RFD Today

Highlighing Teach Ag Month with Megan Coy, District 4 Program Advisor for Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education.  Illinois State Fair manager Rebecca Clark discusses 2025 attendance.  Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto talks October weather outlook.

Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Local Government Ryan Tate details the application process for rural development grants.Lee Elliott provides a CropWatcher report from Jasper County. Remembering Illinois Farm Bureau Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse, who passed away last week.  Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.  

Talking National Farm Safety and Health Week with Cory Merriman, GROWMARK Manager, Safety & Environmental Services.Previewing University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine open house with Savannah Limberg.Illinois FFA State Reporter Ethan Bremmer discusses chapter visits getting underway.  

Henry Brockman with Henry's Farm in Congerville details his vegetable farming operation and overcoming a farm accident.  Helen VanBeck with American Farmland Trust highlights Fishers & Farmers Workshops. Andrew Deedrich, a COUNTRY Financial farm certified rep in Champaign and Emily Cler with the Champaign County Farm Bureau discuss the Feed a Farmer campaign during harvest season.   

Brooklyn Westerfield, a University of Illinois College of Veterinary Sciences student, discusses the Illinois Farm Bureau IVET Loan Program.We learn about the 2025 Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders Achievement Award winner, Daniel and Constance Herriott.Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford talks October weather outlook.  

Highlighting National Farm Safety and Health Week with COUNTRY Financial agriculture senior underwriter Zachary Hinthorn and Laura Siegel, Health Communications Officer of the AgriSafe Network. Josh Wagner provides a CropWatcher report from Pope County.  Eric Relph with CommStock Investments previews a new market week.  

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. Megan Schofield with COUNTRY Financial discusses next week's "Tourniquet in Every Tractor" event in Clark County. Former Illinois State FFA officer Levi Maierhofer details his IHSA logos map project.  Pigskin Pickins' with Jim, DeLoss, and content coordinator Collin Schopp filling in for Rita.  

Illinois Farm Bureau in action with Associate Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Rodney Knittel, Associate Director Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo, and Environmental Program Manager Bena Pegg. Plus, a spotted lanternfly update from State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes.  

Illlinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan talks farm safety and "Leaders to Washington" program.University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson discusses extending the vegetable gardening season.Christina Shutt highlights the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's 20th anniversary.John Mays tells us about Bug Free Grains.

Illinois Farm Bureau Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse recaps the latest "Leaders to Washington" visit.  Jenna Spychal with Jonamac Orchard and Illinois Specialty Growers Association talks fall agritourism season.  Weather update from DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick.  

Monthly update from Don Schaefer with the Mid-West Truckers Association. Stephanie Liefer provides a CropWatcher report from Randolph County. Illinois Farm Bureau Actively Engaged Student of the Month for September Louis Barnes from Pleasant Hill High School in Pike County.  Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. Monthly visit with Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.Affiliate chat with WRMJ's Ty Taylor.Pgskin Pickins' with DeLoss, Jim, and content coordinator Collin Schopp filling in for Rita.  

Monthly visit with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello.Pest update from State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes.  Illinois Farm Bureau Nurse Practitioner Scholarship recipient Amber Sowers from Jasper County.  Talking agritourism with Regan Joehl at Greene Fields Farm in Greene County. 

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs with monthly update.Gallatin County Fair and All Star Popcorn Day with Mariah Knight.Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine discusses the Electric Service Broadband Deployment and Access Law. Paul Otto with Freese-Notis Weather talks a warm up in the forecast.  

Illinois Farm Bureau Youth and Collegiate Program Coordinator Taylor Hartke promote Collegiate Farm Bureau kickoffs around the state. Ron Haase provides a Crop Watcher report from Iroquois County.Lance Nacio from Anna Marie Seafood Company in Louisiana on his visit to this year's Farm Progress Show.  Joe Camp from Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

An update on the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Class of 2027. IHSA historian Scott Johnson on 125 moments in 125 years of the IHSA, which was founded in 1900.Pigskin Pickins' with DeLoss, Jim and Rita.  

Illinois Farm Bureau Assistant Director of State Legislation Anna McKinley discusses deer nuisance legislation that has been signed into law in Illinois.  Celebrating WSMI's 75th anniversary. Jack Weddle with the Metamora Association For Historic Preservation discusses the town's connection to the Underground Railroad. 

Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Transportation and Infrastructure discusses Illinois Harvest Permits.Mark Burns highlights Case IH's Steiger 785 Quadtrac at last week's Farm Progress Show.Illinois Valley Community College President Dr. Tracy Morris details a new ag education center at the school.   

Monthly visit with Licensed Professional Counselor Rachel Brown. Marshall Newhouse provides a CropWatcher report from Boone County. DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick talks September weather outlook. Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

Recapping the first academic year of the Illinois Farm Bureau Actively Engaged Student of the Month recognition program.

Deputy USDA Secrtetary Stephen Vaden and U.S. Rep. Mike Bost from the Farm Progress Show earlier this week.IHSA Friday with Sam Knox and Pigskin Pickins' with Kim, DeLoss, & Rita.  

Farm Progress Show conversations with longtime ag broadcaster Max Armstrong, Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan, and Mitch Heisler with Wyffels Hybrids. Also, an update from Ron Estes with Valent.   

Richland Community College's role with Farm Progress Show.  Kent Brown with John Deere Operations Center PRO Service.  Bruce Young from Young Trucking. Kurt Maertens with BASF talks fungicides.  

A visit with new Illinois Extension Director Matthew Vann.  Local government update from Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Local Government Ryan Tate.Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford talks Farm Progress Show weather. 

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow.Josh Sullivan provides a CropWatcher report from Christian County. Illinois Farm Bureau Economic and Policy Analyst Raelynn Parmely discusses trade. Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

A visit to Hunter Haven Farms in Pearl City with U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen and Illinois Farm Bureau Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse.  Coverage of Half Century of Progress Show in Rantoul.Jack Jungmann from University of Illinois FarmHouse Fraternity details an antique tractor raffle with tickets available during next week's Farm Progress Show.  

An ag education update from FCAE District 2 Program Advisor Jenny Wold.  Illinois Soybean Association Director of Agronomy Abigail Peterson discusses ISA's role at next week's Farm Progress Show. Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo recaps the numbers from the Illinois Specialty Growers Association Farm Stand at the Illinois Department of Agriculture Tent during the Illinois State Fair.  

Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan recaps his recent conversations with legislators. An update on the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation's Class of 2027.Learning about OSF HealthCare's new mobile pregnancy and postpartum care unit.

Don Schaefer with Springfield, Illinois based Mid-West Truckers Association discusses trucking industry headlines. Izzy Estrada details her experience as a DeKalb County Farm Bureau Ag Literacy summer intern.Talking weather with DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick.  

Conversations with U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood and Nikki Budzinski.  CropWatcher update from Edgar County with Matt Ehlers.Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. DeKalb County producer and American Soybean Association board member Ryan Frieders highlights an ASA event in Mt. Zion scheduled for the Monday prior to the Farm Progress Show.Ashton Greer from the Historic Fischer Theatre in Danville previews this weekend's "FischerFest: The Cinematic Legacy of Gene Hackman". 

Celebrating the Illinois State Fair with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello and Deputy Director Kristi Jones. Catching up with Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Johnna Fulcher.  Logan Karcher with the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition highlights September Grazing School events.Monthly update from Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine. 

State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes provides the latest information on pest pressures throughout Illinois. Alex Kostenko and Carson Markley from the Ontario Trade and Investment Office in Chicago discuss their work in Illinois. Monthly update from Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs.   

Illinois Farm Bureau Environmental Program Manager Bena Pegg highlights upcoming Nutrient Stewardship Field Days.Learning about the Gibbons family farm in Jersey County, which has been honored as an Illinois sesquicentennial farm.  Talking ag policy with Illinois Congressman and House Ag Committee member Eric Sorensen. Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto looks at the Farm Progress Show weather outlook.  

Catching up with Illinois FFA President Natalie Pratt.Ken Reinhardt with a CropWatcher report from Mercer County. University of Illinois College of ACES Dean German Bollero talks new academic year.Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. Agronomist Kevin Gale with AgriGold provides an update on the corn and soybean crop in his territory.  Tucker Kennedy with Ameren Illinois discusses summer electric bills.  

Dr. Bianca Pruitt of Will County is a recipient of the Illinois Farm Bureau Nurse Practitioner Scholarship.University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson provides information on wasps.  Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza highlights her presence at the Illinois State Fair. Timothy Thompson from Valent discusses progress and condition of the corn crop. 

Dr. David Kopsell, Professor of Horticulture at Illinois State University highlights The Vertical Farm at ISU.The legacy of late Madison County farmer Gene Daiber and his gift to the IAA Foundation.   

Julie Hewitt with the Illinois NREC and Jo Daviess County producer Nathan Koester discusss the importance of Illinois Farm Bureau nutrient stewardship field days.Illinois Farm Bureau Member Engagement Manager Ashley Beutke highlights a Member Exclusive NASCAR Enjoy Illinois 300 Experience taking place Sept. 7, 2025.Jack Ratcliffe talks Boone County Fair.DTN weather risk communicator Teresa Wells explains why Canadian wildfire smoke is showing up in Illinois weather forecasts.  

State Rep. Tony McCombie celebrates Sweetcorn Appreciation Day. AJ Tackett provides a CropWatcher report from Fayette County.  Lynn Gipson from the Amateur Trapshooting Association highlights the Grand American at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow.  John Howell, Illinois Wheat Association President.  Brian Titus highlights "The Throwdown-A Western Illinois Showdown" this Saturday at the Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville.Madison County Fair livestock exhibitor Mallory Hemann. 

Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders Excellence in Agriculture award winner Kate Huffman from Henry County. Talking county fair traditions with Terry Leitschuh with the Madison County Fair. Illinois Ag in the Classroom's Kevin Daugherty highlights two Illinois authors who will have a presence at the Illinois State Fair.  

WIU ag student Logan Kearns discusses his experience at the American Society of Animal Science meeting in Florida earlier this summer. Mark Litteken details his six-acre research plot at his Clinton County Farm. Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo with a final push for speakers for next January's Everything Local Conference in Springfield.  

Illinois State Fair manager Rebecca Clark previews the 2025 Illinois State Fair.An update from KJ Johnson with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association.  Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto details a cooler weather pattern.