RFD Today

Congressional Quarterly’s Ellyn Ferguson talks meat labeling, USTR Mexcio corn GMO issue, and Biden Budget. Montgomery County Farm Bureau Manager Katie Wilson celebrates local government week. Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Environmental Policy Lauren Lurkins talks about The Regional Five EPA meeting (2/24) and the Illinois list of issues, as well as the success of the ‘Sustaining’ Documentary-...

Monday’s show features a conversation with WIU junior ag student Anna James from Manito, Illinois. She was staffing the School of Agriculture booth at the WIU Ag Mech Club’s Farm Expo over the weekend. Rita Frazer is on the ground giving us a taste of the Illinois Product Expo this past weekend at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairground. We talk food insecurity with Nancy Renkes of the R...

Rita Frazer visits with Illinois Farm Bureau's Mark Gebhards on legislative & regulatory issues. We then meet Western Illinois University Distinguished Ag Alum David Erickson. Bill Bodine provides details on Rural Broadbank listening session and wrap up with Kent Feed's Territory Sales Manager Tyler Schleich from the Illinois Beef Expo.

Randy Graham, Illinois Specialty Growers. Kevin Daugherty, Illinois Center for Consumer Education talks Ag in the Classroom Programs. Preview of this weekends Ag Mech Expo at Western Illinois University. Devin Bollman, Illinois Beef Association recaps the recent Beef Expo and previews upcoming events.

We meet Illinois Farm Bureay members serving on AFBF Advisory Teams: Adam Brown, Macon County, Cheryl Walsh, Peoria County and Austin Flamm, Union County. Later Blake Noland, from Blue Mound, IL talks about his farm and involvement in the We are the 96 campaign.

Rita introduces us to new IDNR Director Natalie Phelps-Finnie. We meet Carey Portell, a Missouri farmer, who will be the keynote speaker at the March 24 Women in Agriculture Conference in the Quad Cities. From the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention, Vice President David Hake. Weather with State Climatologist Trent Ford.

Monday's show features USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) from last Friday’s announcement in Galesburg of $18 million in funds for high-speed broadband access to rural communities in Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren counties. The money is being awarded to McDonough Telephone Cooperative, whose CEO Jay Griswold is also on t...

Ukraine farmer Gordie Siebring reflects on the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We chat National FFA Week with Illinois FFA President Rachel Hood, who was at the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois Annual Meeting this week. Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation’s Mellisa McMillan provides an update on the 2023 class. Fellow Leeson Gord of Sandwich also discusses the program,...

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois' 13th Congressional District discusses her role on the House Ag Committee. Matt Willits of the Mercer County FFA Alumni promotes a live auction next week and highlights the goals of the group. We get an update from Darin Copeland with Prairie Farms Dairy, who promotes the co-op's award winning cottage cheese. Mark Read--District 5 Director for the Illinois Soy...

Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert discusses membership engagement, board strategy and Farm Bill. The Livingston County Soil and Conservation District is featured with conversations with Chair Lee Bunting and Becky Taylor—Resource Conservationist. We learn about Farm Rescue coming to Illinois with Marketing Program Manager Dan Erdman. District 3 FCAE Coordinator Jennifer Waters promote...

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Mark Gebhards recaps the Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference. We celebrate National FFA Week with Illinois State FFA Treasurer Kate Colgan, who attended this week’s Grain and Feed Association of Illinois Annual Meeting in Peoria. Mercer County farmer Chad Bell discusses his role in the “We are the 96” campaign....

We celebrate National FFA Week with the Prairie Central FFA officer team—including Carla Kilgus, Grace Lemenager, Hannah Miller and Ellie Ellis. They’re also members of the chapter’s national champion Dairy Cattle Evaluation Team and are raising funds for a trip to Scotland. Jennifer McCaffrey, Assistant Dean, Family and Consumer Science for University of Illinois Extension discusses listening ses...

IL Corn director Sarah Hastings reacts to this week’s Mexico corn decree. DeLoss Jahnke visits with Joe Miller at the Case IH booth at the National Farm Machinery Show. Robbie McBeath from the Illinois Broadband Lab discusses broadband funding opportunities. He was a speaker at the Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs with his m...

Illinois Farm Bureau Association Director of Food Systems Development Reghela Scavuzzo recaps last month’s Everything Local conference and highlights a couple of upcoming programs. DeLoss Jahnke from the National Farm Machinery Show highlighting the Kubota booth. New Berlin farmer Marty Marr discusses his role in the “We are the 96” campaign. We meet Lawrence County Farm Bureau Manager Kacie Haag...

Wall to wall coverage from the Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference. IFB prez Rich Guebert discusses the importance of the event for the membership. NCGA’s Neil Caskey provides reaction to the Mexico GMO corn decree Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Environmental Policy Lauren Lurkins provides numerous updates. U.S. EPA’s Rod Snyder served as GALC keynote speaker. He disc...

Valentine’s Day highlight on Keith & Heather Poppy. They share the story of relationship that got their start in Farm Bureau. Rodney Knittel, IFB Assistant Director of Transportation and Infrastructure talks about Rules of the Road programs and Driving Agriculture Forward scholarship now with additional sponsorships by Illinois Soybean Association. Weather with Dan Hix, Freese Notis weather.

Mid-West Truckers Association’s Don Schaefer recaps the Mid-West Truck and Trailer Show. He also discusses a couple of federal and state issues and provides an update on the labor shortage involving the industry. Findlay, Illinois farmer Troy Uphoff details his participation in the National Corn Growers Association’s yield contest. Comstock Investments’ Joe Camp previews a new market week.

Thursday's show includes regular updates from Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Mark Gebhards and IDOA Director Jerry Costello. We discuss the impacts of a mild winter on the insect population with State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes. We also talk truck driving labor issues with Jesse Merrell of NHH in Tipton, Indiana. Interview recorded at la...

RJ Podeschi, Dean of the Tabor School of Business at Millikin University discusses the new Agribusiness Major at the school. USDA food safety specialist Archie Magoulas talks Super Bowl Sunday food. New President of Illinois Pork Producers Association is Chad Leman. He spoke with RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer at this week’s Illinois Pork Expo.

Congressional Quarterly’s Ellyn Ferguson joins the show to talk ag policy in Washington. She discusses proposed legislation to prohibit foreign adversaries from owning U.S. farmland. Illinois Farm Bureau Environmental Program Manager Raelynn Parmely previews Mississippi North Central watershed planning meetings. DTN AG meteorologist John Baranick provides latest weather update.

Luke Lish from McNay Truck Line in Quincy discusses labor market in trucking industry from Mid-West Truck and Trailer Show in Peoria. Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood also from the truck and trailer show talks trucking issues. Retiring Illinois Farm Bureau Senior Economist Mike Doherty provides reaction to the latest jobs report. Comstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

Bill Bodine, Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs provides an update on the latest development with the Heartland Greenway project. Viola farmer Chad Bell will be featured in an Illinois Farm Families Super Bowl TV ad promoting the “We are the 96” campaign. He talks about the experience. Burke Minsley and Katie Hulsey with the US Geological Survey discuss the 2023 U.S....

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Mark Gebhards provides a number of updates including IFB’s “Allies in Agriculture” effort. Rita Frazer checks in with Illinois Beef Association VP Dave Duzan from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in New Orleans. Illinois Ag In the Classroom Education Director Kevin Director previews next week's virt...

Scott Wilson, Manager Customer Risk Management for GROWMARK discusses current energy market conditions. We get an update on the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Class of 2023 with program director Melissa McMillan and fellow Bo Gentry from Downs. Pat Hill, Weed Management and Chemistry Stewardship Manager for Bayer talks crop protection.