RFD Today

We talk all things local foods with Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo. Stephanie Liefer from Randolph County provides a CropWatcher report. Teutopolis High School won the IHSA state bass fishing title this year. We hear from their coach, Derrick Gaddis. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick talks current conditions.

More coverage from last week's 95th Illinois FFA Convention, including conversations with IDOA Director Jerry Costello and Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton. We hear from new Illinois FFA Secretary Riley Kessler from Staunton and Discovery Star in Agriscience winner Henry Waters from the Pleasant Plains FFA Chapter. We also highlight the Jasper County Fair with fair board member Connie Elliott and pr...

Coverage of the 95th Illinois FFA Convention in Springfield. Conversations with Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert, new Illinois FFA President Thaddeus Bergschneider, new Illinois FFA VP Eric Wisely, new Illinois FFA Treasurer Ben Bremmer; and Dr. Andrew Baker from Western Illinois University.

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities recaps recent trip to Washington D.C. From the Illinois FFA Convention, we hear from retiring Seneca ag teacher Jeff Maierhofer, the Cambridge FFA Chapter (National Chapter Winner in the area of Building Communities), and FFA talent Garrett Morris from the Quincy FFA.

Paul Rohde with the Waterways Council and Illinois Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Rodney Knittel discuss investment and maintenance in the inland waterway system. University of Illinois Extension’s Mary Liz Wright on making your food dollar stretch and bargains in the meat case. Pork the center of the plate focus. Getting to know Illinois Soybean Association at...

We hear from state FFA proficiency winner in specialty crops Amanda Wieland from Pleasant Plains. Ken Taake from Pulaski provides a Crop Watcher report from Pulaski County. AJ Harris of the Franklin FFA talks about winning the Discovery Star farmer. Freese-Notis Weather's Paul Otto details weekend rain possibility.

Don Schaefer from the Mid-West Truckers Association provides reaction to the state's increase of the motor fuel tax on July 1. We chat with Seth Swanson, a teacher and coach from Elmwood Park High School. He is the winner of the Undeniably Dairy and IHSA Cheese Pull Contest, which recognizes the state's best grilled cheese sandwich. National FFA Eastern Region Vice President Gracie Murphy from Mac...

Pig prices at the farm gate taking a hit this year. Lack of profitability in the pig business is the topic today as RFD’s Rita Frazer sat down with Illinois ag leaders earlier this week for a roundtable interview about the current state of the pork industry. Rita moderated the conversation between Brian Duncan, Ogle County pig farmer and the Vice President of the Illinois Farm Bureau; Phil Borgic,...

State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes provides the latest update on both native and invasive insects impacting Illinois crops. We preview the Perry County Fair with Fair Board President Ilene Ruroede. Illinois Beef Association awards highlighted, including the Jacobs brothers from Whiteside County, named Commercial Producers of the Year.

Illinois Farm Bureau's Director of Local Government Programs Brenda Matherly talks Real Estate Tax Bills, Farmland Assessment and resources available. Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello provides listeners an update and we wrap up getting to know Illinois Soybean Association Director Brad Daugherty.

Congressional Quarterly's Ellyn Ferguson talks ag appropriations process now with debt ceiling issue resolved. We get a CropWatcher report from Ryan Frieders in DeKalb County. Monica Nyman with the St. Louis Dairy Council details a Mobile Dairy Classroom project. John Baranick, DTN ag meteorologist, provides a weather outlook for the rest of the month.

Illinois FSA Director Scott Halpin discusses an urban agriculture meet and greet in Chicago last week. Also, FSA staffer Wendy Mueller provides an update on the Emergency Relief Program Phase 2 and the Pandemic Asistance Revenue Program. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten details his reintroduction of the COVER Act. Joe Camp at Comstock Investments previews a new market week.

Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine talks wind and solar developments and what landowners should consider before agreeing to a project. University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson provides gardening tips during dry weather. We get an update from Grant Hammer with the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Pam M...

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities provides a recap of the recently concluded spring legislativ session in Springfield. IDNR's Cody Gray offers boating safety remenders. We celebrate June Dairy Month with Midwest Dairy's Kendra Anderson. IL Corn's Lindsay Mitchell talks consumer education and the "We are the 96" campaign.

NAFB's Tom Brand discusses Ford's decision to keep AM radio on the dash of all models. Ag-in-the-Classrooms Kevin Daugherty highlights Summer Ag Institutes. We learn about one of the oldest county fairs in Illinois, the Macoupin County Fair, which started in 1852. Macoupin County Fair Board president Kim Carney Rhodes shares the history. We meet Scott Gaffner from Bond County. He is an at-large di...

We promote upcoming nutrient stewardship field days with Illinois Farm Bureau Envirnmental Program Manager Raelynn Parmely. Darin Copeland at Prairie Farms Dairy previews World Milk Day and June Dairy Month. Daniel Herriott provides a Crop Watcher report from Champaign County. Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Dan Hicks talks a continuing dry pattern.

Learn about the bottle of milk tradition in the winner's circle at the Indianapolis 500 from Brooke Williams with American Dairy Association Indiana. We hear that American Pickers in filming in Illinois in July and is looking for collections as producer Jasmina Joseph joins the show. We preview a shortened trading week with Comstock Investments Joe Camp.

Paul Wappel with the Illinois Department of Transportation previews summer travel and summer construction season. Illinois Farm Bureau's Lauren Lurkins and Bureau County farmer Michael Ganschow discuss their appearance on the PBS Newshour special broadcast this week from the University of Illinois campus. Jock Hedblade, Executive Director at Unforgettable Forgottonia / The Macomb Area Convention a...

We chat with 101 year old Mercer County farmer Donnie Peterson. We discuss Illinois Soybean Association activities with Ron Kindred, District 9 Director & ISA Vice Chair & District 5 Director Mark Reed. Pioneer agronomoist Jason McVicker gives us an update along the I-80 corridor from the Quad Cities to Morris.

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Mark Gebhards provides an update on the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly. We usher in the county fair season with Lisa Meisenheimer from the Greene County Fair. Randy Graham previews the June 8th Summer Horticulture Day at Curtis Orchard. The show wraps up talking about the significance of Memorial Day...

University of Illinois Extension Beef Specialist Travis Meteer provides an update on cattle prices. Illinois Farm Bureau Director of State Legislation Kevin Semlow talks state budget with lawmakers returning to Springfield on Wednesday. We get a Crop Watcher update from Brent Clair in Adams County. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford discusses a dry weather pattern.

Illinois FFA’s Mindy Bunselmeyer previews the upcoming state convention in Springfield June 13-15. IFCA’s K.J. Johnson offers reminders about post-application spraying. Comstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

We meet IAA Foundation scholarship recipient Jarvis Williams. We get an update from USDA Rural Development State Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan. Mellisa McMillan and Todd Lowery with Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation discuss the 2025 class. SIU Med School's Charlyn Fargo talks getting the most of your food dollar during May Beef Month.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert discusses a number of topics, including work the board is doing in defining a farmer. Kris Reynolds of American Farmland Trust talks about opportunties for Illinois farmers. We get updates from Illinois Farm Bureau Youth and Collegiate Program Coordinator Lori Jackson and Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Program Coordinator Vanessa Wright. The show wrap...

Illinois Department of Agriculture's Nicole Moore highlights opening day of the Illinois Product Farmers Market on Thursday. Illinois Farm Bureau's Ryan Whitehouse discusses the organization's sponsorship of the Illinois Association of County Officials conference. We meet IAA Foundation scholarship recipient Libby Larkin. We get an update from Illinois Soybean Association Chairman Steve Pitstick.