What's in a Fence Line? Understanding Farm Fence Laws and Liability

When cattle get through a fence and damage a neighbor's crops, who's responsible — the livestock owner or the landowner?

The answer can depend on where you live. Fence laws, livestock liability and property-boundary rules vary widely across the country and can even differ from one county to the next.

In this episode, University of Maryland Professor Paul Goeringer, an agricultural law expert, explains some of the most common — and confusing — types of farm fence laws. We explore how open-range and closed-range concepts work, who may be responsible for maintaining a boundary fence, and what can happen when escaped livestock damage neighboring property.

Along the way, we look at how fence laws reflect the relationships, responsibilities and unwritten expectations that have long shaped rural communities.

If you own land, raise livestock, farm next to livestock or simply want to better understand rural property rights and agricultural law, this episode offers a practical introduction to what may be riding on that fence line.

On Life & Land is produced for John Deere by Bader Rutter and is hosted by David Jones, former editor of John Deere's The Furrow magazine. Recording, mixing and mastering services are provided by RecWest Studio, and our music is by Dale May.