In Wake Forest, North Carolina, dairy farmer Will Arterburn is working to get more out of his pastures while managing the demands of twice-daily milking, year-round calving, and a busy family farm.
At Brown Family Farm, rotational grazing is an important part of how the family manages their grass-fed dairy herd. With Monil, Will can now adjust his grazing areas directly from his phone, giving him more flexibility throughout the day and helping him work toward a longer grazing season.
Growing the Family's Grass-Fed Dairy Operation
Will's family has been farming the property for approximately 25 years, and today, four generations live on the farm. In August 2024, Will and his wife, Claudia, took over the dairy operation, and by January 2025, Will had left his job as a land surveyor to farm full-time.
Since taking over, they've expanded the operation and introduced twice-daily milking to increase production. But the dairy is only one part of Brown Family Farm. Alongside their grass-fed milk, the family offers pasture-raised eggs, pork, chicken, beef, and other locally produced food to their community.
Running a growing farm business means balancing milk production, livestock care, grazing, and customer orders. With strong demand for their milk and prolonged drought conditions affecting forage availability in central North Carolina, getting the most out of their pastures has become even more important.
Will currently grazes his dairy herd for five to six months a year, but his goal is to extend that to ten months next year. With Monil, he hopes to make that possible by managing grazing rotations more precisely, making better use of available grass, and giving pastures adequate time to recover. For Will, that means working toward a longer grazing season, more consistent access to quality forage for his cows, and ultimately, the ability to support greater milk production and meet growing customer demand.
Managing Daily Grazing Rotations with Monil
Rotational grazing has long been part of Will's approach, but before Monil, every move meant heading out to reposition poly-wire. He estimates that he spent at least 30 minutes a day setting up fresh grazing for his dairy cows.
Now, in just a few minutes he can draw and adjust grazing boundaries directly in the Monil app, allocating the next area of pasture without physically moving temporary fencing. Will still decides where to move the herd, how much grass to allocate, and when to return to previously grazed areas. The difference is that he can put those plans into action from his phone.
That time back has made a noticeable difference to his mornings. Instead of heading straight outside to move fences, Will can now sit down and have breakfast with his family.
Fitting Virtual Fencing Around Twice-Daily Milking
With cows returning to the milking barn twice a day, Will uses Monil's virtual fencing to maintain a consistent access path and define boundaries around the barn.
This allows him to adjust the surrounding grazing areas while keeping the cows' route familiar and their milking routine consistent.
Always Looking for Ways to Improve
Will is always open to trying something new, whether it's exploring different grazing practices, learning from other farmers, or finding ways to make the daily workload more manageable.
He first discovered Monil through Tick Creek Ranch and was drawn to the technology and collar design, particularly the top-mounted solar panel.
Regenerative farming is central to how Brown Family Farm operates. Through practices such as rotational grazing and no-till seeding, the family is focused on building soil health and maintaining productive pastures for the long term.
Will sees virtual fencing as another tool that fits into that approach. It allows him to carry out his grazing plans more easily while continuing to look for ways to improve the farm and grow the family business.
For Will, finding better ways to farm isn't just about increasing production or making the most of his land. It's also about getting some time back in his day, whether that's for another project on the farm or simply sitting down for breakfast with his family.
Interested in supporting Brown Family Farm or trying some of their farm-raised products? Visit their website to learn more about what they offer and how to purchase.
Whether you're managing grazing around twice-daily milking, working toward a longer grazing season, or looking for an easier way to allocate fresh pasture, Monil gives you more flexibility to manage your dairy herd.
Fill out the form below to get a quote and talk with a member of our U.S. team about how virtual fencing could work on your dairy farm.
