Dairy Stream

Components and beef on dairy are the strong themes in this interview. We dive into a farm’s true net revenue, historic high beef prices and future items to keep an eye on.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest, Dr. Megan Roberts, discuss the following topics: 

Structural shifts occurring now compared to 5-10 years ago

Diversification in dairy changing baseline stability

Three items to note on your milk check

Calculating a farm’s ‘true’ net revenue

Hedging strategies

Beef on dairy, herd rebuild

Cost of purchasing vs raising a replacement heifer vs crossbred calf

Less cull cows, what does the next 12–18-month dairy cycle projection

Keeping an eye on in 2026 and into 2027

About the guest

Dr. Megan Roberts is a seasoned agricultural economist at Compeer Financial, bringing experience in farm economics, agribusiness education and policy analysis. With deep roots in agriculture, Megan combines academic expertise and hands-on farming experience to provide real-world insights that help farmers navigate economic challenges and opportunities. Before joining Compeer, Megan spent years teaching agricultural economics and business in higher education, including leadership roles in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and as an Extension educator at the University of Minnesota. She holds a doctorate in agricultural education from Texas A&M University, along with a master’s and bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Beyond academia, Megan is a farmer herself, living on a farrow-to-finish hog, corn and soybean farm in southern Minnesota with her husband and son. Growing up on a dairy farm and now co-managing her family’s operation, she understands the day-to-day realities of farming, giving her a unique perspective that blends economic theory with practical application. Megan is a regular speaker at industry events and published author on farm business strategies and ag policy. Her ability to break down complex economic trends into actionable insights makes her a trusted resource for today’s farmers and agribusiness professionals.

This is sponsored by Compeer Financial.  

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

*Recorded July 6

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on July 15.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest, Dr. Megan Roberts, agricultural economist at Compeer Financial, discuss the biggest structural shifts occurring now compared to 5-10 years ago, understanding a farm’s baseline with multi-commodity businesses, beef herd rebuild and what to keep an eye on in 2026 and into 2027.

This is sponsored by Compeer Financial.  

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

*Recorded July 6

Deer Run Dairy completed energy-efficient upgrades with Focus on Energy since 2017 and they updated lighting, refrigeration, water systems and ventilation. Deer Run Dairy has earned $47,203.04 in Focus on Energy rebates to support these improvements and combined upgrades result in annual electricity savings of 839,511 kWh, which is equivalent to $105,946.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests, Duane Ducat and Joel Roltgen, discuss the following topics: 

Overview of savings at Deer Run Dairy

How Deer Run learned about Focus on Energy

Updating lighting, Deer Run Dair updated:

Replaced 250–1000W HID fixtures with efficient LED high-bay and exterior fixtures. 

Added LED troffers and direct-wire T8 replacements. 

Installed LLLC-enabled fixtures in select areas for advanced controls and additional savings. 

Dairy refrigeration tune-ups

VFDs on primary and secondary agricultural water systems

Variable speed vacuum pumps

High-speed ventilation fans with VFDs

Initial investments

Process of working with Focus on Energy

What’s next for Deer Run Dairy in energy efficiency

How to get started with Focus on Energy, find an advisor here.

About the guests

Joel Roltgen is an Energy Advisor for Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Program, serving agricultural customers in northeastern Wisconsin. He joined Focus on Energy in 2019, providing operational efficiency strategies and financial incentives to agriculture operations and industry partners. Joel brings many years of engineering and management experience, having worked with employees at all levels in various industries.  

Duane Ducat, who is one of the owners of Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee, Wisconsin where they milk 1,800 cow and farm 3,000 acres. Duane is a board member of the Dairy, Business Association and Peninsula Pride Farms.  

This is sponsored by Focus on Energy.

Resources:

Contact us at 800.762.7077 or business@focusonenergy.com

Full list of opportunities here.

Focus on Energy Trade Ally list here.

2026 Agribusiness catalog here

Dairy Stream rewind: Unforeseen money savings and benefits of agricultural tune-ups

Dairy Stream rewind: Save money through a farm energy assessment

Top 5 Ways to Save Energy on Your Dairy and Livestock Farm

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com.

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on July 1.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests, Duane Ducat, owner of Deer Run Dairy, and Joel Roltgen, agribusiness energy advisor with Focus on Energy, discuss the update made at Deer Run Dairy, which saved them thousands of dollars. We give an overview of the money saved, most impressive energy savings project, process of working with Focus on Energy and what’s next in the energy efficiency space for dairy.

This is sponsored by Focus on Energy.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com.

Learn more about BankFirst.

The Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration started in 2021 and is studying soil health and manure management and their effects on greenhouse gas reduction, water quality improvement and agronomic factors such as yield and forage quality on working dairies and research farms in major dairy regions.

Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza and guests, Dr. Mara Cloutier and Dr. Dennis Busch, discuss the following topics: 

Strides and accomplishment since last Dairy Stream episode in 2022

Common design of the project

Research at UW-Platteville

Importance of nutrient management in soil health management

Most impactful conservation practices

Economics of new practices and processes

Baseline survey

Farmers adopting new practices

What’s next for the project

 About the guests:

Dr. Mara Cloutier is a research soil scientist and program director at the Soil Health Institute who oversees the organization’s scientific and data management contribution to the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project. 

Dr. Dennis Busch is a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville whose work centers on applied agroecosystem research, with an emphasis on pasture- and crop-livestock systems, soil and nutrient dynamics, and long-term field experimentation. 

Resources:

Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration website 

Project video 

Frequently asked questions 

Wisconsin soil health assessment webinar 

Dr. Mara Cloutier video clip 

Dr. Dennis Busch video clip 

Dairy Stream Rewind: National-scale project examines dairy’s greenhouse gas footprint

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com.