Shows / RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois
Your daily rundown of the issues affecting Illinois farmers. RFD Radio hosts Rita Frazer, DeLoss Jahnke and Jim Taylor are your boots on the ground, keeping you up to date on the news stories, market trends and weather outlooks that could affect your farm. This is the daily early morning broadcast repurposed as a podcast.If you have questions or suggestions for content, please contact radio@ilfb.org.
Episodes
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 18, 2026
Dale Hadden, livestock and grain farmer from Morgan County, talks about his connection to the fair system and the Illinois Farm Bureau.Dr. Matt Montgomery…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 17, 2026
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello discusses fairground improvements and the closing of an Illinois Tyson plant from the State…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 14, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson talks about farmers' challenges with input prices and fertilizer from the State Fair.Jennifer Tirey, Executive…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 13, 2026
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello prepares for the opening of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.Clayton Pope, Clayton Pope…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 12, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson held a Farm Talk Tuesday in DeKalb County. Berkeley Boehne served as host farmer at his Shabbona operation. RFD…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 11, 2026
The partisan divide over the Senate farm bill proved too much to overcome, even for Democratic amendments with bipartisan support. RFD Radio Network's…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 10, 2026
Election politics may have made it impossible to advance a senate farm bill last week. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.Thad…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 07, 2026
Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Commodities at Illinois Farm Bureau, discusses a failure to move the Farm Bill through markup as…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 06, 2026
Ag Democrats were withholding their must-have votes ahead of today’s farm bill markup, unwilling to show their cards perhaps until the last minute. RFD Radio…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 05, 2026
The senate is rushing to pass stopgap funding and advance farm legislation this week, before it leaves town for a long summer recess. RFD Radio Network's…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 04, 2026
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman holds fast to Thursday Farm Bill markup schedule, relying on uncertain Democratic support and the yet-to-return McConnell. RFD…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois August 03, 2026
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman late Friday announced a last-minute farm bill markup just before the senate’s long summer recess. RFD Radio Network Washington…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 31, 2026
Kevin Semlow, Illinois Farm Bureau's Executive Director of Government Affairs & Commodities, takes a look at what's happening in D.C. and breaks down the…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 30, 2026
Year-round E15 still faces a steep road as the midterm elections near. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.Effingham County Fair…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 29, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson looks ahead to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.Marlon Eilts, Country Financial Respresentative from…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 28, 2026
Farm production costs were mixed last year, but not in 2026. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.FarmWeek CropWatcher Doug Uphoff…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 27, 2026
US Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer came under fire on tariffs, USMCA and ag trade during a recent Senate Finance hearing. RFD Radio Network Washington…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 24, 2026
Kevin Semlow Executive Director Gov't Affairs & Commodities talks about the latest from D.C. including the House passed reconciliation billMark Litteken…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 23, 2026
Matt Kaye Reports-Republicans will continue to lack a majority on the Senate Ag Committee likely into September, further delyaing action on a farm bill and…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 22, 2026
John Baranick-DTN Ag Meteorologist talks Illinois temperature swings to finish July & AugustJohn Heiser-Faciliting Coordination in Ag Education-advises those…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 21, 2026
-Matt Kaye RFD Washington correspondent-The timeline for Senate Ag to mark up a farm bill before the summer break is fading with still no sign of a mark-up…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 20, 2026
Matt Kaye RFD Washington Correspondent reports on the latest from D.C. on the budget farmwork and follow-on bill for Iran war and US farm aid. Kaye talks with…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 17, 2026
Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at Illinois Farm Bureau, catches up on everything Washington, DC.Shalene Reeves, MidCo…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 16, 2026
The Senate Finance Committee advanced to the full senate for confirmation 5 of the president’s nominees to the US International Trade Commission key in…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 15, 2026
Republicans are moving quickly to fill committee vacancies after the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, though one seat key for year-round E15, remains in…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 14, 2026
Senator Lindsey Graham’s death and Senator Mitch McConnell’s medical absence complicates the legislative path to passing year-round E15 legislation. RFD Radio…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 13, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson reports back from the America Farm Bureau Federation's Council of Presidents meeting in Washington.Mike Zuzolo…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 10, 2026
A long-time Ag senator predicts a new farm bill won’t happen until after the November midterm elections. RFD Radio Network Washington correspondent Matt Kaye…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 09, 2026
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello discusses rules aimed at keeping the threat of New World Screwworm outside of state borders.Dr…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 08, 2026
USDA crop acreage reporting is finally entering the modern era, starting with a new pilot for spring planted crops. RFD Radio Network's Washington…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 07, 2026
Bill Graff, State Executive Director for teh USDA FSA, talks about the process for disaster declaration process and the resources available to those in…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 06, 2026
Logan Karcher, Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, previews the Heart of America Grazing Conference coming up in mid-July.Aaron Maher, Grain Merchandiser at…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 02, 2026
Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs & Commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, discusses news updates on the USMCA and the Farm Bill.Dr…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois July 01, 2026
President Trump has granted another big ask of farmers—suspending countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports. RFD Radio Network's Washington…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 30, 2026
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman says most of the farm bill is already law, enacted in tax legislation last year, with what’s left being policy in his farm bill…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 29, 2026
Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello discusses the state's growing number of tornadoes and the impact on agriculture.Illinois Pork Producers…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 26, 2026
Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Government Affairs and Commodities, covers an eventful week in Washington, including Farm Bill text and a possible path…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 25, 2026
United States President Donald Trump, in a major breakthrough for agriculture, has included year-round E15 and billions in new farm aid in his Iran war…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 24, 2026
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman has completed his farm bill draft, but despite bipartisan efforts, Democrats aren’t sold yet on the bill. RFD Radio Network's…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 23, 2026
Tariffs may not be popular, but foreign trade barriers to farm and other goods have the administration and some on Capitol Hill defending them. RFD Radio…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 22, 2026
It’s an issue that keeps coming up including at a recent Senate Ag hearing—the disconnect between tariffs to open markets and continued ad hoc farm assistance…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 19, 2026
Derek Martin, farmer, talks about crop damage in Logan County after violent storms this week.Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Government Affairs and…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 18, 2026
John Howell, Chairman of the Wheat Development Group, provides a harvest update and yield report.Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson provides a…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 17, 2026
The wheat harvest is moving along in Southern Illinois, though Kyle Braase, Madison County, says rain has made it a challenge.Chris Reynolds, Midwest Regional…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 16, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau President Phillip Nelson covers farm, state and federal issues as he reviews a busy spring session in Springfield.Jasper County FarmWeek…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 15, 2026
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins admits the farm economy is in rough shape but pushed back at last week’s Senate Ag hearing on the extent of farm bankruptcies…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 12, 2026
Kevin Semlow, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, talks about what comes next after Illinois' general…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 11, 2026
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman claims his work on a bipartisan farm bill is about to bear fruit. RFD Radio Network's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 10, 2026
The growing number of New World Screwworm cases in Texas is raising concerns in Congress as Canada temporarily restricts livestock from the state. RFD Radio…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 09, 2026
House Republican Rick Crawford sought support from USDA Secretary Rollins for a push to speed up ARC and PLC payments, sometimes delayed by more than a year…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 08, 2026
Bill Graff State, Executive Director of the Illinois FSA & Joan Hammann, Chief Program Specialist, talk acreage reporting and base acre update opportunities.JR…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 05, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow continues to analyze the recently finished spring legislative…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 04, 2026
USTR proposed a 25-percent tariff on a range of Brazilian imports, after an investigation found Brazil had discriminated against US ethanol and other goods and…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 03, 2026
Colin Woodall, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cattleman's Beef Association, discuss the needed response to New World Screwworm and its proximity to…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 02, 2026
Frank Doll, President of Prairie Farms Dairy, discusses crop conditions and planting.FarmWeek CropWatcher Larry Hummel has a look at the fields from Lee…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois June 01, 2026
Chris Davis, Director of State Legislation at the Illinois Farm Bureau, reviews the end of the legislative session, including a failure to finalize the Family…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois May 29, 2026
Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow following the final days of the spring legislative session in…
- RFD Illinois
RFD Illinois May 28, 2026
US Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer addressed a wide range of trade issues from tariffs to USMCA at a recent think tank forum. RFD Radio Network's Washington…