Fence cost

[Dave]

Well the cost to replace the fence which the fire destroyed went up today. I was in town so I stopped at the 2 places that sell fence supplies. Buying in bulk (27 rolls of wire and 200 + posts. The wire ran from $100 to $139. For 5.5 foot T posts the heavies (1.33 lbs per foot) were $5.69. The lighter (1.25 lbs per foot) were $4.49. The 4 miles+ of fence I need to do is going to be real expensive. Obviously I need to get on the phone and shop more. At 73 years of age I am thinking the cheaper wire and lighter posts will out live me.

 

[MurraysMutts]

It's all gotten quite expensive. Those crummy (cheaper) posts ain't as good as they used to be either. Same for the better ones, but the cheaper ones seem to break easily

 

[puzzled in oregon]

Maybe there will be some grants available to help with some of the costs.

 

[Brute 23]

Tpost price is not bad but the wire looks high.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I've got a measly 5 miles of perimeter to fence and cross fence internally and the price is painful.

 

[bird dog]

Did you check with the FSA office to see about disaster funding? When my place burned they paid a set linear foot rate to help with costs. That was 10 years ago and I don't remember what it was but it was over half the cost.

 

[Twisted]

I know the feeling of the part about "out living me". I used to be just the opposite and would do the absolute best that I could afford, but as I get older and realise that I am the only one doing and that cares in the least, my attitude about the future caretakers of my junk has dwindled a bit. I actually get why some of the things that I've had to replace through the years were done as they were, doesn't stop me from cussing the people who did it, I just understand better why they did.

 

[Dave]

Did you check with the FSA office to see about disaster funding? When my place burned they paid a set linear foot rate to help with costs. That was 10 years ago and I don't remember what it was but it was over half the cost.

Yes we have had meetings with them along with others, NRCS, extension and others. Still up in the air. Over a million acres burned in the state. The last word I heard was beings as it wasn't a "weather event" the feds aren't adding any money. So at this point it is limited to Oregon FSA emergency funds which are probably fairly limited and have to cover an awful lot of damage.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

So Cow Valley fire is still under investigation, most likely human caused. The Durkee Fire was lightening, so it should qualify
as a weather event?

 

[Dave]

So Cow Valley fire is still under investigation, most likely human caused. The Durkee Fire was lightening, so it should qualify
as a weather event?

The way I under stand it their definition of "weather event" is a hurricane or tornado or similar event. I know the Durkee fire was lightning. I hear the thunder and about 15 minutes later I saw the 20 foot tall flames on the hill.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

Too bad Oregon can't share some of the " hocinda first time home buyers " $35000 dollar grant to illegal non citizen home buyers. US residents need not apply. You would think tax payer $$ would help disasters first.

 

[SBMF 2015]

We're having some property line fences replaced. Priced around this week 6.5' heavy T's $9.49 at one place. 6x6 47" 11ga woven wire 330' $399.
Fed cattle were back in the $1.80's this week. Even with cheap feed the black ink is running thin.

 

[Dave]

We have all this fence which needs to be repaired. I guess it is human nature to get out there and get it done. But there is also very possibly the need to reseed a lot of the ground. The seed cost is about $45 an acre plus around $30 and acre to have it flown on by helicopter. And after spending that money a person will need to wait until 2026 to turn any cows on to it. So how soon is the fence needed? I did the math. Reseed is $15,000. Fence material is $4830. Plus the cost of labor to do the fence. I think I am going to sit on my hands and see if the grass comes back on its own......

 

[cowman82]

what would you even seed it with, isn't it mostly sage?

 

[Dave]

what would you even seed it with, isn't it mostly sage?

No the sage is all gone now and won't be back for a decade or three. There is a lot of grass which does very well here. Idaho fescue, several of the wheat grass species, heck there is even dry land alfalfa which will do good here.
Historically there was miles of wonderful grass here. Over grazing in the early 1900's and fire suppression allowed the sage brush and junipers to take over. Drive down the highway here you will see areas with lots of grass, maybe an occasional sage brush. Oh, there was a fire there maybe 10-20 years ago. A mile down the road and it is solid sage brush. That hasn't burned in a long time. Some people do use controlled burns to eliminate the sage and juniper. But it is tricky. How do you burn 500 acres and not burn 5,000 acres. Especially if you have any federal land close to you. Nobody wants to accidentally burn a couple acres of federal land and end up in prison like the Hammonds.

 

[greybeard]

Yep, "lasts a lifetime" don't mean as much to me anymore, as I question "who's/what's lifetime" It or mine?

Like Brute, the wire cost seems high to me but I guess it depends which brand and type. You may not like the hi tensile but I used lots of Bekaert's wire and it worked well for me. Their top hi tensile 4 point with 3" spacing on the barbs is around $85.

 

[Dave]

Yep, "lasts a lifetime" don't mean as much to me anymore, as I question "who's/what's lifetime" It or mine?

Like Brute, the wire cost seems high to me but I guess it depends which brand and type. You may not like the hi tensile but I used lots of Bekaert's wire and it worked well for me. Their top hi tensile 4 point with 3" spacing on the barbs is around $85.

The high tensile was probably what I got the $99.99 a roll quote on. The quote was from a cashier with people waiting in line. So not much info. Half their parking lot was being resurfaced. Things were a mess. I didn't get anything but bare prices which was basically what I was interested in.

 

[midTN_Brangusman]

Dave, would a hotwire be feasible? I know its rough terrain but would sure save a ton of money and labor.

 

[bird dog]

With as much fence as you and your neighbors need, It might be worth checking about buying a truck load direct from the manufacturer.

 

[cowman82]

No the sage is all gone now and won't be back for a decade or three. There is a lot of grass which does very well here. Idaho fescue, several of the wheat grass species, heck there is even dry land alfalfa which will do good here.
Historically there was miles of wonderful grass here. Over grazing in the early 1900's and fire suppression allowed the sage brush and junipers to take over. Drive down the highway here you will see areas with lots of grass, maybe an occasional sage brush. Oh, there was a fire there maybe 10-20 years ago. A mile down the road and it is solid sage brush. That hasn't burned in a long time. Some people do use controlled burns to eliminate the sage and juniper. But it is tricky. How do you burn 500 acres and not burn 5,000 acres. Especially if you have any federal land close to you. Nobody wants to accidentally burn a couple acres of federal land and end up in prison like the Hammonds.

sounds like it'd be a good opportunity to get those good grasses back growing again.