RFD Today

It's "Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. We celebrate the county fair season visitinfg with Miss Ogle County Fair Queen Blakelynn Swanson. Julie Hewitt with the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council discusses 2025 research funding projects.  DeLoss, Rita, and Jim wrap up the week with Pigskin Pickin...

Regular check in with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello.  We talk metrics and reach with Illinois Farm Families in a visit with Illinois Farm Bureau Consumer Engagement Manager Gracie Pierson. U of I Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson discusses the benefits of cover crops for your garden. 

State Senator Neil Anderson is launching a survey aimed at identifying the scope of crop damage caused by wildlife.  German Bollero, Dean of the College of ACES at the University of Illinois discusses a new academic year. Monthly update from State Treasurer Michael Frerichs.  

Megan Dwyer, IL Corn, Director of Conservation & Nutrient Stewardship & Amelia Cheek, Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Environmental Policy were part of a group who traveled to New Orleans last month, exploring the actual status of the hypoxic zone and impact on local aquaculture/harvest. We learn about a county fair taking place right next to a big high school football game in C...

Join Jim & the rest of the RFD team for today's episode of RFD Today. In addition to a check of the markets and what we might expect this week in Chicago, a report from the field with Farm Week CropWatcher Mary Streitmatter of Marshall County. We also hear from USDA Rural Development State Director Pam Monetti and learn about a new middle school ag program at Hinckley-Big Rock.    

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow provides his "Seven with Kevin" segment.  We discuss net metering with Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine.   Coverage from the Sandwich Fair, including conversations with Livestock Superintendent Ken Tyrell and Illinois Farm Bureau Board Member Mark Tuttle from D...

Midwest Food Bank CEO Eric Hodel discusses the group's mission. Illinois Ag in the Classroom's Kevin Daugherty set for a new school year.   An update from the Illinois Beef Association.

We hear from State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes.   Clinton County farmer Robert Gerstenecker shares his Illinois Farm Bureau "Leaders to Washington" experience. Tasha Bunting, Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Commodity Programs and Food Systems provides an update.  

Collin Watters, Director of Exports & Logistics with IL Corn discusses harvest, prices, and the export picture for corn. Daniel Herriott of Champaign County provides a CropWatcher report.  We visit with Farm Rescue volunteer Matt Blaylock. We talk fall weather with DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick.  

Don Harkey, CEO and founder of People Centric Consulting Group based in Missouri, discusses workforce shortages at the recent Illinois Rural Health Association Education Conference. A conversation with Illinois Farm President Brian Duncan recorded during Ag Day at last month's Illinois State Fair.   An update from Syngenta at last week's Farm Progress Show with Dale Ireland, PhD.  Joe Camp, Commst...

We get another "Seven With Kevin", featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Commodities and Governmental Affairs Kevin Semlow.  Former FFA state officer Levi Maierhofer tells us about his logo map project, as a new high school football season gets underway.  Alexis coaching legend John Elder tells us how the IHSA football playoffs started. This year marks the 50th anniversary.   The sh...

Licensed Professional Counselor Rachel Brown discusses mental health issues approaching harvest.  Also, coverage from this week's Farm Progress Show, featuring conservsations with soybean yield record holder Alex Harrell from Georgia, BASF seed agrononist Colin Rogers, and Zach Martin from Sound Agriculture.  

Jim Taylor reports from the Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA. He talks with long time Ag Broadcaster Max Armstrong and the Rahe Brothers, Farmers of the Field of Dreams site.  DeLoss Jahnke then shares a conversation on the Future of Ag Retail with Nutiren President of Ag Retail, Jeff Tarsi.

Illinois Farm Bureau's Rodney Knittel discusses Illinois Harvest Permits. We learn about the Illinois Beef Quality Showcase from the Illinois Beef Association. We get a CropWatcher report from David Schaal in Fayette County. Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

Plenty of Illinois Farm Bureau updates today: Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow. Chief Strategy Officer and Assistant to the President Mark Gebhards. Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse.   Member Engagement Manager Ashley Beutke. 

Illinois Farm Bureau's Raghela Scavuzzo discusses the traffic and impact of this year's Illinois Department of Agriculture tent and Illinois Specialty Growers farm stand at the Illinois State Fair.  Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Local Government Ryan Tate provides an update.  We visit with BigIron Auctions founder Mark Stock as they prepare for an auction at next week's Farm Progress...

We hear from Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan. Kris Reynolds with American Farmland Trust discusses new grants and dollars for conservation programs in Illinois. Farm Progress Show preview with Matt Jungmann. A chat with Ross Vancil from the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team.  

An update on the ag education front entering the new school year with FCAE District 2 Program Advisor Jenny Wold. We catch up with Keith Poole, President of the Ogle County Farm Bureau. DTN ag meteorologist Keith Poole talks September weather outlook.  

We preview the 2024 Farm Progress Show with Matt Jungmann.  U.S. Rep. Mike Bost talks Farm Bill.  We get a CropWatcher report from Doug Uphoff in Shelby County.  We preview a new market week with Joe Camp at Commstock Investments.

Maggie McCalla and her daughter Molly McCalla discuss the tradition of showing livestock at the Illinois State Fair. We learn about One-Stop-Shops from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Also, updates from Jeff Adkisson from the Grain & Feed Association and KJ Johnson with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association. 

Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski discusses Farm Bill and ag policy issues. We also hear from Lori Jackson, Youth & Taylor Hartke, Illinois Farm Bureau Youth & Collegiate Program Coordinators, and Perry Harlow, Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Program Coordinator. Katie Wilson provides a Manager-to-Manager segment featuring Lindsay Ryan from the Cass Morgan Farm Bureau. 

We highlight a Regenerative Agriculture Exchange between Clinton and Jo Daviess counties.  We visit with Knoxville High School FFA Adviser Mallory Tolley, who's involved with the Knox County Fair.   An update from Hillsboro with Montgomery County Farm Bureau Manager Katie Wilson. 

We discuss August Nutrient Stewardship Field Days with Illinois Farm Bureau Environmental Program Manager Raelynn Parmely. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs highlights the unclaimed property auction at the Illinois State Fair this Saturday. Illinois FSA Director Scott Halpin provides an update.  We talk Illinois wine with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance plus an ag weather...

We hear from Illinois FFA President Trenton Payne.  We chat about the Farm Family Resource Initiative and the 833-FARM-SOS helpline. We get a CropWatcher report from Marshall Newhouse in Boone County. Joe Camp at CommStock Investments previews a new market week.