PODCAST · news
Chat BDC
by Mike Opperman
Chat BDC is the executive briefing for farm CEOs, CFOs, and senior managers running America's largest farms. Each episode delivers concise, actionable business intelligence across all market categories. Hosted by Mike Opperman, Chat BDC delivers concise market information to help farmers make more informed business and investment decisions. Whether you manage 2,000 cows or 20,000 acres, this is the ag business podcast built for farmer CEOs.
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87
Expanded Access to H-2A Workers, A Look at Heifer Retention, Weather-Impacted Grain Markets
Send us Fan MailToday we start with information on expanded access to H-2A workers for dairy farmers, and information on what lower heifer share of marketed animals means for herd expansion. We then look at how to adjust for weather-impacted crop markets, and finish up with an article on which stocks analysts predict will deliver returns.
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86
A Drop In Two Milk Classes, Cattle Futures Fall a Bit, USMCA Updates and Stocks Continue Strong
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a look at a bit of a drop in Class III and Class IV milk prices, then also talk about a short blip in cattle futures and what packers are doing about it. We take a look at the future of the US Mexico-Canada trade agreement, before we end with an update on Wall Street.
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85
A Fat-Protein Swap, Heat Coming to the Plains, Reaction to the USDA Report, and the Dow Sets a Record
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a report about fat levels outpacing protein for the first time since November. We switch to a report about heat coming to areas that have been under drought this year, then a review of what markets did in reaction to the USDA acreage and inventory report. We finish with the Dow setting new records.
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84
The Latest USDA Acreage and Stocks Report, Dairy DMC Update and Small Cap Stock Opportunities
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a review of USDA's June acreage and inventory report, then flip to dairy where we review the Dairy Margin Coverage numbers (hint: margins are strong). We wrap up with a look at small-cap stock opportunities.
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83
The Top Employee Complaints, An Update on Commodity Markets, and Stocks Gain Loss Ground
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a look at the top three things that employees complain about on their farming operations. We pivot to market news with an update on commodity markets ahead of tomorrow's USDA reports, and a rebound of indexes on Wall Street.
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82
Dairy Cull Numbers Are Dropping, Pork Industry is Strong, Dump the Weather Forecasts
Send us Fan MailToday we start with an update on dairy cull cow numbers and how they are starting to throttle down a bit. Then we offer a report on the pork industry and how pork is well positioned to take advantage of consumer demand for protein. We switch over to a look at weather, including how farmers should throw out their long range weather forecasts, before ending with a quick look at financial markets.
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81
Three Factors Impacting the Beef Complex, Impact of European Heat, And Inflation Factors Rising
Send us Fan MailToday we start with three factors that are impacting the cattle complex. We pivot to how the European heat will impact corn markets, and finish with how a key inflation indicator is at a three-year high.
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80
Dairy Supply Is Depressing Prices, Farm Bill 2.0 Hits the Senate, and Treasury Yields Drop Below 4.5%
Send us Fan MailToday we look at how the increasing supply of dairy products is outpacing demand and negatively impacting product prices. We shift to a deep dive on the latest iteration of the Farm Bill as the Senate begins markup soon. We finish in financial markets and look at a drop in Treasury notes as inflation fears rise and oil prices drop.
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79
High Dairy Replacement Values, A Hot Beef Market, Drought Conditions and Falling Tech Stocks
Send us Fan MailToday we focus on $4,000 dairy heifer replacements thanks to the popularity of the beef-on-dairy management programs. We also look at why cattle markets are on such a tear, and how drought could be around for awhile in the northern corn belt. We end with financial news and how tech stocks are weighing down financial markets.
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78
May Milk Production Report, Basis Review for Light Weight Cattle, Grain Markets Drop and Stock Markets Rise
Send us Fan MailToday we review the May USDA Milk Production report. No surprise, milk production is up on more cows being milk. We take a deep dive into basis levels for low weight cattle and why they're higher than normal. There's a quick look at commodity markets before wrapping up with news from Wall Street.
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77
How Far NWS Will Spread, When Dairy Replacement Numbers Will Improve, and a Quiet Fed
Send us Fan MailToday we look at reports on how farm New World Screwworm will spread, then review a CoBank report on when dairy replacement numbers will start to improve. We wrap up with a look at how a quieter Federal Reserve will impact financial markets.
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76
Carbon Credit Stagnation, Cattle on Feed Report, A Soybean Crossroads, And Cheap Gas Again!
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a look at how carbon credits, which were once in high demand by dairy producers, just aren't worth it in today's economy. We move to a quick look at the USDA cattle on feed numbers before a report on a crossroads existing in soybean markets. We finish up with a drop in gas prices below $4 per gallon.
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75
Dairy Processing is Outpacing Supply, Percentage of Prime Beef Rises, Fertilizer Drops, and the Fed Meets
Send us Fan MailToday we look at the milk powder market and how we've got more processing available than supply can fill, which is a bit unusual for dairy. On the beef side, the percentage of beef grading prime continues to rise, thanks to continuously improving genetics, heavier carcass weights and better management. In crop news we're starting to see fertilizer prices come down, which is good news. And the Fed met today under new leadership. Rates didn't change, but it sounds like they will in the future.
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74
Rain Is Helping Dry Pastures, Milk Prices Continue to Rise, Commodities React to China and Stocks Jump
Send us Fan MailToday on Chat BDC we start with look at how timely rains have helped pastures in some drought areas, then we shift over to a milk price update which shows prices continuing to rise. Before finishing up with financial news we look at how commodity prices reacted to potential China activity.
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73
NWS Control Guidance, A New Leadership Model on Dairies, And Five Disruptive Events for Ag
Send us Fan MailToday we get guidance on how to control New World Screwworm, and we follow that with information about how one dairy producer develops and fosters a multi-site culture. We wrap up with five things that are driving shifts in agriculture.
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72
Sec. Rollins Inspected NWS Areas, and El Nino Is Here but So What?
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a report on a trip by Ag Secretary Rollins to the ranch where the first reported case of New World Screwworm was diagnosed. We also talk about El Nino and, now that it's here, what we can expect. We wrap up with background on TN visas and how it could help dairy producers.
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71
A Deep WASDE Dive, Seven Months of Dairy Export Growth, And What Are Annuities?
Send us Fan MailToday we take a deep into the June USDA WASDE report (spoiler alert) there's not much change in corn and soybean markets. Dairy keeps rolling along, though, as we look at what's driving seven straight months of export growth. We finish in financial markets with a look at annuities and how they can benefit your portfolio.
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70
Feedlot Margins Hit $450, Butter Prices are Rebounding, We've Been Historically Dry and Warren Buffett Has Advice for Farmers
Send us Fan MailWe start off today with a look at margins and prices. Feedlot margins hit $450 recently, and on the dairy side product prices maintain strength including butter, which had been soft but is rebounding. We also look at weather, with a report that shows we've been historically dry this year. The wrap is a story that looks at three things Warren Buffett says farmers should know.
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69
A New World Screwworm Update, a Look at Commodity Markets, and Cramer Is Skiddish About Bulls
Send us Fan MailToday we get a New World Screwworm update: it's spreading but USDA has it handled. Commodity markets continue to fluctuate waiting for the big report coming out on Thursday. We finish with news from Jim Cramer, who isn't believing the strength in the bull market.
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68
There's More New World Screwworm, Corn Drops On Investor Fallout, and Consumers Are Still Frustrated
Send us Fan MailWe start with an update on New World Screwworm. There's two new cases including a border-hopping dog. Corn futures fell off recently thanks to investors pulling out of the market over bearish weather, and the job market is strong but consumers still aren't happy.
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67
North: We're Navigating a New Era of Dairy and Beef Markets
Send us Fan MailOn today's episode we feature a conversation I had last week with Mike North from Ever.Ag. Mike brings us up to speed on the current status of the dairy industry, including how we're continue to evolve to a solids-dominant market from breeding cattle, processing, consumer demand and everywhere in between.
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66
Chat BDC Special: Ever.Ag Expands AI-Based Decision Tool for Livestock Operations
Send us Fan MailOn today's special episode we talk with Simon Drake, Chief Product Officer with Ever.Ag, about the expansion of Everett, their AI-based decision engine, into livestock and animal protein markets. It's fascinating technology you'll want to learn more about as you look toward improving your ability to make quick, accurate decisions on your operation.
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65
Bigger Cattle is the New Norm, and Soybean Yields Could Be Huge This Fall
Send us Fan MailToday we'll look at how bigger cattle are probably going to be the norm moving forward and we look at improving carcass efficiency. Plus, the stars are aligning to create a record breaking soybean crop this fall. We finish with AI stocks continuing to drive Wall Street indexes to new highs.
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64
Lee Schulz, Ever.Ag Economist: Pork Is In a Good Position With Export and Domestic Demand
Send us Fan MailOur conversation today features the pork industry with a chat with Dr. Lee Schulz, chief livestock economist with Ever.ag. He goes into detail about where we're at as an industry today, and where we're headed with strong exports and an opportunistic positioning against expensive beef.
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63
We're Experiencing a Milk Check Revolution While Cattle Producers Are Making Tough, Drought-Driven Decisions
Send us Fan MailOur milk checks are focusing more on solids that fluid, which is changing the way we breed, feed, process and sell milk and dairy products. Plus, cattlemen are being forced to make tough decisions as drought and water resources are drying up. On the other hand, there are a few AI companies that are about to make trillions of dollars in public offerings.
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62
No DMC Run This Month or In the Near Future, Cattle Markets Looking for Direction
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a look at the Dairy Margin Coverage program payouts. Margins are too good on dairy farms for any payments to be made, but we're still running below YOY levels. Beef markets are in a sideways pattern, looking for direction on which way to move next. And oil prices keep bouncing around.
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61
Why Consumers Are Soaking Up Dairy And Still Buying Beef
Send us Fan MailToday we focus on consumers with stories on how export and domestic demand is soaking up the extra milk production. Speaking of consumers doing their part, we turn to the beef market and dive into why the heck consumers are still paying a mortgage payment on ribeyes. We finish up with a quick look at a drop in oil prices.
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60
Summer May Be Wetter Than Anticipated, Cattle Rally, And Consumers Aren't Feeling It
Send us Fan MailToday we start with a look at weather and potential for a turn around in drought conditions, then switch to an update on cattle markets. We end with a look at consumer confidence.
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59
Dairy Is On a 16-Month Heater, Corn Prices Are Falling With Oil Prices
Send us Fan MailOn today's podcast the dairy industry is on a 16-month track of higher YOY production. On the other hand, corn prices continue to stumble as oil prices fall as well.
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58
High Replacement Prices Are Impacting Dairy Culls, Corn Futures Took a Step Back
Send us Fan MailWe start with a review of the latest USDA Livestock Slaughter report and how replacement values are impacting cull cow slaughter. We also talk about the slide in corn futures that parallels oil markets, and how tech companies continue to support Wall Street indexes.
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57
Farmers Need Blinders On to Stay Focused On Marketing Fundamentals This Crop Season
Send us Fan MailIn our conversation today we talk to Britt O'Connell, senior director of grain risk management with Ever.ag. Britt offers great insights into the volatility in grain markets, with geopolitical impacts of Iran and China, weather diversity throughout the U.S., the impact of fund investors and managed money. To survive, farmers need to know their business fundamentals and put on their blinders to stay focused on their marketing opportunities.
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56
Cattle On Feed Report Is A Bear, Milk Production Continues to Grow
Send us Fan MailUSDA's May Cattle on Feed report showed placements ahead of a year ago but reduced marketings, leading to a bearish feeling in the markets. May milk production was up on--you guessed it--a larger dairy herd. In investment news, the surge in risk free treasury yields is sending bond investors in search of better opportunities.
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55
Cargill Forces Lockout, Corn Markets Slide, SpaceX Goes Public
Send us Fan MailToday we start with Cargill announcing a lockout at one of its facilities, then we pivot to corn markets sliding a bit after a rally. We finish with news of SpaceX going public.
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54
Global Dairy Markets Are Cautious, Drought Begins to Impact Crop Progress
Send us Fan MailToday we have a report on the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, where participants in the auction took a cautious approach indicating global dairy markets may be waiting for a shift. Also, much of the country is still dry and it may start impacting the growing season. We wrap with a stock market rally.
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53
USDA Updates Livestock Insurance Programs, Drought Updates in Cow Country
Send us Fan MailUSDA Risk Management Agency updated livestock insurance programs this week, we talk about what producers can expect. Also we dive into the drought status for pastures in cow country, and end with a surge in bond markets on Wall Street.
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52
USDA Lowers Beef Forecast, Raises 2027 Milk Production Forecast; Markets React to China News
Send us Fan MailUSDA released its latest forecast for beef, pork and milk production and we cover that in depth. Commodity markets showed signs of life after China told the U.S. they were going to by billions of dollars of ag products over the next three years. We wrap up with Walmart and Amazon placing emphasis on rural America.
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51
The Impact of the U.S.-China Talks on Ag Markets
Send us Fan MailOur main focus today is reporting on the U.S.-China talks and the impact those talks will have on beef and commodity markets. We also look at a small slide in U.S. stocks.
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50
Dairy Replacement Values Continue to Climb, While China Says 'No Thanks' to U.S. Beef
Send us Fan MailToday we center on an article from Dairy Herd Management on replacement dairy values. Hint: They aren't getting cheaper. We also report on China's pull back on export clearances for U.S. beef, and Wall Street sets new records, again.
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49
Insights Into the Beef Industry and Genetics From Lee Leachman
Send us Fan MailToday we're excited to bring you a conversation we had with Lee Leachman, CEO of Leachman Cattle and noted beef industry and genetics expert. We talk about the current status of the beef industry, the impact that genomics has had on today's beef herd, and a look at where we're headed as an industry.
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48
Get the Scoop On Latest WASDE Report Updates on Commodity and Livestock Markets
Send us Fan MailWe go full WASDE today with a look at corn, soybean, livestock and dairy markets. We wrap up with a stumble on Wall Street as AI stocks slump.
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47
Trump's Meeting With China This Week Will Have Big Impact Across All Markets
Send us Fan MailWhen President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, the results could have a huge impact on livestock, and commodity markets as well as on Wall Street. All three stories today focus on those potential impacts.
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46
Record pork exports start off 2026; Commodities wait for China summit this week
Send us Fan MailWe start with a USMEF report on pork and beef exports through the first quarter of 2026. After a pivot to look at commodity markets we wrap with a look ahead to what Wall Street is looking forward to this week. The China meeting this week will have an impact on all markets, ag and non-ag.
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45
Cheese, Butter Exports Continue to Break Records; Commodity Markets Adjust to Iran War
Send us Fan MailWe start out today with a look at dairy export results. Cheese and butter continue to dominate, and U.S. dairy exports have had positive YOY results for the past six months. In commodity markets, which direction the markets will go depends a lot on the war in Iran. Our financial news wrap up includes a positive outlook on the U.S. economy coming from the White House.
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44
Three Things Beef Producers Need To Be Thinking About; Why Are Diesel Prices So High?
Send us Fan MailWe start this episode out with a look at three things beef producers need to focus on heading into summer. We pivot to news about why diesel prices are so high, and how long they will stay there. We wrap up with a look at labor markets.
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43
Drought May Impact Pasture Growth, Herd Rebuilding
Send us Fan MailWe start looking at an update on the drought situation in cow-calf country, and how it's the worst since at least 2000. We then look at planting updates, which is ahead of 2025 and five year averages. The wrap up is in financial markets, as stock indexes have another stellar day.
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42
A Review on Dairy Risk Management, a Soybean Outlook and Investor View on AI
Send us Fan MailToday we focus on an UpLevel podcast that reviews dairy risk management options. We also get a soybean forecast (hint=China plays a role) and how investors are looking at big tech AI.
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41
Want to Keep Employees? Work on Communication.
Send us Fan MailOur latest interview is a bit different that our regular conversations with economists. Today's conversation is with one of the top experts on employee relations, Jorge Delgado with Alltech. It's a great conversation about the keys to keeping employees healthy and happy, and building a quality culture along the way.
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40
Milk Prices Continue to Rise, Corn Exports Keep Up Record Pace
Send us Fan MailThe latest federal milk marketing order information is out and milk prices continue to slowly improve, enough that we're getting close to where we were last year. On the commodity export front, corn continues to set the pace while soybeans lag. And on Wall Street, indexes are posting their best year in six.
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39
The Government Is Set To Help With Fertilizer Prices
Send us Fan MailAfter a look at risk management options in the dairy market, we offer an update on a news conference held by Ag Secretary Rollins regarding the status and future of fertilizer prices. We end with an update on Wall Street.
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38
More Dairy Cows Are Heading to Slaughter; It Will Be Awhile Before the Beef Herd Expands
Send us Fan MailThe latest USDA Livestock Slaughter report shows dairy producers are sending more cows to town than in the past. Also, the drought in the High Plains is probably going to keep the beef herd from expanding (amongst other things). We wrap up with a look at consumer confidence.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Chat BDC is the executive briefing for farm CEOs, CFOs, and senior managers running America's largest farms. Each episode delivers concise, actionable business intelligence across all market categories. Hosted by Mike Opperman, Chat BDC delivers concise market information to help farmers make more informed business and investment decisions. Whether you manage 2,000 cows or 20,000 acres, this is the ag business podcast built for farmer CEOs.
HOSTED BY
Mike Opperman
CATEGORIES
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