What types of wooden fencing is available to Midwest farmers...?

Question

and what's the best type to keep livestock from grazing on the crops within the fenced-in area?

Answer 1

Wooded fencing is pretty much a thing of the past.  Most "board" fences you see now days are actually vinyl.  The stuff looks good but doesn't have the strength to contain livestock.  If you use that kind of fence, you'll need to run electric wire on the inside to keep the animals away from it.

As far as being animal tight, woven wire is the best and will contain cattle, sheep, goats, horses, etc.  Barbed wire is effective on large animals but isn't so hot with goats or sheep.  To contain large animals, the barbed wire must be tight and with an adequate number of strands.

Electric fence is very effective on horses and, cows rpetty good on goats but must be very powerful and well built to contain sheep.

If you have such an area, you might contact your local soil and water conservation district & NRCS office.  Also check out Kencove and Premier websites.