RFD Illinois

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...

Prospects for the Farm Bill are not looking up in the Senate, according to Iowa Ag Senator Chuck Grassley. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Jennifer Tirey, Executive Director at Illinois Pork Producers Association, talks about efforts to put pork back on the menu in Chicago public schools. Meteorlogist Dennis Michelson, WITY, makes the call on whether its summertime...

A long-time Senate ethanol supporter is urging the House Speaker to get beleaguered E15 legislation out of the House without changes. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Jolene Neuhauser, Illinois Farm Bureau Program Manager talks Illinois Wheat Association events, specifically the IWA Yield Contest & May Plot Tour. Donnell Rehagen, CEO of Clean Fuels Alliance, talk...

International events increasingly put U.S. agriculture in the crosshairs of foreign policy. RFD Radio Network's Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Illinois State Police offer safety advice for motorists that encounter a dust storm. Corey Rosenbusch, CEO and President of The Fertilizer Institute, talks about a volatile fertilizer market. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the forecast.

Farm equipment costs could ease some if a successful House farm bill amendment survives in a final law. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Dr. Jim Lowe, University of Illinois, talks about Pseudorabies making headlines last week in the pig business. Jesse Kohlbecker, Vice President of Claims and Client Services at Country Financial, talks about the claim process follow...

Corn and soybean planting is still ahead of schedule in much of the Midwest in early May, according to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. FarmWeek Crop Watcher Ryan Frieders gives an update from DeKalb County. Jennifer Tirey, Illinois Pork Producers, promotes Bacon Day in Springfield. Dekalb Asgrow Technical Agronomist Lance Tarchione jo...

Frustration spilled onto the House floor last week as efforts to pass year-round E15 legislation failed again. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Trevor Maiers, farmer in Adams County, talks about the economics of having manure on the farm this year. Meteorologist Mark Henderson takes a look at a chilly start to May. Dr. Ashley Johnson, National Pork Producers Council...

Foreign adversaries are blocked from buying US farmland under an amendment added to the House-passed farm bill. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Justin Moore, Illinois Corn Growers New Uses & Bio Fuels Manager, talks about the ICG interest and investment into the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center in Edwardsville. Eric Snodgrass, Senior Atmospheric Scientist...

Kevin Semlow, Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities, talks about the Farm Bill passing out of the House. United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins talks about what the administration is doing for farmers in a fragile farm economy from the Washington Watch event. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden talks about the process of cost disc...

House Ag Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson of Pennsylvania, talks about his optimism for the passing of a Farm Bill ahead of further news from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters' Washington Watch event in D.C. RFD Radio Network Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye covers the divide between Democrats and Republicans as they worked towards a Farm Bill. Illinois Republican Congressman Mike...

Bill Graff, FSA State Executive Director, joins the program for an update on second supplemental disaster assistance support to farmers & extension of application deadline, as well as covering new Illinois data from farmer bridge assistance program. As RFD Radio Network hosts attend Washington Watch, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, from Kansas, talks about the Lowering Input Costs for American Fa...

The House plans to take up the farm bill this week, though its path to enactment still seems uncertain. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Jon Zeeb, with BW Fusion, Vision Ag and AgriSky, of Bond Co. gives a wheat crop update and drone fungicide application report. Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  Brent Corners provides a CropWatcher repor...

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says a bird flu vaccine is still not ready for prime time, but efforts continue to get it there. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Update from the field on early planting season in the West-South West District of Illinois with Todd Steinacher. Brad Zwilling, Illinois Farm Business and Farm Management and regular FarmDoc contributor, talks a...

State and federal updates from Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow. Brendan Bachman, FS Agronomy Director at Growmark, discusses the features of an AI agent in the FS My Agronomy app. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the forecast.

Farmers continue to struggle with war and tariff-driven high input costs and chronically low prices. And one longtime Ag Senator says the frustration is mounting. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Katie Brown, President of the Illinois Pork Producers, just back from Mexico City with the USMEF on a trip to focus on the USMCA. Angie Setzer, Consus Ag Marketing, joins the...

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson talks spring planting season and provides updates on key state and federal issues.   Nick Frederking, Agrigold Agronomist, talks about agronomy considerations during planting season and unusual weather. Raelynn Parmely, Illinois Farm Bureau Economic and Policy Analyst, discusses USDA statistics and services. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at your fo...

USDA Secretary Rollins says almost half the states have acted to limit or even reverse China’s purchase of US farmland. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Todd Armour, Macoupin County farmer, talks about life after dairy cows and the focus on grain farming. Crop Watcher report from Brent Clair in Adams County, who is yet to turn a wheel this Spring. Matt Bennett, AgMarke...

USDA Secretary Rollins updated Congress last week on efforts to keep New World Screwworm out of the United States. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at Illinois Farm Bureau, talks Farm Bill. Clayton Pope, Clayton Pope Commodities, joins the program to discuss a drop in crude oil late last week an...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at Illinois Farm Bureau, details a call to action for members against wetlands legislation in the statehouse. State FSA Director Bill Graff details deadlines for CRP and the Farmer Bridge Assistance program.  Aaron Curtis, MidCo Commodities, talks about the relationship between corn and crude oil. Meteorologist Paul Otto has...

Clint Gorden, Macon County Farmer, talks to RFD Radio Network's Rita Frazer about the 2026 planting season from the field. Tom Dosdall, Stone X, discusses the current value of beans. Jacob Kleinberg, Roach Ag, joins the program to discuss movement in the corn and soybean markets. RFD Radio Network Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on a Senate Majority Leader's suggestion for a pathway to...

Year-round E15 and added farm aid are not expected to be included in a new GOP party-line budget bill, according to a senior budget panel Ag Republican. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Rollin Head, Head Brothers Land and Cattle, provides a calving season update and calving barn successes from Macon County. State Treasurer Michael Frerichs talks about planting season,...

USDA’s World Ag Outlook Board’s latest supply and demand estimates show increased soybean domestic demand, but declining exports and just a tiny increase in price. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Macon County Farmer Rollin Head talks about planting season. Jimmy Ayers, Sangamon County Farmer, talks about his earliest planting season yet in this week's Crop Watcher U...

President Trump plans to visit China next month and his trade ambassador Jamieson Greer spoke recently to the Hudson Institute about what to expect from the summit. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Illinois Director of Ag Jerry Costello shares farm safety resources available during planting season through the Illinois Farm Family Resource Initiative. Jolene Neuhauser...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities, talks deep concern about the high input cost for farmers and IFB watch on data centers in Illinois. Mark Miller, Product Manager of Potash and Phosphates at Growmark, discusses the impact of global conflict on the cost of ammonia and sulfur. Meteorlogist Paul Otto has the early morning weather report.

Hope for a two-week Iran war ceasefire and opening of the Strait of Hormuz is bringing new hope of relief for farmers and consumers, while that relief could be gradual. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.. Illinois Director of Ag Jerry Costello talks about the need and push for year-round E-15. Sherman Newlin, Risk Management Commodities, a division of Zaner Ag Hedge, j...