RFD Illinois

The fate of the farm bill remains uncertain in what will soon be a lame-duck congress. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Maggie McCalla, Illinois Association of Vocational Teachers President, says there's more growth in ag classrooms around the state. The IAVAT is asking for an increase for ag ed funding in the state. Curt Struhbar, Advanced Trading, discusses mixed i...

The latest from Washington on the ongoing efforts of the China Board of Trade. RFD Radio Network's Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports. FarmWeek CropWatcher Ryan Frieders checks in from Northern Illinois, where farmers are still waiting for the ground to dry before harvest can start. Lauren Wolter, an Illinois livestock girl at Kansas State, talks the future of the cattle business. Darin Ne...

It’s the last week the Senate is in session before the elections and there are no plans to take up the Ag committee-passed farm bill. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Josh St. Peters, Illinois Beef Association, has an update on work with the state on pursuing a buyer for Joslin processing plant. Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodities Analytics, talks markets and China-US tr...

Record diesel prices and political worries were playing a key role in White House planning to limit exports of the key fuel for agriculture. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Todd Steinacher, ACHER, talks corn harvest numbers from south western and central Illinois. He's seeing bigger yields than other parts of the state, but gaps in consistency. Farm4Cast meteorologi...

Kevin Semlow, executive director of government affairs and commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, discusses the push in D.C. for a permanent Farm Bill and the push in Springfield to pass the Family Farm Preservation Act in the fall veto session. Nick Frederking, Agrigold, talks the southern Illinois harvest and some of the best yields he's seen. Freese Notis Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at...

Bill Graff and Joan Hammann with the state office for the USDA FSA announce 2026 & 2027 enrollment for ARC & PLC. Illinois Farm Bureau president Philip Nelson says harvest is yet to start in some parts of the state. Geoff Cooper, CEO and president of the Renewable Fuels Association, discusses diesel export ban talks during an NAFB webinar. Ethan Lane, senior vice president of government af...

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson discusses diesel prices, farm bill updates and the push for the Family Farm Preservation Act during the fall veto session in Springfield. Mike Steenhoek, Soy Transportation Coalition, talks to FarmWeek Commodities editor Rhiannon Branch about the impact on farmers of high fuel costs. Freese Notis Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the early morning f...

RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye Reports on last minute farm bill amendments being ruled out of order by Senate Ag Chair John Boozman. Brent Corners, Jefferson County farmer, provides a FarmWeek CropWatcher report. Terry Smith, Adams County farmer and vice chair of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, talks about the Radical Corn challenge. Meteorologist Mark Henderson, Henders...

Ag Democrats may be unwilling to pass a senate farm bill, at least until after the November elections, based on comments at last week’s party-line vote advancing the bill. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Scott Heiberger, National Farm Medicine Center, discusses National Farm Safety & Health Week. Meteorologist Jim Rasor covers a week of intense heat as we look a...

Illinois Farm Bureau's Kevin Semlow, executive director of Government Affairs and Commodities, returns from the nation's capital as the Ag Act of '26 moves past the Senate Ag Committee. Brian Wilson, MAGIE Custom Applicator of the Year, discusses his application experience. More on the Farm Bill and the party line voting tensions that came along with it from RFD Radio Network's Washington correspo...

After a long wait, a farm bill passes the Senate. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Deanna Frieders, known online as "This Farm Girl Cooks," talks food and prepping for harvest in this preview of the next episode of the Taking Stalk podcast. Dr. Gary Schnitkey, professor, soybean industry chair and agricultural policy at the University of Illinois College of Aces in C...

GOP Senator Mitch McConnell is expected to cast the winning Farm Bill vote in the Senate Ag committee after returning from an extended hospital stay following a fall and pneumonia. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Torey Colburn, Midwest Conservation Agronomist with American Farmland Trust, discusses the ADM regenerations program and the enrollment process. Clayton Ch...

The USDA's latest beef import forecast is less than expected after presidential orders on tariff free beef imports. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. FarmWeek CropWatcher Brent Clair, Adams County in Western Illinois, joins the program to discuss a slow roll into harvest and ideal growing conditions. Rachel Brown, mental health specialist at Illinois Farm SOS, suggest...

Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello discusses harvest safety and Illinois grain tours. Brendan Marshall, West Central FS, discusses the "pinch test" for corn. Lawrence Kane, Total Farm Marketing by Stewart Peterson, talks about the impact and planning for last week's market losses. Freese Notis Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the early-morning forecast.