RFD Today

KJ Johnson with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association recaps 2024 and looks ahead to 2025.   University of Illinois Extension Specialist Josie Rudolphi discusses mental health issues involving rural youths. Highlighting a couple of our favorite conversations from 2024, farm broadcaster Max Armstrong and the farmers who plant corn at the Field of Dreams site.   

Illinois Farm Bureau's Mark Gebhards reflects on his career with the organization.   Illinois Farm Bureau Economic & Policy Analyst Raelynn Parmely provides an update with the Corporate Transparency Act and the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting requirement. Highlighting one of our favorite 2024 interviews, Malachi Cliff of the Crete-Monee FFA Chapter.    

Holiday cheer, recipes, and traditions with RFD Radio's Rita Frazer and Jolene Neuhauser and Illinois Farm Bureau's DeAnne Bloomberg and Emily Hall. Plus, that soybean plastics plant reference in "It's a Wonderful Life."

Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan discusses--USMCA victory for corn to Mexico, continuing resolution approval, and need for permanent Farm Bill. Riley Robb from earlier this year staffing the Lake Land College booth at the National FFA Convention.    Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford recaps 2024 and looks at Christmas and New Year's Forecast.  

USDA Rural Development State Director Pam Monetti discusses several projects around the state.  We check in with Illinois FFA President Trenton Payne.  Illinois Manufacturers' Association's Mark Denzler speaks to the Illinois Corn Growers Association.  Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

Illinois Farm Bureau's Kevin Semlow and Ryan Whitehouse discuss all the moving parts as it relates to the potential government shutdown and continuing resolution debate in Washington.   Jeff Adkisson of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois provides an update and previews their 132nd annual convention and trade show.  

Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo previews the Everything Local Conference.  Ameren Illinois' Stephanie Robinson discusses the Google Nest smart thermostat program. Illinois Farm Bureau Consumer Engagement Manager Gracie Pierson recaps 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. Prairie Farms Dairy's Darin Copeland talks help with holiday meals and recipes. 

We highlight an Ag in the Classroom reindeer feed store project in Bureau County with Bureau County Farm Bureau Manager Jill Fruh.  Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Local Government Ryan Tate recaps 2024. We discuss the Illinois Farm Bureau Roots Lager project with DESTIHL Brewery Founder and CEO Matt Potts.  We get a monthly update from State Treasurer Michael Frerichs.  

Illinois FFA Center Assistant Executive Director John Edgar highlights various FFA conferences this school year in Illinois.  Jon Rosenstiel, Illinois corn farmer, discusses his role as Vice Chair of National Corn Growers Association Biofuels Action Committee. Nancy Kreith, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator details her Gardening Wish List this holiday season.   DTN Ag Meteorol...

Mid-West Truckers Association’s Don Schaefer recaps 2024 and looks to 2025 as a change in administration takes place next month. Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan discusses IFB’s collaboration with DESTIHL in Normal to launch Roots Lager.  We celebrate the Illinois Farm Bureau Actively Engaged Student of the Month for December, Ella Anderson from Annawan High School in Henry County. Joe...

Illinois Corn Growers Association Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl recaps 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. We highlight the Outdoor Business/Business Owner of the Year from the Illinois Conservation Foundation, Park Bait and Stacey Greene from Chicago.  We discuss Will County Farm Bureau's participation in Wreaths Across America with manager Mark Schneidewind.

We discuss scam awareness and prevention with Brian Bretsch from Ameren Illinois.  We visit with Illinois FFA State Reporter Sidney Stiers.  Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Rodney Knittel provides an update.  

We visit with the new chair of the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee, Stephen Riskedal from LaSalle County.   We chat with Farm Rescue volunteer Erv Geisler, who was staffing the booth at the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. We get an update on the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Class of 2025 from IALF Program Director Mellisa McMillan. State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes...

Illinois Wheat Association's Dean Campbell discusses a petition drive to place a wheat checkoff question before wheat producers.   We highlight Illinois Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Lisa Corp from Stephenson County.   We visit with retiring Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Director Keith Mussman from Kankakee County.   Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto talks about the chances fo...

We hear from Patoka, Illinois native and Nashville recording artist Drew Baldridge, who performed at the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.   We visit with Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Discussion Meet winner Michaela Greathouse from Edwards County. Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

Our latest "Seven with Kevin" segment featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow.   IFB Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine provides an update on two projects.   We talk 4H Skillathon and Quiz Bowl with coach Eric Fugate. The teams had great success at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville...

In September, COUNTRY Financial, an affiliate of Illinois Farm Bureau, announced that effective January 1, 2025, it will no longer require its Illinois-based insurance clients purchasing non-farm policies to hold IFB memberships. In response, the American Farm Bureau Federation announced that it would expel IFB from the federation, effective December 20, 2024. IFB is fighting to stay a member of A...

Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan and Lyndsey Ramsey, IFB Director of Organizational Strategy discuss organizational member strategy. We visit with Mary Kay Thatcher, Federal Government Relations for Syngenta, about what's on tap with the change in administration.   We highlight Bill Deutch of DeKalb County, who is the Illinois Milk Producers Association Dairy Industry Service Award winn...

Jennifer McDade, External Affairs with COUNTRY Financial discusses COUNTRY's collaboration with Heartland Community College for the new COUNTRY Financial Trail at Heartland and restoration of the prairie on the east side of the campus.  Annie Schoetmer provides an Illinois Beef Association update.  DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick details weekend warm up and December outlook.  

Megan Dwyer, IL Corn’s Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship discusses her appointment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator talks about Christmas tree selection. Illinois Department of Transportation’s Paul Wappel highlights the winter driving season. Comm...

Illinois Ag in the Classroom's Kevin Daugherty discusses agriculture themed books for Christmas gift ideas.  We get an update from Julie Hewitt with the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council.   Final edition of Pigskin Pickins' for the 2024 season. 

We honor the legacy of former Peoria County Farm Bureau Manager Patrick Kirchhofer, who passed away earlier this month.  The IHSA's Craig Anderson discusses a potential state series in trap shooting.   We chat with Dustin Teig from Brevant Seeds, a conversation from the 2024 Farm Progress Show. 

Coverage of the Illinois Corn Growers Association annual meeting as we visit with outgoing president Dave Rylander and incoming president Garrett Hawkins.   Rachel Brown, Licensed Professional Counselor with Pepper, Brown & Associates discusses managing holiday stress and offers a December challenge to farm families across the state. Illinois Farm Bureau Chief Strategy Officer Mark Gebhards an...

We get a recap of the fall veto session and a look ahead to the lame duck session with Illinois Farm Bureau's Director of State Legislation, Chris Davis.  We then hear from Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello and State Treasurer Michael Frerichs.  Wrap up the show with weather from State Climatologist Trent Ford.

Mark Gebhards, Illinois Farm Bureau Chief Strategy Officer & Evan Hultine, IFB Vice President give a November OMS update in this episode of The Future of the Farm Bureau. Illinois Farm Bureau Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse recaps his most recent trip to Washington.  Jenna Spychal with Jonamac Orchard and Illinois Specialty Growers Association discusses the fall agritourism se...