How Dairy Farms Can Use Financial Clarity to Build Stronger Transitions and Future Growth

Peggy Coffeen explores an emerging challenge in beef on dairy systems: how early-life mineral nutrition—especially copper—impacts calf health and performance later in the feedlot.

As beef on dairy continues to grow, more attention is being placed on how calves are raised before they ever leave the dairy.

Peggy Coffeen, along with Dr. Amanda Onan, explores an often overlooked driver of success in dairy operations: team culture. While production metrics, herd health, and efficiency are critical, the people behind the operation ultimately determine long-term performance.

Peggy Coffeen sat down with Will McKinley of Men Law to discuss one of the most challenging topics facing farm families today: transition planning. Passing a farm from one generation to the next involves far more than transferring land or assets. It requires intentional communication, legal preparation, and a willingness to navigate complex family dynamics.

Peggy Coffeen sat down with Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, to discuss some of the biggest forces shaping the future of dairy. From sustainability initiatives and immigration policy to export growth and generational farm transitions, the conversation highlights both the challenges and opportunities facing today’s dairy producers.

Peggy Coffeen sat down with Rosario Ibarra of Grotegut Dairy in Newton, Wisconsin to discuss leadership, confidence, and the realities of managing people in modern dairy operations. While her journey into dairy is unique, the leadership lessons that emerged from the conversation apply to producers, managers, and team leaders across the industry.

Peggy Coffeen sat down with Dr. Mike Catangui, entomologist and parasitologist with MWI Animal Health, to discuss one of dairy production’s most persistent challenges: pest pressure. From fly stress to parasite load, insect control directly impacts milk production, animal comfort, and long-term profitability.

Today, Peggy Coffeen sat down with Farm Family Transition Coach Elaine Froese to address one of the most emotionally charged and financially significant topics in agriculture: family farm transition planning. The conversation centers on moving beyond avoidance, creating clarity, and building a structured path forward for the next generation.

Peggy Coffeen sat down with Dr. Jimena Laporta, associate professor and lactation physiologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, to discuss groundbreaking research on fetal programming and heat stress during late gestation. The conversation reveals how conditions before birth can permanently influence calf health, milk production, and even future generations.

In the heart of northeast Wisconsin’s dairy community, relationships and resilience aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the backbone of daily work. On a recent visit, Peggy Coffeen sat down with Dr. Liz Strahl of St. Anna’s Veterinary Clinic to talk about her journey from dairy farm kid to large animal veterinarian—and what it really takes to build lasting producer relationships in today’s industry.