If you are buying batteries from a farm store they likely also sell lead acid batteries that have epoxied plates and that will resolve the issue as well. Many tractor batteries have epoxied plates in them from the bouncing they endure from farm use. For instance all John Deere batteries are epoxied. Magna Power is another brand that uses all epoxy plates in batteries. Deka also makes many batteries that have epoxied cells. But yes what you are being told is true. Automotive batteries generally have "floating" cells in them and can touch and short out the battery.