Fort Smith Fence Pros connects landowners who need farm and ranch fencing in Sebastian County, AR with an independent local fence contractor who builds pasture, cross fence and horse fence on rural acreage. Send the acreage, the animals you keep and a rough idea of the fence line, and the contractor follows up with a free estimate.
Requests from rural Crawford County are welcome too, including land around Alma, Cedarville and Van Buren, along with Greenwood, Lavaca, Hackett and Bonanza on the Sebastian County side.
Livestock fencing for Sebastian County pasture
Outside Fort Smith, much of Sebastian County is working land. The USDA's 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 628 farms in the county covering about 114,000 acres, with roughly 30,000 head of cattle and calves and more than 23,000 acres in hay and other forage. Most of that land needs perimeter fence, cross fence and gates that a tractor can pass through.
The right fence depends on what it has to hold. Cattle, goats, horses and a hay meadow next to the road each call for a different build.
Field fence, barbed wire and high-tensile options
Barbed wire
Four or five strands of barbed wire on wood or steel T-posts is the standard cattle fence across much of rural Arkansas. It goes up quickly and covers long distances at a lower cost per foot than most other fence types.
Woven field fence
Woven wire, often topped with one or two strands of barbed wire, holds goats, sheep and calves that would slip through strands. It costs more than barbed wire and takes more work to stretch on uneven ground.
High-tensile and electric
Smooth high-tensile wire, often electrified, can cover large pastures with fewer posts. It suits rotational grazing and interior cross fencing.
Pipe and cable fence and horse fencing
Pipe fence uses welded steel pipe posts and top rail, with cable or rod strung between. It is strong, long-lasting and common around pens, corrals and entrances. It costs more than wire fence and usually needs welding on site.
Horse fence
Horses are hard on fence and easy to hurt on barbed wire, so horse owners usually choose board fence, no-climb woven wire, pipe or vinyl rail. Angi's farm fencing cost guide lists board horse fence at roughly $12 to $30 per foot installed, as a national estimate.
What sets the price of rural fencing
- Length and terrain. Long, straight runs on open ground cost less per foot than fence that climbs ridges, crosses creeks or winds through timber.
- Clearing. Brush and trees along an old fence line often have to be cleared first.
- Corners and braces. Every corner, gate and change of direction needs an H-brace or similar, which adds labor and materials.
- Old fence removal. Rolling up rusted wire and pulling old posts takes time.
- Gates. Tube gates wide enough for equipment are an added cost at each opening.
For a sense of scale, Angi lists barbed wire fence projects averaging around $3,800 nationally, with most falling between about $1,600 and $6,100. Treat that as a rough estimate only.
Planning a farm fence project
- Walk the line and mark corners, gates and water crossings.
- Confirm the boundary. A survey is worth it where neighbors share a fence or old lines are unclear.
- Have buried lines marked through Arkansas 811, or OKIE811 for land across the line in Oklahoma, before posts go in.
- Request an estimate and ask how posts will be set, how braces will be built and how the wire will be stretched.
Ask the contractor about schedule, too. Wet weather can keep equipment off soft pasture.
Common questions
How much does farm fencing cost per foot in Arkansas?
It varies widely by fence type and terrain. Barbed wire is usually the lowest cost per foot, while woven wire, board and pipe fence cost more. Angi lists barbed wire projects averaging about $3,800 and board horse fence at roughly $12 to $30 per foot installed. These are national estimates, and rural jobs depend heavily on clearing, braces and gates.
What is the most common cattle fence in Sebastian County?
Barbed wire on wood corner posts and steel T-posts is widely used for cattle pasture across western Arkansas because it is economical over long distances. Woven field fence is common where goats, sheep or calves need to be held. A contractor can recommend the right build after walking your land and hearing what animals you run.
Do you build fence in Crawford County and Oklahoma?
Requests from rural Crawford County, including the Alma, Cedarville and Van Buren areas, are welcome, as are requests from Roland and Pocola in Oklahoma. Include the property location in your request so the independent contractor can confirm the area is within their service range before scheduling a visit.
Is barbed wire safe for horses?
Barbed wire is generally discouraged for horses because they can be badly cut if they run into it or get a leg caught. Many owners use board fence, no-climb woven wire, pipe fence or vinyl rail instead. Ask the contractor about options that suit your horses and the size of your pasture.