FREE 2-PART WEBINAR with Grazing Finance Experts
PART 1: Wednesday, October 21, 9-11 AM CT
PART 2: Wednesday, October 28, 9-11 AM CT
Zoom Webinar
This intermediate‑level 2-part workshop is designed for agricultural lenders seeking deeper insight into the financial performance, market dynamics, and credit risks associated with grass‑based dairy systems.
Session 1, 9-11am CT, Wednesday, October 21st
Facilitator – Andy Larson
Part 1, setting the stage
What is low-overhead dairy grazing? Who should consider it? When does grazing dairy work and not work? What are the economics of grass dairy compared to conventional? What are the market opportunities?
Speakers – Jon Winsten (Wallace)
Part 2, farmer perspectives
Why did you get into dairy grazing? How did you get into dairy grazing? What do your production numbers look like? What market do you sell into? What are some financial highlights bankers should know? What are the primary risks you need to manage? Have you ever had to get yourself out of a tough financial situation? How did you do it?
Speakers – Tom Cook (conventional grass dairy), Eric Grim (organic grass dairy)
Session 2, 9-11am CT, Wednesday, October 28th
Facilitator – Andy Larson
Part 1, banking grazing dairies
How is banking a grass dairy different from banking a conventional dairy? How does underwriting change? How do you prepare your financial analysts? How do they use financing differently? Do they run into different problems than conventional dairies? Can you give us some examples of numbers from grass dairies?
Speakers – Paul Dietmann (farm credit), Jason Karzes (Cornell)
Part 2, innovative finance for grazing dairies
What kind of efficiencies can be gained by re-imagining the overhead and management of dairy farms? How does this help address the current market pressures in dairy? How can banks be involved in innovative financial models with investors and grant-makers?
Speakers – Tera Johnson (FFI), Joe Tomandl (DGA), maybe Joe’s banker?
Evaluating Grass‑Based Dairy Systems: Credit Risk, Markets, and Opportunities for Ag Lenders
This intermediate‑level workshop is designed for agricultural lenders seeking deeper insight into the financial performance, market dynamics, and credit risks associated with grass‑based dairy systems.
Participants will learn about cost‑of‑production data, milk pricing structures, and underwriting considerations for pasture‑based dairies, with specific attention to risk mitigation, cash flow stability, and market access. Real‑world case examples will illustrate transition scenarios from confinement to forage‑based systems and help lenders identify situations where grass‑based models may enhance borrower repayment capacity or portfolio diversification.
Register today for this free webinar and increase your ability to evaluate the risks, opportunities, and financial performance of grass-based dairy operations, strengthening your ability to serve dairy clients and make informed lending decisions.
This webinar is free and open to bankers and lenders, consultants, and technical assistance providers.
About Our Speakers
Tera Johnson is a serial entrepreneur and innovator focused on building the next generation of environmentally and economically resilient food and farming businesses. As the founder of teraswhey®, the Food Finance Institute, and the Edible-Alpha® podcast, she brings firsthand experience in starting, scaling, and exiting a nationally recognized food brand and translating those lessons into tools and insights for other entrepreneurs.
Tera founded Wisconsin Specialty Protein and launched the teraswhey® brand, growing it into a leading national natural foods product line. She raised $14 million in capital prior to generating revenue, built a complex and diversified capital stack, and ultimately sold her company to a publicly traded firm. Her experience navigating early-stage financing, rapid growth, and exit strategy informs her work supporting entrepreneurs across the food and agriculture sectors.
Through the Food Finance Institute, Tera has developed frameworks, tools, and educational programming that help food and farm businesses understand financial strategy, align capital with growth, and make informed decisions. Her work focuses on demystifying business growth and capital access by translating financial complexity into practical, actionable guidance grounded in real-world experience.