Taking Stalk with Illinois Farm Bureau

From the Duncan Farm in Ogle County, British Consul General Richard Hyde talks about the importance of trade with the United States. “The message we’re giving to the administration over and over again is ‘We’re your friends. We want to trade with you. Completely get why you’re doing what you’re doing. But let’s talk about how do we make it as easy as possible to do business with the United States....

How do you start the farm transition conversation? What’s standing in your way? “The reason people are so hesitant is because they’re afraid,” says Elaine Froese, an award-winning author and farm family transition coach. “What are they afraid of? They’re afraid of conflict because people might want different things.” Don’t miss this important episode as RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer brings together Froe...

Most farmers aren’t good at talking about their mental health or asking for help. But a farmer’s well-being – and that of the entire farm family – depends on it. “We’re almost inherently supposed to be stoics as farmers, and never let on, or never let it show,” said Illinois Farm Bureau Vice President Evan Hultine. “But the more we talk about this ... the more accepting we, as individuals are beco...

They’re stuffed in doors and mailboxes throughout Illinois’ countryside – offers to lease farmland to install wind turbines and solar panels. What should farmers do with them? In this important episode, Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan asks IFB’s staff experts about what members can do to protect their families, farms and legacies. Bill Bodine, IFB director of business and regulatory af...

Illinois State Trooper Rodger Goines has responded to numerous heartbreaking crashes involving youth and ATVs and UTVs -- and he’s pleading to Illinois residents, parents and farm families to take steps to prevent them. Why are ATV crashes on the rise? What can be done? Trooper Goines and RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer tackle this important issue affecting rural communities throughout the country.   Univ...

Jenny Ring, Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau, and Illinois Farm Bureau Vice President Evan Hultine share their Farm Bureau stories, memories and thoughts on the intangible benefits of an IFB membership. “You just build this network of people that you can connect with on a deeper level because you’re going through the same things,” Ring said. “It’s also the continued leadership opportunities and personal de...

RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer sits down with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II and Dr. Staci Slager, assistant state veterinarian, for an important and timely update on the impact of avian influenza in Illinois. Costello also announces a 30-day suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets.

In this heartwarming episode, Rita Frazer takes listeners to the Hultine family farm in Bureau County to talk to IFB Vice President Evan Hultine and his parents, Lynn and Kathy, about farm life, community service and persevering through tough times with humor.

Ryan Whitehouse, IFB director of national legislation, joins IFB President Brian Duncan to discuss President Donald Trump’s first days in office, expectations of the new Congress and how Illinois Farm Bureau plans to fight for farmers in Washington, D.C.  

Mark Gebhards, IFB chief strategy officer, joins IFB President Brian Duncan to reflect on the issues and policies he navigated during his decades-long Farm Bureau career.

Agrivoltaics and apiculture are topics among the nearly two dozen policy proposals on tap for final debate at IFB's Annual Meeting. IFB Vice President Evan Hultine recaps 2024 action from the IFB Resolutions Committee and explains IFB's policy development process with Allie Speer, IFB assistant director of policy development & advocacy. 

From developing policy to managing relationships, county Farm Bureau presidents hold tremendous power. AFBF President Zippy Duvall joins IFB President Brian Duncan to discuss the role of CFB presidents and Farm Bureau's grassroots policy development process in Episode 8, recorded at IFB's 2024 Presidents Conference.  

What's next with the Family Farm Preservation Act and IFB's other state legislative priorites? Kevin Semlow, IFB executive director of governmental affairs and commodities, joins IFB President Brian Duncan to preview the 2024 fall state legislative session. 

What drives Illinois and Ohio farmers to implement conservation practices? IFB Vice President Evan Hultine makes his pod debut to talk with Jordan Hoewischer, Ohio Farm Bureau director of water quality and research, about the H2Ohio program and other incentives for farm-level nutrient management strategies.

From drought to derechos, Illinois farmers make crop decisions around extreme weather conditions. But is this the new normal? Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions, joins IFB President Brian Duncan in Episode 5 to examine the weather outlook for the 2024 growing season. 

Airplanes fueled by corn and soybeans? Illinois agriculture has a role in the evolving sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) marketplace, yet policy hurdles and production challenges remain. In Episode 4, Meg Whitty, LanzaJet vice president of corporate relations, joins IFB President Brian Duncan to explore what's at stake in SAF for Illinois farmers and the ethanol and aviation industries. 

SAF. GREET. ETJ. HEFA. Many acronyms underpin sustainable aviation fuel, an emerging biofuel technology that could result in up to $2 billion a year for corn farmers. David Miller, chief economist with Decision Innovation Solutoins, joins IFB President Brian Duncan in Episode 3 to discuss SAF's economic opportunity for Illinois agriculture. 

Illinois ranks third nationwide for ag exports, despite facing non-tariff barriers, limited market access and weak trade policy. Episode 2 explores the current state of U.S. ag trade with Mark Wilson, secretary-treasurer of the U.S. Grains Council, and Erin Borror, vice president of economic analysis for the U.S. Meat Export Federation. 

In addition to livestock production, California's Proposition 12 carries the potential to regulate — and disrupt — all sectors of agriculture. Chad Leman, immediate past president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, joins IFB President Brian Duncan, a hog farmer, to disucss why Prop 12 should be repealed.