RFD Illinois

The top House Ag Democrat charged in a super-partisan farm bill mark-up the farm-food coalition is dead, and this may be the last traditional farm bill. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Commodities and Food Systems Tasha Bunting discusses the plans for a Market Study Tour to Mexico City, leaving next Monday. Doug Yoder, Country Financia...

RFD Radio Network Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports the ethanol industry now has another argument for Congress to quickly approve year-round E15 sales--the Iran Middle East conflict. Kris Reynolds, American Farmland Trust, talks about the Illinois Farm Bureau Nutrient Grant Program and the upcoming field day in Montgomery County on March 21. Shane Flowers, President of the American Associ...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports the US-Iran conflict and interruptions to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz threaten new farm input volatility at a time when US producers can least afford it. Chad Ruppert, Montgomery County Farmer, and Chas Brown, Macon County Farmer, talk about the fight to continue farming in a preview of this week's Taking Stalk podcast. USDA Meteorol...

Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Chair of the House Ag Committee, talks about planned Farm Bill mark up this week in the House from the floor of last week's Commodity Classic. Matt Raben, Vice Chair of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, from Commodity Classic, talking about working for growers and looking for new uses for corn. USDA Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins addresses New World Screwworm from the Commodit...

Kevin Semlow, Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities, follows several topics in Springfield, including the Family Farm Preservation Act. USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visits the 2026 Commodity Classic and discusses the planned "One Farmer, One File" program. Richard Fordyce, Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation at USDA, talks a...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports as President Trump’s temporary tariffs to replace those the Supreme Court struck down represent a bridge back to highly discretionary levies, according to trade experts on a recent Brookings panel discussion. Stephanie Porter, Outreach Agronomist for the Illinois Soybean Association, talks about ISA at Commodity Classic 2026, growing season concerns,...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye speaks with Iowa Ag Senator and Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, who predicts tariffs put in place by President Trump will persist after court challenges. Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition plans "grazing schools" for early next month. Executive Director Christian Lovell explains what farmers can learn. Robert Cossar, Croplan Seed Innovation Experience Member, t...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins comments from last weeks USDA Farm Economy Outlook. Tyler Musgrave, Musgrave Angus Farm in Pike County, discusses preparing for Spring sales. KWQC Meteorologist Cyle Dickens has your forecast, as he looks as whether winter is here to stay or ready to go. David Widmar, Ag Economic Insights, discusses similarit...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on reactions after the Supreme Court’s Friday 6-3 ruling striking down President Trump’s tariffs, but many questions remain. Tasha Bunting, Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Commodities and Food Systems, reminds dairy farmers the deadline is approaching soon for FSA programs to offset costs. Phillip Nelson, president of the Illinios Farm Bureau, reflec...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, details action expected on the 2026 Farm Bill rollout and a Bureau call to action. Dan Engel, Director of Supply and Merchandising of Crop Nutrients at Growmarks, talks about the challenges currently facing the fertility markets. Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on USDA annual outlook fo...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports the ethanol industry says a handful of mid-sized oil refiners are awash in cash and appear to be putting profits over a deal to market E15 year-round. Katie Brown, President of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, talks about a new USDA Food Pyramid pork back to center of the plate and message to membership for the year ahead. USDA Deputy Secretar...

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson describes the events at this week's Government Affairs and Leadership Conference, as well as some of the legislative priorities for the bureau. DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick previews some potentially severe weather on the way this weekend. Retiring US Senator Dick Durbin speaks to Illinois Farm Bureau membership at the Government Affairs and Leader...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports a failure to find an agreement for year round E15 sales ahead of a Sunday deadline. Bill Graff, State Executive Director of the Illinois Farm Service Agency, and Shelly Sweatman, Conservation Division Chief of the Illinois FSA, talk about CRP signup with host Rita Frazer. Illinois Feed and Grain Association President Spencer Janssen covers how the org...

Bill Graff, State Executive Director of the Illinois Farm Service Agency, and Shelly Sweatman. Conservation Division Chief of the Illinois FSA, talk about CRP signup with host Rita Frazer. RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on the continued efforts to renew NAFTA. Chris Yates, Meteorlogist from WMBD, previews a coming warm-up in Illinois weather. Meteorlogist Paul Otto has a look at yo...

Kevin Semlow, Department of Government Affairs and Commodities, discusses funding tangles on Capitol Hill. Dan Engel, Director of Supply and Merchandising of Crop Nutrients at Growmarks, talks about the challenges currently facing fertility markets. RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on a US Department of Agriculture and Department of Defense collaboration agreement to deter Chinese pu...

Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello discusses news from the EPA on Dicamba. Annie Hadden, Illinois Beef Association, discusses changes to the upcoming Illinois Beef Show. Curt Struhbar, Advance Trading, talks about what's happening in soybean markets. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at your forecast.

Longtime free-trader and Ag Senator Chuck Grassley is having “buyer’s remorse” on Congress giving up some of its tariff power to the president back in the 1960s and 70s, RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports. University of Illinois dairy researcher Dr. Phil Cardoso talks about hybrid rye research from last week's dairy summit. Scott Jensen, Financial Planning Consultant on Country Financi...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye reports on the latest details in an upcoming renewal of the US-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement. Henry County Farmer Rock Katschnig details the decisions farmers are making this winter as they prepare for planting season. Mercer County Farmer Chad Bell also outlines the decision making process for 2026. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., United States Secretary of Health an...

Josh Bolen, Young Leader Conference participant from Ogle County, talks about what benefits there are at the annual conference. Western Illinois University Ag Mech Club President Owen Bull describes what it takes to host the club's annual expo. Michelle Hatfield, Midwest Foodbank, explains why the foodbank has a presence at the Midwest Truck and Trailer show. Tyler Pope, Clayton Pope Commodities,...

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, talks about what his staff manages day-to-day for Farm Bureau members. Josh Lindville, Stone X Inputs Analyst, discusses the international outlook for fertilizer costs. Shannon Welch, President of the Illinois Beef Association, talks about getting back into livestock during his college days. Meteo...

RFD Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye says Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley believes a year-round E15 bill from the House will need to be attached to a Senate bill to survive. Henry County farmer Rock Katscgnig gives a Snowbird Report from Fort Meyers on freezing temperatures in Florida and what it means for produce. NCBA Meat Scientist Jessica Lancaster discusses work in consumer research through the...

RFD Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports year-round E15 legislation, sidelined last year, still has broad bipartisan support in Congress. Dr. Matt Montgomery, Agronomy Education Lead at Beck's Hybrids, talks about long-term considerations farmers should have in mind for the upcoming planting season. Rachel Brown, Farm Family Resource Initiative Mental Health Specialist, previews a talk on re...

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow, as discusses important issues for the year's congressional calendar and the importance of face-to-face work. Brian Burke, John Stewart and Associates, puts a Friday market day in the red into perspective. Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at your forecast.

Illinois Farm Bureau president Philip Nelson talks about the importance and impact of the bureau's Everything Local Conference in Springfield. IFB Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow explains what's at stake as Washington works to pass appropriations bills. Sam Taylor, Rabo Bank Farm Input Analyst, discusses his Soy Summit presentation on tariffs, costs and avai...