Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
This type of cable costs about the same as polywire or polynet, and it conducts
electricity better. However, it kinks and breaks more easily if you take it down
and put it up often.
Posts
Fences are only as good as the posts that hold them up, so it's worth getting
the right kinds of posts for the job. Permanent fences can be constructed by
using wooden posts, metal T-posts, or a combination of the two.
Unless you happen to be blessed with an abundance of black locust or
Osage orange trees on your land, it's probably best to buy your posts. These
two species of trees make almost indestructible fence posts that are known to
last for decades without any treatment whatsoever. No other North American
trees can compete. If you do want to try cutting your own posts from other
species, you'll have to cut, debark, dry, and treat them with chemicals if you
want them to last for a long, long time.
When you purchase posts, look for ones that have been pressure treated.
The chemical that seems to offer the most protection with the fewest negative
side effects is chromated copper arsenate (CCA). No one knows exactly how
long a CCA post lasts, but some of these posts have been in the ground since
the 1930s and are still doing their job — so your posts will probably outlast
you.
A note on safety:
Although CCA is one of the least toxic preservatives used
to treat posts, it's still a good idea to wear gloves when working with treated
posts because some people are allergic to the chemical. Please be aware that if
you want to be certifi ably organic, you cannot use chemically treated posts.
Metal T-posts.
Metal T-posts can be driven directly into the ground with a
fence-post driver; just don't get your hand between the driver and the post. I
can attest to the fact that this is a very painful place for your thumb — and in
my case it earned me a cast for six weeks. In spite of that caveat, T-posts are
really great. When building a smooth-wire electric fence, attach the wire to
the T-post with a plastic insulator.
Fiberglass and plastic posts.
Posts that are made of fi berglass or plastic
come in a step-in style (our strong preference) or a pound-in style. These posts
are great for temporary fences. Fiberglass posts are readily available at farm-
supply stores, but sunlight breaks down the fi berglass particles, so after a time
you pick up painful fi berglass splinters. High-quality plastic posts are avail-
able from several of the catalog suppliers listed in the Resources section.
