RFD Illinois

Illinois Farm Bureau President Phillip Nelson covers farm, state and federal issues as he reviews a busy spring session in Springfield. Jasper County FarmWeek Crop Watcher Lee Elliott gives an update on how crops are looking in southern Illinois as farmers brace for another round of severe weather. WCIA Meteorologist Kevin Lighty takes a closer look at incoming storms. Meteorologist at Freese Noti...

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins admits the farm economy is in rough shape but pushed back at last week’s Senate Ag hearing on the extent of farm bankruptcies. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Alan Bjerga, National Milk Producers, discusses dairy advocates' trip to to D.C. for an update on the Farm Bill and the USMCA. Jim Rasor, former television meteorologist, talks hi...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, talks about what comes next after Illinois' general assembly concludes. Bryer Nelson, Canton FFA, talks about becoming the state's president-elect at this year's Illinois FFA Convention. Haven Cash, Clay County, talks about being elected the Illinois FFA state reporter. Levi German, Nokomis FFA, d...

Senate Ag Chair John Boozman claims his work on a bipartisan farm bill is about to bear fruit. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Bill Carlberg talks about the history of his dairy farm and managing a farming operation as a family. Meteorologist Paul Otto, Freese-Notis, discusses a string of expected severe weather in Illinois, as well as provides an early morning fore...

The growing number of New World Screwworm cases in Texas is raising concerns in Congress as Canada temporarily restricts livestock from the state. RFD Radio Network Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Tick awareness from Dr. Teresa Steckler, University of Illinois Extension Educator. Lawrence Kane, Total Farm Marketing by Stewart Peterson, talks rain and markets Meteorologist Paul Otto has...

House Republican Rick Crawford sought support from USDA Secretary Rollins for a push to speed up ARC and PLC payments, sometimes delayed by more than a year. RFD Radio Network Correspondent Matt Kaye reports. FarmWeek CropWatcher Joel Barickman, Livingston County, gives an update as planting season draws to a close. Fulton Country Farm Bureau and the Canton Chamber of Commerce come together for th...

Bill Graff State, Executive Director of the Illinois FSA & Joan Hammann, Chief Program Specialist, talk acreage reporting and base acre update opportunities. JR Early, Macoupin County native and district leader for Country Financial, talks about the naming rights for the Macoupin County Fair Grandstand. Meteorologist Paul Otto has the early morning forecast.

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow continues to analyze the recently finished spring legislative session. The Illinois Milk Producers' Association donates thousands of pounds of milk to the Feeding Illinois network of foodbanks. Dan Pannier, Propane Operations Manager at Growmark, discusses the impacts of "off the charts" exports, builds an...

USTR proposed a 25-percent tariff on a range of Brazilian imports, after an investigation found Brazil had discriminated against US ethanol and other goods and services. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Dr. Jim Lowe, University of Illinois, talks about the threat the Asian Longhorned Tick poses to cattle. Dr. Anna Forseth, Director of Animal Health for the National P...

Colin Woodall, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cattleman's Beef Association, discuss the needed response to New World Screwworm and its proximity to the United States border from the Illinois Beef Assocation annual meeting. Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, joins the program to discuss a drop in December corn and other market movement. Michael Langemeier, Purdue's Cent...

Frank Doll, President of Prairie Farms Dairy, discusses crop conditions and planting. FarmWeek CropWatcher Larry Hummel has a look at the fields from Lee County. Mindy Bunselmeyer, Illinois Association FFA Executive Director, talks about the future of the organization's state convention. Dr. Ernie Goss, Creighton University, discusses recent findings of the Rural Main Street Index. Meteorologist P...

Chris Davis, Director of State Legislation at the Illinois Farm Bureau, reviews the end of the legislative session, including a failure to finalize the Family Farm Preservation Act. The USDA is working on plans to distribute millions of new base acres eligible for ARC and PLC payments under last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Eric...

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow following the final days of the spring legislative session in Springfield.  Chuck Spencer, Government Relations Executive Director, and Kennedy Ebner, Government and Regulatory Affairs, both from Growmark, join the program to discuss legislative efforts, particularly permanent E15. Meteorologist Paul Otto...

US Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer addressed a wide range of trade issues from tariffs to USMCA at a recent think tank forum. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Paul Munie, from Smithton in St. Clair County, talks about a "variable" planting season. Michaela Greathouse of Greathouse Grazing Acres Market discusses her small business and the impact on the surrounding com...

IFB Board Member Brian Corkill hosts Congressman Eric Sorensen for a farm visit to talk sustainability. Congressman Eric Sorensen also speaks about what he took away from the visit. Dr. Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois College of ACES professor, joins the program to discuss 2026 crop budgets. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the forecast.

Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello talks about dust storms, their impact on farming, public safety and the agricultural community. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs discusses programs aimed at helping farmers and agriculture workers find a path to retirement. Rich Nelson, Chief Strategist at Allendale Inc., discusses how markets closed out ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. Ro...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Commodities at Illinois Farm Bureau, keeps a close eye on Springfield as the days count down to the end of the legislative session. Corey Rosenbusch, CEO and President of The Fertilizer Institute, talks about a volatile fertilizer market and possible alternatives for production and distribution as a response. Steve Bridge, RFD Radio Netowr...

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he and colleagues are actively working to pass House-approved year-round E15 and a farm bill, both otherwise facing a 60-vote threshold in the Senate. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Dairy farmers Ron & Julie Lawfer talk about their operation in Jo Daviess County. Jacob Kleinberg, COO of publications at Roach Ag Marketing,...

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson discusses the recent visit to China by the Trump White House and the potential for more agricultural product buys. Tracy Heuerman, Illinois Wheat Association President, talks about how a wet growing season is going so far on a Wheat Tour. Ryan Gentle, agronomist at Wyffels Hybrids, talks planting and raising a crop in a tough margin environment. Senior...

China isn't saying how much more of U.S. soybeans they will buy beyond last year's commitments, while President Trump seems to have flipped on Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland. RFD Radio Network Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Lauren Schuler details her role as Chief of Staff for the Illinois Farm Bureau President's office.  Josh St. Peters, Executive Vice President of Illinois Beef...

Solutions to the farm crisis have been painfully slow, something Senate Ag Chair John Boozman acknowledged at a recent fertilizer hearing. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Derek Martin, Logan County Farmer, talks about the dust issue in farm country and the success that they have had implementing conservation practices to keep the soil on the farm.   David Kohli, For...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Commodities at Illinois Farm Bureau, talks about the passage of a year-round E15 bill in the House and the bill's chances in the Senate. Elliott Hasselbring, Growmark Product Manager of Urea and UAN, joins the program to discuss a volatile fertilizer market and the impact on planting season. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the foreca...

Year-round E15 passed in the House 218 to 203 with split votes on each side (90 Republicans, 113 Democrats vote no), but after years of efforts by Midwest lawmakers, the fate of the legislation is still uncertain in the Senate. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello on Illinois pasture conditions and the drought for western s...

Ag lawmakers now hope to separate year-round E15 legislation from a farm bill that could be in trouble in the Senate and pass it as a free-standing bill—a risky but possibly better gamble. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Josh St. Peters, Illinois Beef, talks about the push back from cattle producers this week on the proposed Trump Administration suspension of import...