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Fence Budgets
Farm Business Management Update, October 1997
By Henry Snodgrass of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech
Fences are a major capital expense on the livestock farms. The following is a summary of fence budgets recently updated. For detailed information on fence styles listed, contact the Farm Business Management Agent serving your area.
Based on fencing a 40-acre field, 1,320 feet per side. Flat land, 4 corners, one gate opening, double brace assembly.
Labor Cost $8.00 per hour; Machine Cost $15.00 per hour.
Charger $340 Depreciated over 5 years, Ground System $58 depreciated over 5 years.
Summary of Fencing Cost
| Cost per Foot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Labor | Machine | |
| Woven Wire 47 inches 12 Foot Post Spacing | $1.10 | $0.51 | $0.17 |
| 5 Strand Barbed Wire 12 Foot Post Spacing | $0.82 | $0.47 | $0.16 |
| 5 Strand HT- 2 Electric 25 Foot Post Spacing | $0.47 | $0.27 | $0.16 |
| 8 Strand HT -3 Electric 25 Foot Post Spacing | $0.55 | $0.28 | $0.17 |
| 2 Strand HT - Electric 25 Foot Post Spacing | $0.42 | $0.24 | $0.09 |
| 2 Strand HT - Electric 30 Foot Post Spacing | $0.38 | $0.21 | $0.09 |