Chat BDC
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.
Episodes
99 episodes
No DMC Run This Month or In the Near Future, Cattle Markets Looking for Direction
Today 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...
Why Consumers Are Soaking Up Dairy And Still Buying Beef
Today 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 mortg...
Summer May Be Wetter Than Anticipated, Cattle Rally, And Consumers Aren't Feeling It
Today 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.
Dairy Is On a 16-Month Heater, Corn Prices Are Falling With Oil Prices
On 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.
High Replacement Prices Are Impacting Dairy Culls, Corn Futures Took a Step Back
We 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 suppor...
Farmers Need Blinders On to Stay Focused On Marketing Fundamentals This Crop Season
In 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 throug...
Cattle On Feed Report Is A Bear, Milk Production Continues to Grow
USDA'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 ris...
Cargill Forces Lockout, Corn Markets Slide, SpaceX Goes Public
Today 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.
Global Dairy Markets Are Cautious, Drought Begins to Impact Crop Progress
Today 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 impa...
USDA Updates Livestock Insurance Programs, Drought Updates in Cow Country
USDA 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.
USDA Lowers Beef Forecast, Raises 2027 Milk Production Forecast; Markets React to China News
USDA 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...
The Impact of the U.S.-China Talks on Ag Markets
Our 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.
Dairy Replacement Values Continue to Climb, While China Says 'No Thanks' to U.S. Beef
Today 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.
Insights Into the Beef Industry and Genetics From Lee Leachman
Today 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 bee...
Get the Scoop On Latest WASDE Report Updates on Commodity and Livestock Markets
We 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.
Trump's Meeting With China This Week Will Have Big Impact Across All Markets
When 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.
Record pork exports start off 2026; Commodities wait for China summit this week
We 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 ...
Cheese, Butter Exports Continue to Break Records; Commodity Markets Adjust to Iran War
We 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 lo...
Three Things Beef Producers Need To Be Thinking About; Why Are Diesel Prices So High?
We 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.
Drought May Impact Pasture Growth, Herd Rebuilding
We 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 sto...
A Review on Dairy Risk Management, a Soybean Outlook and Investor View on AI
Today 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.
Want to Keep Employees? Work on Communication.
Our 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 e...
Milk Prices Continue to Rise, Corn Exports Keep Up Record Pace
The 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....
The Government Is Set To Help With Fertilizer Prices
After 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.
More Dairy Cows Are Heading to Slaughter; It Will Be Awhile Before the Beef Herd Expands
The 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...