

Rather than relying on physical fencing, which is notoriously time-consuming and costly to maintain, virtual fencing controls livestock movement without physical barriers. It relies on GPS-equipped collars that use auditory and electrical cues to keep animals within their set boundary. 

Ranchers can move cattle between pastures on their cellphones, rather than through physically demanding work out in the field. Grazing boundaries can be adjusted in real time, whether that is to respond to changing forage conditions, rotate grazing more frequently, or keep cattle out of sensitive areas. What used to take hours or even days of labor can now be done instantly from a screen, regardless if the rancher is on-site or miles away.

The benefits of virtual fencing are enormous. It gives ranchers precise control over where and when cattle graze, improves soil health and prevents overgrazing, and supports better vegetation recovery over time. It also makes it easier to keep livestock out of environmentally sensitive areas, such as streams or wildlife habitats, and eliminates physical barriers that can disrupt wildlife movement. 

>>>READ: Grazing as a Strategic Fire Prevention Solution

While the upfront costs are high, virtual fencing can yield significant savings over time. In one case study, Montana rancher Leo Barthelmess saved $200,000 in his first year using virtual fencing, driven by lower labor, infrastructure, and feed costs as grazing became more efficient. His investment delivered a 7.1x return compared to traditional fencing.

PERC Conservation Director Travis Brammer has argued that virtual fencing is helping to address a generational ranching crisis. Reducing some of the time-consuming and physically demanding work that comes with the job gives ranchers more time to focus on running their operations and, just as importantly, more time away from work to spend with their families. This helps make ranching a more viable path for the next generation at a time when fewer young people are entering or remaining in the field.

Halter’s satellite-based system opens the door for more ranchers to continue adopting these tools in places where connectivity has always been a barrier. By partnering with Starlink, Halter’s collars can now connect directly to satellites, removing the need for cell towers or on-ranch infrastructure entirely. While upfront costs, technological gaps, and rancher skepticism are still real barriers, this is a meaningful step forward for virtual fencing.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.