Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming

Dakota Finch didn't grow up planning to be an organic grass-fed dairy farmer. He grew up on his grandfather's conventional dairy in upstate New York, left for the Air Force, started researching nutrition for his family, and found himself reading about the organic dairy market on a computer in Korea during downtime. That curiosity eventually led him back to farming — on his own terms.

 In this episode, Dakota shares how he went from a six-year Air Force career to launching Finch Family Farm in 2017, milking 40–50 grass-fed organic cows in central New York, and recently opening a farm retail store selling raw milk, beef, pork, chicken, and eggs.

He's honest about where things are working and where they're not — from the farrowing struggles with his son's pig operation, to the challenge of making quality hay on marginal ground nobody else wanted, to the marketing learning curve that comes with selling direct. This is a practitioner's episode: real questions, real tensions, no pretending it's all figured out.

What we cover:

• How Dakota got his start through an internship on a grass-fed organic dairy and the relationship that made his first herd purchase possible
• Fall seasonal vs. spring seasonal dairying — and why his milk market actually pays a premium for winter milk
• The 10-and-7 milking schedule he tried to protect time for coaching his kids' sports teams
• Balage, native grasses, and the ongoing question of whether to make his own hay or buy it
• Breeding decisions: Jersey AI, Ayrshire bulls, the Black Angus that timed out perfectly with the calf market, and why he's now using AAA mating
• Opening a farm retail store with Barn2Door and a small business grant — and why raw milk is the lead product that brings customers to the farm
• His son's pig operation (currently a train wreck, honestly) and the real math on whether farrowing-to-finish pencils out
• First year with 100 meat birds and 100 egg layers — lessons learned, losses included
• The Gallagher eShepherd virtual fence collars: what worked, what didn't, and why he's still excited about them heading into this season
Find Out More
Dakota: Facebook (Dakota Finch) 
Finch Family Farm on Facebook 
finchfamilyfarmny.com

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Community question this week: What did the younger you dream of that you're doing today? Share in the Grazing Grass community.

 

(00:00) - Start

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Upcoming Grazing Events
Regenerative Agriculture Deep Dive: 3 Day Holistic Managment - Kamas, UT, April 22-24, 2026.  https://3springsutah.com
Noble Land Essentials - Ardmore, OK, May 12-13, 2026. https://noble.org
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Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Brett Chedzoy is a Cornell Extension Forester and co-operator of Angus Glen Farms in upstate New York, where he and his wife Maria graze over 100 cow-calf pairs across 600 acres with much of it wooded. He's also been ranching in central Argentina since the mid-1990s, where he first discovered his love for cattle after heading there as a Peace Corps volunteer fresh out of graduate school.
In this episode, Brett breaks down silvopasture and how to evaluate existing woodland and open it up for productive grazing. He explains why thinning your woods isn't just about letting in light, it's about protecting the long-term value of your timber while growing more forage.

Topics covered:
Brett's background: Kansas wheat farming roots, a Welsh sheep-herding grandfather, Peace Corps in Argentina, and what the gauchos taught him about the difference between working hard and working smart
What silvopasture looks like in the forested Northeast vs. the savanna-style systems common in other regions
Why cool-season forages like orchardgrass can actually thrive in light shade and how silvopasture extends your grazing season on both ends
The 10-question site evaluation tool Brett developed to assess whether a piece of woodland is a good silvopasture candidate
How to find the right logging crew for silvopasture thinning (hint: it's a very different operation than high-value timber harvest)
The forester vs. farmer timescale problem and how to find the middle ground
Who to call first: land grant extension, state forestry agencies, and your local soil and water conservation district
Why Brett recommends starting small and getting your first experience before tackling a 50-acre project
Resources mentioned:
Cornell Silvopasture resources — search "Cornell silvopasture" or visit forestconnect.info
Brett's 10-question silvopasture site evaluation tool
National Agroforestry Center
University of Missouri silvopasture resources

Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.
Upcoming Grazing Events
Regenerative Agriculture Deep Dive: 3 Day Holistic Managment - Kamas, UT, April 22-24, 2026.  https://3springsutah.com
Noble Land Essentials - Ardmore, OK, May 12-13, 2026. https://noble.org
Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute
Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)
Original Music by Louis Palfrey

What if your land could pay you… without selling livestock?  Molly Faught and Hunter Jones from Grassroots Carbon joins today to explain what carbon credits are, how to qualify for them, and how to get started making extra money.
If you own your land and plan to be there awhile, this is a must-listen episode.  If you know someone wanting to earn more money from their land, share this episode with them.
Question of the Week:  If this is available to you, would you do it? Why or why not?
Find out more at https://grassrootscarbon.com

Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.
Upcoming Grazing Events
Regenerative Agriculture Deep Dive: 3 Day Holistic Managment - Kamas, UT, April 22-24, 2026.  https://3springsutah.com
Noble Land Essentials - Ardmore, OK, May 12-13, 2026. https://noble.org
Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute
Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)
Original Music by Louis Palfrey

How grazing works for very small acreage, all because of wanting more learning opportunities.  Erich and Allison Henschel of Henschel Hof graze pigs, goats, and cattle in Virginia.
In this episode:
Why small livestock is better for small arceage
Why starting with smaller breeds lets you learn faster
Why everything doesn't have to be perfect
This week's question: What did you start with for your grazing journey?  Why?  Join the conversation in the Grazing Grass Community | https://www.facebook.com/groups/grazinggrass
Henschel Hof on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/henschelhof/
Grazing Grass Insiders | https://grazinggrass.com/insiders

Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.
Upcoming Grazing Events
Regenerative Agriculture Deep Dive: 3 Day Holistic Managment - Kamas, UT, April 22-24, 2026.  https://3springsutah.com
Noble Land Essentials - Ardmore, OK, May 12-13, 2026. https://noble.org
Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute
Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)
Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Huw Foulkes runs Pentrefelin Dairy in North Wales in the UK, where he has built a grass-based cow and calf micro dairy around native Red Poll cattle while also stacking direct-to-consumer beef and other enterprises to serve his local community. 
In This Episode, We Explore:
Starting a cow and calf micro dairy with a low-input, grass-based mindset
Why Huw chose Red Polls for a dual-purpose dairy and beef system
Managing long rest periods and mob-style rotations to build soil and drought resilience
Farming on dry, light sandy soils and what that changes in grazing decisions
Outwintering strategies including bale grazing and standing hay
Building a direct local market through farm gate sales, coffee shops, and education
UK requirements for legally selling milk, inspections, and testing
Keeping infrastructure simple, including milking with a portable machine in an older parlor
How beef boxes help move the whole carcass and teach customers new cuts
Adding poultry, pigs, and trees to stack enterprises on the same acres
Using farm tours and courses to educate the public and support local food systems
Why This Episode Matters
This conversation is a practical look at building a resilient, small-scale livestock business by matching the animal to the land, keeping inputs low, and connecting directly with local customers. If you are thinking about micro dairy, direct marketing, or stacking enterprises, Huw shares what worked, what he had to learn the hard way, and how education and transparency can turn customers into long-term supporters.
Resources Mentioned
Food Standards Agency (UK)
Denbighshire local council food business registration (mentioned as the local authority process)
Pasture for Life (study tours and farm visits)
Find Out More
Instagram | @pentrefelin_
Website | www.pentrefelin.com
YouTube | Pentrefelin Dairy

Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.
Upcoming Grazing Events
Regenerative Agriculture Deep Dive: 3 Day Holistic Managment - Kamas, UT, April 22-24, 2026.  https://3springsutah.com
Noble Land Essentials - Ardmore, OK, May 12-13, 2026. https://noble.org
Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute
Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)
Original Music by Louis Palfrey