David Finlay

Dairy Story

For David and Wilma Finlay, the standard farming industry practice of separating newly born dairy calves from their mother was becoming a problem. The sound of cows bawling and questions from visitors to their farm, plus their own growing alarm about climate change and the environment, prompted them to question everything the farming experts insisted must be done. Together, they embarked on a radical twenty-five year transformation, and the biggest change of all? Keeping the dairy cows and their calves together. A Dairy Story is the full, no holds barred story of their journey from conventional dairy farming to an organic, 100% pasture, regenerative, cow-with-calf dairy that's now at the forefront of a global movement to transform an industry. Deeply personal and searingly honest, A Dairy Story is the story of a marriage, a farm, a business, and a fierce determination to change things for the better. Praise for A Dairy Story "Heart-breaking yet hopeful - a true tale of determination and indefatigable passion for a goal." Sue Lawrence, Author "The deeply personal story of two quiet, determined visionaries who saw how the world could be different, then went about changing it." Karen Campbell, Author "When future agriculture students learn about the transformation of dairy farming in the 2030s, this will be required reading." Pete Ritchie, Food Campaigner "This is a tale of resilience, conviction, courage and sensitivity, and it is told with startling honesty." Helen Browning, CEO, Soil Association & Organic Farmer About the Authors David and Wilma Finlay run Rainton Farm and Cream o' Galloway in south west Scotland. They have pioneered cow-with-calf dairy farming at scale, and launched The Ethical Dairy brand in 2018, after reintroducing traditional cheesemaking to the farm. Rainton Farm is the largest cow-with-calf dairy farm in Europe.