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A Deep WASDE Dive, Seven Months of Dairy Export Growth, And What Are Annuities? Jun 12, 2026 403 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.

Feedlot Margins Hit $450, Butter Prices are Rebounding, We've Been Historically Dry and Warren Buffett Has Advice for Farmers Jun 11, 2026 399 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.

A New World Screwworm Update, a Look at Commodity Markets, and Cramer Is Skiddish About Bulls Jun 10, 2026 355 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.

There's More New World Screwworm, Corn Drops On Investor Fallout, and Consumers Are Still Frustrated Jun 9, 2026 364 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.

North: We're Navigating a New Era of Dairy and Beef Markets Jun 8, 2026 1193 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.

Chat BDC Special: Ever.Ag Expands AI-Based Decision Tool for Livestock Operations Jun 5, 2026 582 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.

Bigger Cattle is the New Norm, and Soybean Yields Could Be Huge This Fall Jun 5, 2026 339 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.

Lee Schulz, Ever.Ag Economist: Pork Is In a Good Position With Export and Domestic Demand Jun 4, 2026 684 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.

We're Experiencing a Milk Check Revolution While Cattle Producers Are Making Tough, Drought-Driven Decisions Jun 3, 2026 394 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.

No DMC Run This Month or In the Near Future, Cattle Markets Looking for Direction Jun 2, 2026 400 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.

Why Consumers Are Soaking Up Dairy And Still Buying Beef Jun 1, 2026 379 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.

Summer May Be Wetter Than Anticipated, Cattle Rally, And Consumers Aren't Feeling It May 29, 2026 418 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.

Dairy Is On a 16-Month Heater, Corn Prices Are Falling With Oil Prices May 28, 2026 421 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.

High Replacement Prices Are Impacting Dairy Culls, Corn Futures Took a Step Back May 27, 2026 393 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.

Farmers Need Blinders On to Stay Focused On Marketing Fundamentals This Crop Season May 26, 2026 1118 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

Cattle On Feed Report Is A Bear, Milk Production Continues to Grow May 25, 2026 368 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.

Cargill Forces Lockout, Corn Markets Slide, SpaceX Goes Public May 22, 2026 403 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.

Global Dairy Markets Are Cautious, Drought Begins to Impact Crop Progress May 21, 2026 351 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.

USDA Updates Livestock Insurance Programs, Drought Updates in Cow Country May 20, 2026 328 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.

USDA Lowers Beef Forecast, Raises 2027 Milk Production Forecast; Markets React to China News May 19, 2026 420 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.

The Impact of the U.S.-China Talks on Ag Markets May 18, 2026 314 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.

Dairy Replacement Values Continue to Climb, While China Says 'No Thanks' to U.S. Beef May 15, 2026 312 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.

Insights Into the Beef Industry and Genetics From Lee Leachman May 14, 2026 1608 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.

Get the Scoop On Latest WASDE Report Updates on Commodity and Livestock Markets May 13, 2026 488 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.

Trump's Meeting With China This Week Will Have Big Impact Across All Markets May 12, 2026 398 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.

Record pork exports start off 2026; Commodities wait for China summit this week May 11, 2026 411 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.

Cheese, Butter Exports Continue to Break Records; Commodity Markets Adjust to Iran War May 8, 2026 380 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.

Three Things Beef Producers Need To Be Thinking About; Why Are Diesel Prices So High? May 7, 2026 386 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.

Drought May Impact Pasture Growth, Herd Rebuilding May 6, 2026 362 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.

A Review on Dairy Risk Management, a Soybean Outlook and Investor View on AI May 5, 2026 328 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.

Want to Keep Employees? Work on Communication. May 4, 2026 1625 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.

Milk Prices Continue to Rise, Corn Exports Keep Up Record Pace May 1, 2026 433 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.

The Government Is Set To Help With Fertilizer Prices Apr 30, 2026 361 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.

More Dairy Cows Are Heading to Slaughter; It Will Be Awhile Before the Beef Herd Expands Apr 29, 2026 356 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.

Protein Demand Drives Milk Prices; There's a Farm Bill Vote Looming Apr 28, 2026 347 Send us Fan MailDemand for protein continues to change the dynamic for milk prices. Also, we may have a Farm Bill soon with a vote pending on Thursday. We wrap up with our daily look at investments and Wall Street news.

Drought Covers 63% of The U.S. While It's Too Wet to Plant In Other Areas Apr 27, 2026 1015 Send us Fan MailToday we feature a chat we had with Brad Rippey who is an agricultural meteorologist in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist, and the managing editor of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin. Brad talks about the current weather and moisture situation across the U.S., where it's too dry in most areas but way to wet in others. Plus we discuss what

Base Milk Price Climbs Past $20 While the Cattle Markets Softens Apr 24, 2026 352 Send us Fan MailThe Federal Milk Marketing Order pricing information came out this week and the May Class I base price pushed past $20/cwt, good news for dairy producers. Cattle markets softened a bit this week, and we share those numbers. In financial markets, Wall Street was a bit unstable as folks wait to see what happens in the Middle East.

USDA Reports Say Dairy Herd Continues to Grow, Beef Herd Continues to Shrink Apr 23, 2026 372 Send us Fan MailTwo new USDA reports were out yesterday. The USDA Milk Production report showed the U.S. dairy cow herd continues to grow, although 2025 and 2026 milk production levels are starting to come closer together. Commodity prices are a bit higher thanks to weather conditions and geopolitical issues. And if energy prices don't fix themselves, Republicans could be in trouble this fall

Here's What Financially Strong Farmers Are Doing Apr 22, 2026 359 Send us Fan MailWe start off with a recap of an UpLevel Dairy podcast featuring a Compeer analysts who discusses how financially strong farmers stay financially strong. We then look at our first crop planting report and take a look at the latest on Wall Street.

A Bit Of Sun Is Shining On An Evolving Dairy Market Apr 21, 2026 818 Send us Fan MailMilk prices have shown promise and markets have switched to put an emphasis on protein. That's been good news for dairy farmers as we get into the second quarter of 2026, and something to consider as we look ahead to Q3 and Q4. That's the topic of today's interview with Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist with CoBank.

USDA Cattle on Feed Report, A Flip in Commodity Markets, and What Investors Value on Wall Street Apr 20, 2026 333 Send us Fan MailToday we start with a review of Friday's USDA Cattle on Feed report, then look at how commodities flipped trends last week. We wrap up with how investors are approaching market decisions in the era of the Middle East conflict.

News for April 17, 2026 Apr 17, 2026 450 Send us Fan MailWe have monthly federal milk marketing order price information, which continues to be slightly favorable and a positive aspect to the market so far. We also look at corn futures, which include potential weather impacts. The episode wraps up with a record day on Wall Street.

News for April 16, 2026 Apr 16, 2026 393 Send us Fan MailPowder prices are skyrocketing and bringing Class IV prices with it, and we start off the podcast with that news. We then take a look at cattle futures, and wrap up with a look at financial markets and a Fed report that looks at how consumers and companies are taking a wait-and-see approach to investments.

News for April 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026 369 Send us Fan MailFertilizer prices are 40% higher than this time last year. We take a look at why and how it's affecting input costs on this year's crop. Plus, despite all of the geopolitical activity that has happened since the end of February, the stock market is actually back to pre-war levels. We'll take a look at how that happened.

News for April 14, 2026 Apr 14, 2026 337 Send us Fan MailThere's tons of new processing capacity in the dairy industry, and we'll take a look at potential expansion opportunities. Next we'll look at an interesting development in beef markets, and wind up with our regular look at movement on Wall Street.

News for April 13, 2026 Apr 13, 2026 1185 Send us Fan MailHave you been watching Wall Street bounce up and down over the past few weeks and months? Wondered what you can do to protect your investments? Today we get an expert to help us answers those questions. We talk with Matt Erickson, senior analyst with Terrain, about where we're at with investment opportunities today, where we may be headed, and how to protect ourselves from vol

News for April 10, 2026 Apr 10, 2026 423 Send us Fan MailThe March WASDE report is out and we look at the latest USDA projections for corn, soybeans, meat and dairy. Then we look at how dairy exports are doing (quite well, BTW) and then report on the continuing yoyo that is Wall Street.

News for April 9, 2026 Apr 9, 2026 272 Send us Fan MailToday we focus on how markets are reacting to the ceasefire in the Middle East. We start with a look at corn and soybeans, transition to cattle, and finish up with a look at Wall Street.

News for April 8, 2026 Apr 8, 2026 349 Send us Fan MailThe latest Global Dairy Trade report starts off this episode, then we transition to commodity market updates. We finish off with a report from JPMorgan's CEO about the current status of financial markets.

News for April 7, 2026 Apr 7, 2026 322 Send us Fan MailWe start today with a look at commodity markets, then news of a new trading partner for U.S. beef. We finish with a look at Wall Street and how stocks are reacting to ongoing news from the Middle East.

News for April 6, 2026 Apr 6, 2026 696 Send us Fan MailWelcome back after Easter - hope everyone had a great weekend. With markets closed due to the Holiday, we decided to go with an interview I did with Ben Laine, senior dairy analyst with Terrain. In the interview Ben gives an update on where we're at in the dairy markets, let's us know if the high production is sustainable, and what to expect over the next several months.

News for April 3, 2026 Apr 3, 2026 321 Send us Fan MailNew milk price reports are out and the slow, steady climb continues. We also look at how commodity prices and Wall Street markets reacted to President Trump's speech on the Middle East conflict.

News for April 2, 2026 Apr 2, 2026 1936 Send us Fan MailToday we have a special episode, an interview with David Weaber, senior animal protein analyst with Terrain. In this longer conversation we cover all the topics pertinent to the beef market, from current status to feedlot/packer interactions to potential consumer demand, and more. Enjoy!

News for April 1, 2026 Apr 1, 2026 422 Send us Fan MailOn this our 100th episode, we take a look at the planting projections and inventory reports from USDA, and an in-depth look at beef markets before an exciting announcement about a new offering!

News for March 31, 2026 Mar 31, 2026 291 Send us Fan MailToday we take a look at hog inventories compared to last year, then take a deeper dive into the long and shorts of commodity markets. We finish with a quick update on Wall Street.

News for March 30, 2026 Mar 30, 2026 409 Send us Fan MailWe start the week with a look at how dairy product markets fared last week, then report on President Trump's announcement about new DEF regulations. We finish up with a quick look at rising oil costs.

News for March 27, 2026 Mar 27, 2026 352 Send us Fan MailDairy margins lead off today's discussion with a look at potential indemnity payments in the future. We also look at a potential announcement by President Trump today of another support package for U.S. farmers. We wrap up with an update on Wall Street given the most recent boost in oil prices.

News for March 26, 2026 Mar 26, 2026 344 Send us Fan MailFertilizer and fuel prices are higher, we'll start off by talking about how high they've gotten and where it might end. Then we look at beef markets and the impact the reduced throughput is having on the market, before wrapping up with a brief look at financial markets.

News for March 25, 2026 Mar 25, 2026 357 Send us Fan MailToday we learn what USDA says about dairy slaughter levels, then look at how soybean markets reacted to Trump putting off his meeting with China. We finish up in financial markets and get an update on reactions to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

News for March 24, 2026 Mar 24, 2026 1191 Send us Fan MailToday we have a special episode. I had a great conversation with Britt O'Connell, senior director of grain risk management with Ever.ag. Britt provides perspective on how much of an impact higher fuel and fertilizer prices due to the crisis in the Middle East will have on farmers this spring. She also gives some great advice on how farmers can approach marketing going into th

News for March 23, 2026 Mar 23, 2026 366 Send us Fan MailTo start off the week we look at a couple of USDA reports, including the March Milk Production and Cattle on Feed reports. We finish with how investments are shifting to money market funds due to rising oil prices and potential stress on inflation.

News for March 20, 2026 Mar 20, 2026 345 Send us Fan MailNews for today includes an update on dairy replacement levels and prices, and a report on the February USDA livestock slaughter report. We finish up with a look at the impact March Madness has on business productivity.

News for March 19, 2026 Mar 19, 2026 353 Send us Fan MailDairy exports are doing well starting off 2026 but major headwinds lie in their path. Speaking of the crisis in the Middle East, fertilizer prices are starting to spike up along with oil prices, and we have some news on that front.

News for March 18, 2026 Mar 18, 2026 357 Send us Fan MailToday we look at federal milk marketing order price updates, plus how cattle markets are reacting in light of the strike at the JBS plant and geopolitical pressures. We end with a quick look at financial markets.

News for March 17, 2026 Mar 17, 2026 350 Send us Fan MailUSDA released it's Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook for March and we start with a look at any adjustments to those projections. We then turn to a look at potential crop acreage adjustments and a look at commodity markets. We wrap with a bright spot on oil prices.

News for March 16, 2026 Mar 16, 2026 342 Send us Fan MailWe're back from vacation, and today we're delivering an update on how the conflict in the Middle East is impacting U.S. agriculture and financial markets. Also, we put together a survey to see how the conflict is impacting farmer decisions. Find the survey here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/xshTkKw

News for March 13, 2026 Mar 13, 2026 773 Send us Fan MailToday we finish up on our interviews with experts this week with an interview I had with Nate Donnay, Director of Dairy Market Insight at StoneX. Nate goes in depth on the February USDA milk production report, and looks ahead at what to expect for 2026 including an update on export markets.

News for March 12, 2026 Mar 12, 2026 1084 Send us Fan MailToday is our fourth installment in our week of experts episodes, Today we feature a visit I had recently with Tanner Ehmke, lead economist for grains and oilseeds at CoBank, about current commodity markets. Tanner provided great insight into the factors impacting corn and soybean markets both domestically and abroad.

News for March 11, 2026 Mar 11, 2026 549 Send us Fan MailIn our third installment of interviews with experts I visit with Will McKinley and Troy Schneider from the Menn Law Firm. They offer great insights and advice on what’s new for this year’s tax season and some great tips on how to make the necessary adjustments to be more efficient with your taxes this year and beyond.

News for March 10, 2026 Mar 10, 2026 754 Send us Fan MailIn our second interview with experts this week we visit with Terrel Platt, market analyst with CattleFax. Terrel gives some great insight into the current market situation and what cow calf producers and feedlot owners can expect going into 2026, and how demand will affect it all.

News for March 9, 2026 Mar 9, 2026 657 Send us Fan MailWe start our week of experts with an interview we did with Mike North back in January. Mike, who is with Ever.ag, provided great insight into the current status of the dairy market and what we can expect as we get into 2026.

News for March 6, 2026 Mar 6, 2026 346 Send us Fan MailFocus today is on dairy federal milk marketing order prices, actually some bright spots in those reports. General ag news focuses on updates to the Farm Bill that passed the house recently, and finishing up with a quick update on how to manage money during the Middle East crisis. We wrapped with some news about programming for next week.

News for March 5, 2026 Mar 5, 2026 393 Send us Fan MailFluid milk sales continue to drop year over year, but whole milk is increasing and that starts this episode. We move over to beef markets and talk about pending legislation that would impact the meat packing industry. Our final segment looks at how the Iran conflict is impacting financial markets.

News for March 4, 2026 Mar 4, 2026 297 Send us Fan MailGlobal Trade Markets are on the docket first today with a look at yesterday's auction. Top of mind is the Iran conflict, and we look at how fertilizer prices are going to change, along with the reaction from Wall Street.

News for March 3, 2026 Mar 3, 2026 1085 Send us Fan MailToday we have one of our special episodes. I visited with Tanner Ehmke, lead economist for grains and oilseeds at CoBank, about current commodity markets. Tanner provided great insight into the factors impacting corn and soybean markets both domestically and abroad.

News for March 2, 2026 Mar 2, 2026 393 Send us Fan MailWe start off the week with a look at butter and cheese markets, plus the global dairy production situation. We take a quick look at commodity markets before looking at how Wall Street has and will continue to react to the new Iranian conflict.

News for February 27, 2026 Feb 27, 2026 326 Send us Fan MailToday we look at export numbers from the latest report from the US Dairy Export Council. Then we take a look at weather and the forecast of a wet start to March. We wrap up with financial news and how Wall Street fell off yesterday after tech stock worries.

News for February 26, 2026 Feb 26, 2026 316 Send us Fan MailToday we take a deep dive into insurance programs for dairy producers, comparing DMC to DRP coverage. We also look at what making marketers in the beef market nervous, and where Wall Street is trading relative to the AI marketplace.

News for February 25, 2026 Feb 25, 2026 288 Send us Fan MailToday we take a look at beef markets and what is influencing a softer trade to start the week. We then turn attention to commodities and learn about how weather in South America could influence the U.S. market. Finally we wrap up with general financial news and the factors influencing marketing decisions.

News for February 24, 2026 Feb 24, 2026 771 Send us Fan MailToday we have a special episode - an interview with Nate Donnay, Director of Dairy Market Insight at StoneX. Nate goes in depth on the most recent USDA milk production report, and looks ahead at what to expect for 2026 including an update on export markets.

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