RFD Today

Tuesday's show features a regular visit from Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. We meet the new CEO of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Dr. Michael Woods. We talk county fair season with the new president of Illinois Association Agricultural Fairs Dave Hake. Meteorologist Paul Otto of Freese-Notis Weather talks February outlook.

Monday's show features our "Seven with Kevin" segment as Rita Frazer chats with Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. Illinois Department of Agriculture Dakarai Howard highlights the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. We learn about the IHSA's provisional officiating license for 15 and 16 year olds. Joe Camp at Commstock Investmen...

We hear from outgoing USDA Rural Development State Director Betsy Dirksen Londgrigan. We learn about a Rockridge FFA hydroponics project. Rita Frazer chats with Licensed Professional Counselor Rachel Brown for a mental health segment. We get an Illinois Agri-Women update from Lynn Curry.

Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo recaps last week's Everything Local Conference. Jennifer Smith provides an IAA Foundation update. We finish the show with Illinois Corn Marketing Board segment.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan recaps the delegate session at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Salt Lake City. We talk quality cottage cheese and yogurt snacks with Darin Copeland at Prairie Farms Dairy. Jeff Adkisson with the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois previews GFAI’s annual convention next month.

Amy Rademaker with Carle Health promotes "A Mother's Game Plan for Safety & Health" webinar series. Rita Frazer highlights the Livingston County Soil & Water Conservation District Annual Meeting. We talk January weather with Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford.

RFD Radio's DeLoss Jahnke provides coverage from the Commstock Investment Brazil Farmland Tour. We visit with chairman of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association Randy Graham, who's also owner/operator of Curtis Orchard in Champaign. We preview a new market week with Commstock Investments Joe Camp.

Friday's show features the latest "Seven with Kevin" segment with Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. Coverage from the Everything Local Conference in Springfield includes chats with USDA NRCS State Conservationist Eric Gerth and Illinois Farmers Market Association Executive Director Janie Maxwell. We meet Tazewell County Farm Bureau manage...

Rita Frazer provides an update from Mark Gebhards as he talks about the Future of Farm Bureau. Jim Taylor shares a report from the Everything Local confernece and then talks with Lee County Farm Bureau's Adam Henkel about a USDA listening session regarding siting practices for renewable energy.

We chat Illinois Farm Bureau local government priorities for 2024 with IFB Associate Director of Local Government and Political Engagement Ryan Whitehouse. We get an FFA update from the Assistant Executive Director of the Illinois FFA Center John Edgar. Woodford County pork producer Chad Leman talks livestock care during bitter cold weather. American Farmland Trust's Helen VanBeck details the Illi...

Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Program Coordinator Vanessa Wright provides an update. Julie Hewitt from the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council previews the Investment Insights Live Conference. Megan Dieken, Illinois Farm Bureau Farm Development Program Manager promotes the Wheat and Dairy Forum. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick details January weather.

Monday's show features a conversation with Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Govrnmental Affairs Kevin Semlow. Coverage from the Illinois Assocaition of Agricultual Fairs includes interviews with outgoing IAAF president Jill Hardesty and Director at Large Tom Moore. We preview a new market week with Commstock Investments Joe Camp.

Don Schaefer with the Mid-West Truckers Association promotes the Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show. Chris Jacques with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources discusses chronic wasting disease impact the state’s deer population in northern Illinois. Eric VanAsdale with COUNTRY Financial talks frozen pipe prevention. Paige VanDyke reflects on her reign as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.

Ryan Tate, Associate Director of Local Government for Illinois Farm Bureau highlights some of IFB policy as it relates to rural development. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs provides a monthly update. We meet an Ag in the Classroom volunteer named Ms. Aggie from Knox County. IFB Associate Director of Transportation and Infrastructure offers some winter weather transportation reminders.

We get a monthly update from State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes. We hear from Brad Thornton from Mississippi State University, who is project lead for a new CRP Menu web tool. Input is being sought from Illinois farmers in February at meetings in Gilman, Sycamore, and Quincy.

Tuesday's show features a conversation with Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan. Illinois Farm Bureau Consumer Engagement Manager Gracie Pierson provides a 2024 update. Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto breaks down a winter storm impacting Illinois.

We showcase a new segment today, titled "This is IFB" as we highlight Knox County member Tom O’Connor. We talk Ag in the Classroom with Ginny Rusteberg from Monroe County. Joe Camp with Commstock Investments previews a new market week.

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow and IFB Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine provide key 2024 updates. We visit with the Sherrard FFA Horse Evaluation CDE team, which finished third in the nation.

Kevin Daugherty provides an update on Illinois Ag in the Classroom. We get a progress report on the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Class of 2025. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Eucator Ken Johnson discusses uses for the discarded Christmas tree.

Illinois Farm Bureau Environmental Program Manager Raelynn Parmely highlights Pollinator Conservation Grant and Nutrient Stewardship Grant winners. We check in with a few members of the Illinois FFA state officer team at the midway point of their term. We get an update from Jennifer Smith with the IAA Foundation.

University of Illinois Extension's Duane Friend discusses a webinar presentation he will host this week titled "Is Illinois in the new tornado alley?" We visit with Taylorville FFA member Jay Bliler. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick talks about the potential for a signifcant winter weather system impacting Illinois next week.

Illinois Farm Bureau's Chris Davis and Mark Raney break down the Paid Leave For All Workers Act. We visit with Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee Chair Jenna Severs. Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

A best of conversation from the year woth 101 year old farmer Donnie Peterson from Aledo. Rachel Brown discusses mental health issues on the farm. Farm author Michelle Houts from an Ag in the Classroom from Earlier in the Year,

Champaign County 4-H member Delaney Smith highlights her participation in an international exchange program. Richland Community College President Cris Valdez discusses the potential for $20-to-$50 million in federal funding for workforce training programs to serve the Decatur and Macon County areas

Adam Nielsen, Director of National Legislation & Policy Development reflects on his years at the Illinois Farm Bureau. Nielsen retires at the end of the month, after 23 years of service. Diane Fleming talks about her 50 years of service with IFB working with the state Women’s Committee, youth programs and Young Leaders. Illinois Farm Bureau's Raghela Scavuzzo talks local foods. Megan Baker, a...