RFD Today

Illinois Farm Bureau

About

Discussing agricultural policy issues, commodity market trends and more, RFD Today is your deep dive into the most relevant news stories of the day. In this show, hosts Rita Frazer and Jim Taylor interview industry decision-makers throughout the state, providing reaction to and analysis of the challenges and opportunities affecting your farm. This is the daily radio broadcast repurposed as a podcast.
If you have questions or content suggestions, please contact Jolene Neuhauser RFD Radio Content and Promotion Coordinator at jneuhauser@ilfb.org.

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1145 episodes

RFD Today February 23, 2024

Markets with Mark Hobrock, The Andersons. More from the NFMS we hear from Fendt and wrap up with weather from Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien.

52m
Feb 23
RFD Today February 23, 2024

Friday's show features our regular "Seven with Kevin" segment with Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. We highlight next week's Ag Climate Tools Workshop with University of Illinois climate specialist Duane Friend. Acting USDA Rural Development State Director Molly Hammond details a number of programs.

53m
Feb 23
RFD Today February 22, 2024

Thursday's show features a chat with Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo. Prairie Farms Dairy's Darin Copeland highlights the rollout of single serving iced coffees. Cole Bruggemann of Breese Central FFA and Section 22 Vice President discusses public speaking.

53m
Feb 22
RFD Today February 21, 2024

Wednesday’s show features coverage from the Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Conference as we chat with Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan and Illinois Farm Bureau Board Member Jeff Kirwan. We talk with GROWMARK’s Senior VP Rodd Wells about National FFA Week. We meet children’s author Curt Mottaz, who was at last weekend’s WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo.

53m
Feb 21
RFD Today February 20, 2024

We celebrate FFA Week hearing from Caleb Seboldt with the Valmeyer FFA Chapter and Isabella Bunting with the Dwight FFA chapter. Wrap up the show with weather from DTN's John Baranick.

53m
Feb 20
RFD Today February 19, 2024

Coverage from last weekend's WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo as we chat with Ag Mech Club President James Bierman about the show and Curt Myers of Base Camp Country Real Estate about the recreational and hunting ground market. We celebrate National FFA Week with Mindy Bunselmeyer of the Illinois FFA Center. Joe Camp of Commstock Investments previews a shortened market week.

53m
Feb 19
RFD Today February 16, 2024

We get an early start on celebrating National FFA Week with Mark Jones from the Peotone FFA Chapter. We have coverage of the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council Investment Insight Live Conference. We get an update from the Illinois High School Association on adding girls flag football as a state tournament series. We meet Clinton-Marion County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Conant.

53m
Feb 16
RFD Today February 15, 2024

Thursday’s show features our regular monthly visit with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. We also hear from Illinois Farm Bureau staffers--Vanessa Wright, Young Leader Program Coordinator; Taylor Hartke, Youth & Collegiate Program Coordinator; and Lori Jackson, Youth & Collegiate Program Coordinator.

53m
Feb 15
RFD Today February 14, 2024

Monica McConkey, LPC, is a Rural Behavioral Health Counselor & Consultant. She discusses the 5 Love Languages. Henry County farmer Dennis Verbeck promotes Heart Health Month as he recovers from a late November heart attack.

53m
Feb 14
RFD Today February 13, 2024

"Seven with Kevin" leads off Tuesday's show as we chat with Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. We also hear from Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Illinois Farm Bureau Director of of Envornmental Policy Sanjay Sofat provides reaction to last week's federal judge's ruling on dicamba registrations. Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto talks February weather.

53m
Feb 13
RFD Today February 12, 2024

University of Illinois Extension Specialist Josie Rudolphi promotes an Illinois Agrability Webinar series. We hear from Dr. Jeffrey Hoscheck, Life Insurance Medical Director for COUNTRY Financial We highlight the WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo. Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

53m
Feb 12
RFD Today February 9, 2024

Illinois Farm Bureau Consumer Engagement Manager Gracie Pierson highlights the Super Bowl Sunday "We are the 96" TV spot. Jonathan Coppess, Director, Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois provides a Farm Bill update that’s not too promising. We highlight the upcoming Illinois Beef Expo.

53m
Feb 09
RFD Today February 8, 2024

Thursday's show features an update from State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes. Coverage from this week's Illinois Dairy Summit includes a chat with Dr. Phil Cardoso from the University of Illinois.

53m
Feb 08
RFD Today February 7, 2024

We talk with the Lynn Gibson from the Amateur Trapshooting Association about the Grand American being extended through 2036 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta. Mellisa McMillan provides an update on the 2025 class of the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation. Jesse Faber, an ag teacher and FFA advisor at Pontiac High School, talks new initiatives to get more people interested in the meat business.

53m
Feb 07
RFD Today February 6, 2024

Tuesday's show features our "Seven with Kevin" segment with Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow. We also have bonus content from last week's Cattle Con and the Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick talks February weather,

53m
Feb 06
RFD Today February 5, 2024

Coverage of last weekend's Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show in Peoria as we chat with Don Schaefer from the Mid-West Truckers Association and Illinois State Police Safety Education Public Information Officer Haylie Polistina. An example of bridging the rural/urban-suburban divide with a basketball game featuring Scales Mound High School--enrollment 80 and Glenbard West High School--enrollment 2,322 Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.

53m
Feb 05
RFD Today February 2, 2024

We get an update from Illinois Farm Bureau's Bill Bodine on the Broadband Map Challenge. Jim Taylor then visits with State FFA Treasurer Ben Bremmer as his year of service winds down. Rita Frazer wraps it up reporting from the Cattle Convention with a conversation w/Dan Halstrom, USMEF CEO.

53m
Feb 02
RFD Today February 1, 2024

State Senator David Koehler and State Rep. Sharon Chung join the show to discuss the Family Farm Preservation Act legislation. We learn about a $12-million farmland gift at Monmouth College. U-of-I Extension Educator Ken Johnson talks tree pruning.

53m
Feb 01
RFD Today January 31, 2024

RFD Radio's Rita Frazer provides coverage from the 2024 Illinois Pork Expo in Springfield. We highlight this weekends Illinois Reads Book Festival with Illinois Ag in the Classroom's Kevin Daugherty and Sherry Sejnost from the Illinois Reads program. 16 Illinois authors will be featured.

53m
Jan 31
RFD Today January 30, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 30
RFD Today January 29,2024

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 Investments previews a new market week.

23m
Jan 29
RFD Today January 26, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 26
RFD Today January 25, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 25
RFD Today January 24, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 24
RFD Today January 23, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 23
RFD Today January 22, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 22
RFD Today January 19, 2024

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 manager Emily Rogier.

53m
Jan 19
RFD Today January 18, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 18
RFD Today January 17, 2024

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 Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) and the Saving Tomorrow’s Ag Resources (STAR) programs.

53m
Jan 17
RFD Today January 16, 2024

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.

53m
Jan 16