Illinois Farm Bureau

RFD Illinois

News EN ↓ 1000 episodes

Your daily rundown of the issues affecting Illinois farmers. RFD Radio hosts Rita Frazer, DeLoss Jahnke and Jim Taylor are your boots on the ground, keeping you up to date on the news stories, market trends and weather outlooks that could affect your farm. This is the daily early morning broadcast repurposed as a podcast. If you have questions or suggestions for content, please contact radio@ilfb.org.

Author

Illinois Farm Bureau

Category

News

Podcast website

www.spreaker.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

RFD Illinois July 10, 2026 10.07.2026

A long-time Ag senator predicts a new farm bill won’t happen until after the November midterm elections. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Shelby County farmer Curt Rinker talks about grazing lessons and his farm tour next week. Caleb Miller, Associate Product Manager of Ammonia and Ammonia Sulfate Specialty Products, talks about the way the year has gone for ammonia an...

RFD Illinois July 09, 2026 09.07.2026

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello discusses rules aimed at keeping the threat of New World Screwworm outside of state borders. Dr. Gretchen Kuck, National Corn Growers Association economist, explains the results of a study examining the contribution of corn growers to the US economy. Bella Evans, last year's Morgan County Fair Queen, discusses the duties of the role. Frees...

RFD Illinois July 08, 2026 08.07.2026

USDA crop acreage reporting is finally entering the modern era, starting with a new pilot for spring planted crops. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Stephanie Porter discusses a cancer diagnosis & Dr. Singh, City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago, has advice for farmers for screening and monitoring skin in clips from the Taking Stalk podcast. Michael Langemeier, Purd...

RFD Illinois July 07, 2026 07.07.2026

Bill Graff, State Executive Director for teh  USDA FSA, talks about the process for disaster declaration process and the resources available to those in impacted counties. Jim McCormick, AgMarket. Net, joins the program to discuss an up start for soybeans and grain markets, possibly due to a combination of "many strings coming together." Freese Notis Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the early...

RFD Illinois July 06, 2026 06.07.2026

Logan Karcher, Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, previews the Heart of America Grazing Conference coming up in mid-July. Aaron Maher, Grain Merchandiser at River Valley CoOp, talks about his role on the Peoria County Farm Bureau board and takes a look at the markets. Freese Notis Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look at the early morning forecast.

RFD Illinois July 03, 2026 03.07.2026
RFD Illinois July 02, 2026 02.07.2026

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs & Commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, discusses news updates on the USMCA and the Farm Bill. Dr. Connor Sible, it's the third Breaking Down Biologicals with the Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Champaign. Jacob Kleinberg, Roach Ag, discusses the impact of a consistent back and forth on trade for the markets a...

RFD Illinois July 01, 2026 01.07.2026

President Trump has granted another big ask of farmers—suspending countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Art Bunting, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, discusses the importance of USMCA. Illinois Director of Ag Jerry Costello-Ribbon Cutting for largest soybean crush facility in the country last week in Gilman, Illinois. J...

RFD Illinois June 30, 2026 30.06.2026

Senate Ag Chair John Boozman says most of the farm bill is already law, enacted in tax legislation last year, with what’s left being policy in his farm bill draft. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Ron Moore, Warren County FarmWeek Crop Watcher, joins the program to take a look at the fields. Terry Probst, Total Grain Marketing, part of the FS system, joins the program...

RFD Illinois June 29, 2026 29.06.2026

Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello discusses the state's growing number of tornadoes and the impact on agriculture. Illinois Pork Producers President Katie Brown takes a trip to Washington to discuss concerns with legislators on issues like Prop 12. Tom Eickman's Processing Company in Seward talks burgers ahead of the July 4th holiday. Freese Notis Meteorologist Paul Otto has a look a...

RFD Illinois June 26, 2026 26.06.2026

Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Commodities, covers an eventful week in Washington, including Farm Bill text and a possible path forward for year-round E15 from the president's desk. Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, discusses a supplemental aid package from the White House released late Wednesday and an unexpected inclusion of year roun...

RFD Illinois June 25, 2026 25.06.2026

United States President Donald Trump, in a major breakthrough for agriculture, has included year-round E15 and billions in new farm aid in his Iran war supplemental request to Congress. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Drew Mickey of Taylorville follows his political interest to Washington as the Industry Affairs Intern at the American Farm Bureau. Ed Shimon, Nationa...

RFD Illinois June 24, 2026 24.06.2026

Senate Ag Chair John Boozman has completed his farm bill draft, but despite bipartisan efforts, Democrats aren’t sold yet on the bill. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Beef Extension Specialist, talks about the upcoming Illinois Forage Institute. Brian Splitt, cofounder of AgMarket. Net, joins the program to discuss the day's pri...

RFD Illinois June 23, 2026 23.06.2026

Tariffs may not be popular, but foreign trade barriers to farm and other goods have the administration and some on Capitol Hill defending them. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. FarmWeek Cropwatcher Dave Mool, McLean County, provides an update on how the fields are looking with RFD Radio Network's Collin Schopp. Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Beef Extension Spe...

RFD Illinois June 22, 2026 22.06.2026

It’s an issue that keeps coming up including at a recent Senate Ag hearing—the disconnect between tariffs to open markets and continued ad hoc farm assistance. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Matt McClelland, CEO at Prairie Farms, talks with FarmWeek's Rhiannon Branch about Red, White and Boom products, celebrating the 250th Birthday of the United States and the Fol...

RFD Illinois June 19, 2026 19.06.2026

Derek Martin, farmer, talks about crop damage in Logan County after violent storms this week. Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Government Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow highlights legislation out of Springfield this week. Brian Bretsch, Ameren, discusses help from all around the country in the effort to return power to parts of Illinois hammered by the week's storms. Dan Pannier, P...

RFD Illinois June 18, 2026 18.06.2026

John Howell, Chairman of the Wheat Development Group, provides a harvest update and yield report. Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson provides a mid-year update on meeting with commodity groups and organizational change, while previewing Summer Farm Talks. Ryan Held, Mason County Farm Bureau Manager, and Courtney Sandage, organizing committee, preview the county's upcoming Farm Tour. Dr....

RFD Illinois June 17, 2026 17.06.2026

The wheat harvest is moving along in Southern Illinois, though Kyle Braase, Madison County, says rain has made it a challenge. Chris Reynolds, Midwest Regional Director with American Farmland Trust, talks about the organization's Batch and Grow program. John Baranick, DTN Ag Meteorologist, previews severe weather. Matt Montgomery, Agronomy Education lead at Beck's Hybrids, covers agronomy concerns...

RFD Illinois June 16, 2026 16.06.2026

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...

RFD Illinois June 15, 2026 15.06.2026

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...

RFD Illinois June 12, 2026 12.06.2026

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...

RFD Illinois June 11, 2026 11.06.2026

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...

RFD Illinois June 10, 2026 10.06.2026

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...

RFD Illinois June 09, 2026 09.06.2026

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...

RFD Illinois June 08, 2026 08.06.2026

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.

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