Employee Spotlight: A Day in the Life of a Dairy Risk Management Advisor

Shifting dairy markets and late-day price updates are daily challenges for Dairy & Livestock Risk Management Senior Advisor Megan Clancy. Read on as Megan shares what a typical week looks like, why collaboration matters and how her work helps protect dairy farms across the Northeast for the long haul.

The Big Picture

As a Dairy and Livestock Risk Management Senior Advisor at Farm Credit East, Megan Clancy works at the intersection of rapidly changing dairy markets and the long-term sustainability of Northeast farms. From analyzing market trends to meeting with producers at the kitchen table, her work plays a critical role in helping farms manage risk and plan confidently for the future.

Megan’s role centers on helping dairy and livestock producers understand and use risk management tools, such as Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM), to protect their operations from market volatility. Because milk prices change daily, her work is fast-paced and constantly evolving.

Day-to-Day Decisions

“In a typical week, I’m analyzing dairy markets, writing a weekly dairy market update newsletter, meeting with customers on their farms and helping them build risk management strategies that make sense for their operation,” Megan explained. “It’s about understanding where the market is heading and translating that into practical decisions for producers.”

One thing many people don’t realize about Megan’s role is that it doesn’t follow a traditional 9-to-5 schedule. Dairy prices are released in the late afternoon, and producers often have until the next morning to make coverage decisions. This behind-the-scenes work helps producers respond quickly to market opportunities and protect their farms from unexpected downturns.

Collaboration is Key

Megan credits cross-department collaboration as one of the strengths that sets Farm Credit East apart. When loan officers, consultants and risk management specialists are aligned, customers benefit from a coordinated strategy that supports their long-term success.

One of Megan’s proudest accomplishments is the weekly dairy market newsletter she created shortly after joining Farm Credit East. What started as an idea turned into a collaboration with the marketing communications department and has grown into a trusted resource that staff, customers and industry partners see in their inbox weekly.

For Megan, the most meaningful moments come when her work directly helps producers protect their operations. Producers receiving payments after having the right protection in place is a tangible reminder that risk management matters.

Honing a Leadership Mindset

Since starting in her role, Megan has developed leadership skills through Farm Credit East’s Leadership Development Program and her involvement in the Young Professionals group. These opportunities have helped her grow beyond her job title and contribute across the organization.

Outside of work, Megan teaches and mentors students at SUNY Cobleskill and helps on her family’s pumpkin farm, staying deeply connected to agriculture and the next generation of industry leaders.

At the end of the day, Megan is motivated by the impact her work has on farms and rural communities. When farms are sustainable for the long haul, entire communities benefit.