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Illinois Department of Agriculture's Scott Schirmer discussses the Spotted Lantern Fly and the potential impact it could have on specialty crop growers and backyard gardeners. Derek Baker and Gordon Hedrick detail an expansion of the AGCO technician training program at Parkland College in Champaign. John Baranick, DTN ag meteorologist talks heavy rain in the forecast this week.
IAA Credit Union's Nick Sosnowski talks current events in banking. GROWMARK's Amy Bradford discusses her role in Tuesday's National Ag Day in Washington. We preview a new market week with Comstock Investments Joe Camp.
Friday's show features a conversation with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. He discusses funding for mental services for farmers. We get an update on the spring legislative session in Springfield with Illinois Farm Bureau Director of State Legislation Kevin Semlow. We meet Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame inductee Nan Buckardt of Libertyville.
Raghela Scavuzzo, Associate Director of Food Systems Development for Illinois Farm Bureau provides several updates including a reminder about the produce safety class. Illinois Farmer Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities discusses the Illinois General Assembly spring legislative session. We hear from Master Farmer David Meiss of Gridley. Kirk Leman of Leman Paint Works in Forrest, Illinois discusses life as a small business owner/operater.
Grant Hammer of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts recaps Soil Health Day. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs talks unclaimed property including Operation Purple Heart. Rita Frazer talks with Craig Brekkas Head of North America UPL. We learn more about the Illinois Centennial Soils Archive Project from the University of Illinois’ Andrew Margenot. Kendall County’s Kaylee Heap discusses her family’s role in the “We are the 96” campaign.
Julie Hewitt with the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council discusses the Illinois Centennial Soil Archive Project. Illinois Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Transportation and Infrastructure talks about questions from the Rules for the Road seminars. GROWMARK Manager of Customer Risk Management Scott Wilson assesses the energy market. Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Dan Hicks looks at March weather trends.
Monday's show features an update from Don Schaefer with the Springfield, IL based Mid-West Truckers Association. He discusses pending road construction season plus a busy spring planting season. We celebrate the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame with inductee Eileen Rice of Des Plaines, called the "Fishing Teacher. We also preview a new market week with Comstock Investments Joe Camp.
We meet IRAP Landowner of the year Dan Dobrinich from Montgomery County. Danelle Burrs, Lee CFB Manager talks Local Government. In our Manager to Manager segment, Katie Wilson talks Local Government involvement with Kankakee CFB Manager Chad Miller.Wrap up with Ashley McDonald, National Pork Board, talking pork sustainability at National Pork Industry Forum.
Greg Claus with the US Department of Commerce talks Broadband. Duane Friend, University of Illinois, provides details on climate webinars. Ken Johnson, University of Illinois, shares information on spring garden preparation. Jeff Kirwan, Illinois Farm Bureau Director, at a Bushels for Hunger donation fighting food insecurity.
Wednesday's show features an update on the farmland market and auction business with Jed Rhoades from Kelso Rhoades Real Estate Auction Group. They were at last weekend's WIU Ag Mech Club's Farm Expo. We celebrate Local Government Week with Ryan Whitehouse, Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Local Government and Politcal Engagement. Tasha Bunting, Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Commodities and Livestock Programs provides an update, including some information on Ag Legislative Day. We highlight Bureau County farmer Jim Rapp's role in the "We are the 96" campaign.
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- and the Illinois Nutrient Stewardship Grant Programs. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick talks weather.
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 River Bend Food Bank. They serve 18 Illinois counties and recently received a $23,000 contribution from a local county farm bureau effort. Comstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.
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 the show. We preview new market week with Comstock Investments Joe Camp.
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, which leaves for an international trip. SIU Med School’s Charlyn Fargo talks whole grain foods.
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 Soybean Association recaps a trade visit to Egypt.
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 promotes National FFA Week.
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. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick talks an active weather system impacting Illinois Wednesday.
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 sessions regarding Local Food Purchasing Assistance programs. Eric Relph with Comstock Investments previews a shortened market week.
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 monthly visit on the RFD Today.
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 in Katie Wilson’s Manager to Manager segment.
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 discussed why it’s important for the agency to be at events like GALC.
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 last weekend’s Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show in Peoria.
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.
