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

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
Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026
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
Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026
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
Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026
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
Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026
Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute
Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

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

Mike Guebert of Terra Farma in northwest Oregon joins Cal to share how he and his wife built a multi-species, direct-to-consumer farm over more than 20 years, from early days as first-generation farmers to running meat CSA sales, improving grazing systems, and teaching others through the Oregon Pasture Network.  
In This Episode, We Explore:  
Starting a first-generation farm from a blank slate with invasives, no fencing, and rough infrastructure  
Moving from vegetarian to raising and processing poultry on-farm  
Building a multi-species operation including beef, pork, sheep, goats, poultry, and more  
Managing grazing in a high rainfall, dry-summer region without irrigation  
Chicken tractor evolution, daily moves, and using a winch system for efficiency and injury prevention  
Marketing changes over time including launching a meat CSA in 2020 and the plan to transition away from it  
Stopping raw milk sales after losing liability insurance and regaining time and flexibility  
Moving toward a more seasonal, grass-only beef model to reduce winter feeding  
Teaching and producer support through pasture walks, cohorts, mentorship, and events with Oregon Pasture Network  
Conservation district work including farmland protection tools like conservation easements  
Why This Episode Matters  
This conversation is a practical look at how farm enterprises, marketing, and even personal capacity change over time, and why building community learning opportunities like pasture walks and cohorts can help producers avoid common pitfalls while improving grazing, profitability, and quality of life.  
Resources Mentioned  
Acres USA annual conference  
Ranching for Profit School  
Executive Link (Ranching for Profit)  
Oregon State University Small Farms Conference  
Oregon Pasture Network pasture walks  
Oregon FarmLink (Friends of Family Farmers)  
Find Out More  
Terra Farma website | terrafarmaers.net  
Terra Farma Instagram | @terrafarmaers  
Oregon Pasture Network | oregonpasturenetwork.org  
Friends of Family Farmers | friendsoffamilyfarmers.org  
East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District | emswcd.org  

Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.
Upcoming Grazing Events
Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026
Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute
Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

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