216 | Brett Chedzoy, New York | How to Turn Existing Woodland into Productive Grazing
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
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