RFD Today

We celebrate National 4-H Week with Tina Veal from the Illinois 4-H office. Kevin Daugherty details a busy October for Illinois Ag in the Classroom. We talk weather with DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick.

Congressional Quarterly's Ellyn Ferguson talks continuing resolution, House Ag Appropritations Bill, and Farm Bill. We get a Crop Watcher report from Mark Kerber in Livingston County. Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.

We talk the challenges of staffing rural volunteer departments with Alexis Fire Chief Trent McKeown. Rita Frazer has bonus coverage from last month’s Farm Progress Show with Indigo Ag and BASF. We finish the show with Friday’s Pigskin Pickins’ segment.

We hear from USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke discussing the demand for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program. USDA Rural Development State Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan says interest is also coming from Illinois. University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson discusses evidence of Spotted Lant...

Lincoln historian Christian McWhirter from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum discusses a plat and survey that Lincoln signed and filed on Sept. 30 of 1834 for the town of New Boston. Devin Hammer of Bayer Crop Sciences talks Short Stature Corn. Montgomery County Farm Bureau Manager Katie Wilson hosts her manager-to-manager segment with Woodford County Farm Bureau Manager Malena C...

We talk rail safety with Aisha Jackson of the Illinois Commerce Commission, who also promotes Operation Lifesaver. Illinois Specialty Growers Association chairman discusses a strong start to the fall agri-tourism season. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford provides a weather update.

We visit with Ameren Illinois' Kyle Maxwell about the International Lineman's Rodeo coming up next month in Kansas. Dan Meinhart of Jasper County provides a Crop Watcher report. Joe Camp of Commstock Investments previews a new market week.

Author Kate Hannigan is on the show today highlighting her book, "Josephine and the Dishwashing Machine", which tells the story of the dishwasher being invented in Shelbyville, IL. We also hear from Todd Steinacher, Syngenta Product Agronomist. Friday's show finishes with Pigskin Pickins'.

Thursday's show includes our monthly visit with Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert. We talk fall agri-tourism with Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo. Jeff Adkisson with the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois highlights National farm Safety and Health Week. SIU Med School Registered Dieteician Charlyn Fargo discusses ways to stretch...

Wednesday's show features a monthly update with American Farmland Trust. We learn about the Think LINK program from Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Local Government and Politcal Engagement Ryan Whitehouse. Megan Coy with Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education details National Teach Ag Day and other events. We highlight the Hamilton Primary School Festival in Jersey County.

Tuesday's show features an update from Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. COUNTRY Financial Medical Director Jeffrey Hoschek talks harvest safety. Jeffrey Price with CN Railroad Police highlights National Rail Safety Week. DTN ag meteorolologist John Baranick discusses low water levels on the Mississippi River.

Kevin McArtor discusses his "We are the 96" corn maze at Jonamac Orchard in Malta. Doug Uphoff provides a Crop Watcher report from Shelby County. Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

University of Illinois Extension Specialist Josie Rudolphi discusses Suicide Prevention Week and details what help is available for farmers. We highlight the Wesclin FFA Chapter, which is headed to a regional crop scouting competition in Nebraska. We wrap up the show with Pigkin Pickins.

We break down the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which takes effect Jan. 1 in Illinois, with Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of State Legislation Mark Raney. We talk heart health during harvest season with Matt Janus, who serves as an exercise physiologist for OSF Healthcare.

Johnny Reel of Congerville discusses the Driving Agriculture Forward Scholarship. Illinois Farm Bureau's Rodney Knittel offers several safety reminders with harvest season underway. Lana Shovlin with the Illinois Pork Producers Association provides an update.

We hear from the University of Illinois Extension's Jennifer McCaffrey as she explains the EATS program -- Equitable Access Toward Sustainable Systems. It’s funded through the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program, and administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). We also get an update from Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and talk weather with meteorologist Paul Ot...

Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine provides an update on proposed CO2 pipeline projects impacting Illinois. Mid-West Truckers Association's Don Schaefer discusses the challenge of securing adequate truck parking. Crop Watcher Kevin Raber of Wabash County gives a report. Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

We highlight the Broomcorn Festival in Arcola and the Sandwich Fair on Friday's show. We also celebrate the career of esteemed ag broadcaster Max Armstrong. We finish the show with Pigskin Pickins'.

We chat with one the Conservation Farm Family of the Year recipients, Bill Gartner from Lawrence County. Pioneer Agronomist Emily Huber checks in with conditions from the Galesburg and Peoria areas. Ag in the Classroom's Kevin Daughery highlights a Sept. 19 conference in Bloomington. Also, bonus content from last week's Farm Progress Show with Josh Stoller from Precision Planting.

We meet the Imhoffs from Jackson County, one of the AISWCD Farm Families of the Year. Illinois Farm Bureau's Tasha Bunting updates us on Livestock and Dairy Programs and we hear from Illinois Ag Leaders Program Coordinator Mellisa McMillan. Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension Educator talks to us about preparing plants for fall.

We hear from Illinois Congressman Mike Bost, a member of the U.S. House Ag Committee. We catch up with two Illinois FFA officers--Treasurer Ben Bremmer and Reporter Cooper Nelson. We get a crop report from Mercer County Crop Watcher Ken Reinhardt. We talk weather with DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick.

We recognize a Centennial Farm in Montgomery County with the Beeler family. We talk agritourism with Vern Stade in McHenry County. We visit with House Ag Committee member and Western Illinois Congressman Eric Sorenson. We preview a new market week with Eric Ralph from Commstock Investments.

We talk to Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association and Jon Rosenstiel Illinois Corn Marketing Board. We hear from COUNTRY Financial CEO Jim Jacobs from the Farm Progress Show. Conclude with Pigskin Pickins!

Farm Progress Show coverage is highlighted in today's show including a conversation with American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. We also hear from Grant Hamer with Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. KJ Johnson with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association and Julie Hewitt with Illinois N-REC highlight the Illinois Ag Retail Survey. We also check...

We hear from Illinois Soybean Association chair Ron Kindred at the Farm Progress Show. Clint Chaffer, Asgrow brand manager discusses the "Success Starts Here Experience" at the Farm Progress Show. Scott Kaye, VP of Ag Solutions for BASF, talks about his role at this year's Farm Progress Show. We get an update from Illinois Specialty Growers chair Randy Graham.