Inland waterways quietly power ag exports, but they’re aging fast. Lindsay Croke talks with Thomas Heinold of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the high stakes of lock and dam maintenance, billion-dollar backlogs, and the crews working nonstop to keep grain moving.

This episode covers:
0:30 – Why locks and dams matter to ag
2:36 – Barge shipping by the numbers
4:00 – Who keeps the system moving
5:08 – Repairs, rust, and river damage
6:11 – The funding gap explained
7:25 – What Congress needs to know
9:15 – Not to Be Corny
10:30 – Final thoughts

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from the heart of Midwest ag.

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#ILCornTV #USArmyCorps #RiverInfrastructure #GrainShipping #FarmEconomy #MidwestAg #LocksAndDams #NotToBeCorny

💰 Liquidity Flows, Rate Cuts & The Future of Housing

Markets are shifting fast as liquidity tightens, the Fed debates rate cuts, and housing demand battles affordability challenges. From consumer spending resilience to labor market soft spots, KP unpacks the contradictions shaping the economy right now.

It’s a landscape of contrasts: strong balance sheets vs. softening jobs, rising CapEx in AI vs. slowing global trade, and mortgage momentum vs. inflation pressure.

📊 With Jackson Hole around the corner, the Fed’s next move could set the tone for bonds, housing, and equities—and KP breaks it all down live from the road.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 - MBA updates: trigger leads, GSE merger, credit scores & guarantees
02:41 – Congrats to John Hedlund: new MBA Vice Chairman (2026)
03:27 – Market outlook: NAHB confidence, housing starts, applications & Fed minutes
04:31 – Jackson Hole preview: Powell, tariffs, and market-moving risks
06:36 – Stocks, bonds & crypto: liquidity shifts and institutional trading flows
09:58 – Treasury yields explained: 2-year vs 20-year vs Fed Funds
10:28 – Hawkish cuts & dot plot scenarios for the September Fed meeting
12:40 – Money supply, tariffs as taxes & liquidity drain explained
14:28 – Housing impact: affordability if rates drop to 6%
14:59 – CFPB updates, regulatory shakeups & state-level enforcement
15:44 - Live from NAMMBA Connect: diversity in lending & leadership highlights
17:14 - Existing home sales, builder confidence & treasury yields update
18:28 - Jackson Hole expectations: Powell’s tone & market reactions
23:03 - Consumer spending slowdown vs. CapEx surge in AI
24:06 - AI boom: CapEx, productivity, and risks of job losses
25:00 - Physical AI & robotics: Tesla, humanoid robots, and the future of work
27:00 - Final thoughts: liquidity, tariffs, markets & preparing for Powell

🎧 Stay smart. Stay ready. Stay informed.
https://linktr.ee/kptalksdollarsandsense

#MortgageNews #FederalReserve #HousingMarket #Refinance #InterestRates #Inflation #Markets #GlobalTrade #AI #KPTalksDollarsAndSense #FinanceUpdate

Growing Ag Leaders with Amanda Martin.

Amanda shares how IALF has been cultivating strong, effective leaders for over 40 years, helping Illinois farmers gain the tools, networks, and confidence they need to advocate for agriculture locally and globally. Discover Amanda’s vision for the future, the importance of partnerships like IL Corn’s, and the surprising insights participants gain during the program—especially the eye-opening perspective on global agriculture’s impact at home.

Episode Highlights:

Follow Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF) to learn more

Website: https://www.agleadership.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILAgLeadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaleemartinphd/

🎧 Like what you hear? Follow IL Corn TV for more stories straight from the field.


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📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: @ILCornTV

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#ILCornTV #AgLeadership #IllinoisAgriculture #FarmLeadership #AgPolicy #GlobalMarkets #ILCorn #AgricultureEducation

Balancing Conservation and Farming: Insights from U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
In this episode of IL Corn TV, Megan Dwyer, Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship, sits down with Kraig McPeek from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to explore the vital connections between agriculture, conservation, and regulations.

Episode Highlights:
0:20 – Kraig McPeek: Farm & Conservation
1:20 – Farmers: Original Conservationists
2:08 – Army Corps River Partnerships
3:12 – Mississippi: Eco & Economic Balance
4:32 – ESA Changes & IL Farmers
6:00 – Bumblebee: Farmer Action
8:30 – Not To Be Corny

Discover more with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to learn more

Website:https://www.fws.gov/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USFWS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usfws
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/usfws


🎧 Like what you hear? Follow IL Corn TV for more stories straight from the field.


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📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: @ILCornTV

📩 For partnerships or sponsorships: [email protected]


#ILCornTV #ConservationFarming #SustainableAg #EndangeredSpecies  #AgEducation #USFishandWildlife #MidwestFarming #IllinoisFarmers #HealthySoilsHealthyFarms #AgCommunication

Conservation that works isn’t just luck—it’s strategy, tech, and experience. 

Illinois farmer Dirk Rice joins host Leyton Brown to talk no-till, cover crops, and the tech that’s helping him make conservation pay off—backed by PCM data and years of real-world trial and insight.

Here’s what’s coming up:
1:02 – How PCM data helps
1:52 – Lessons from challenges
2:30 – Cover crop insights
3:34 – Precision ag wins
4:32 – New tech: drones & RTK
5:55 – Encouragement for farmers exploring conservation
6:21 – Adapting to soil types
7:31 – Dirk’s top tools
8:21 – Not to Be Corny
8:49 – Final thoughts

How do farmers make conservation work?

Dirk Rice shares the data, tech, and real-world lessons behind his success in the field.

Learn more about PCM:
🔗 https://www.precisionconservation.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrecisionConservation/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ilcorn_PCM

📩 For sponsorship inquiries, contact [email protected].

👍 Don’t forget to follow for more IL Corn TV episodes.

#PrecisionAg #NoTillSuccess #SmartFarming #AgTechInAction #SoilHealthMatters #FarmDataDriven #SustainableFarming #ILCornTV

How do farmers build trust with consumers in today’s digital world? In this episode of IL Corn TV, Lindsey Crook sits down with Gracie Pearson, Consumer Engagement Manager at Illinois Farm Bureau, to explore how the Illinois Farm Families coalition is connecting rural agriculture with urban audiences through powerful storytelling, farmer ambassadors, and strategic social media efforts.

What You’ll Hear:
00:51 – What is Illinois Farm Families?
01:41 – Why Focus on Chicago Consumers
02:07 – Favorite Campaigns: We Are the 96 & the Docuseries
02:55 – The Power of Farmer Ambassadors
04:32 – What’s Next: Social Media, TikTok, & More
06:51 – Why Farmers’ Investment Matters
08:30 – “Not to Be Corny” Segment 🌽

📧 Get episode alerts: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts
📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ILCorn
📩 For partnerships or sponsorships: [email protected]

🎧 Like what you hear? Follow IL Corn TV for more stories straight from the field.

#ILCornTV #AgInfluencers  #ConsumerEngagement #UrbanMeetsRural #AgStorytelling #RealFarmersRealStories #SocialMediaForAg  #FarmAmbassadors #IFB #IllinoisFarmBureau

What does it take to make conservation work? In this IL Corn TV episode, Megan Dwyer chats with Kristopher Reynolds of American Farmland Trust about how trust, cover crops, and farmer-landowner collaboration are driving real change in sustainable ag.

Here’s what’s coming up:

0:52 – How Conservation is Evolving
2:05 – Myths That Need Busting
2:49 – A Win for One Landowner
4:54 – Policy, Incentives & Farmer-Led Wins
6:31 – The Real Value of Conservation
7:48 – Not to be Corny

Learn more about American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanFarmland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanfarmlandtrust/#
X (formerly Twitter): https://farmland.org/

Get e-mail alerts when new episodes air by signing up for our e-mail list here: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts  

📩 For sponsorship inquiries, contact [email protected].

👍 Like what you hear? Follow for more from IL Corn TV.

#AmericanFarmlandTrust #ConservationMatters #SustainableAg #SoilHealth #MidwestAg #RegenerativeFarming  #CoverCrops #ILCornTV

The next era of corn starts with data. In this episode of IL Corn TV, John Klemm talks with Michael Kovach of Bayer about the science and strategy behind precision breeding and what it means for farmers today.

Here’s what’s coming up:
0:36 – What is Precision Breeding?
2:15 – Precision vs. Traditional Breeding
3:47 – Technology Behind the Innovation
5:33 – PRECEON Smart Corn System Explained
7:08 – Why Farmers Should Care: Protection, Access, Yield
9:20 – When PRECEON Will Hit the Field
11:01 – Not to Be Corny
12:19 – Final Thoughts

Learn more about Bayer Crop Science: www.bayer.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bayer
X: https://x.com/Bayer4Crops
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayer4cropsus/?hl=en

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📩 For sponsorship inquiries, contact [email protected].

👍 Hit FOLLOW for more IL Corn TV episodes.

#PrecisionBreeding #SmartCorn #ModernFarming #AgInnovation #SustainableAg #PreceonSmartCornSystem #AgTech #FarmForward #HybridRevolution #ILCornTV

What's it really like to be a dairy farmer? This episode of IL Corn TV pulls back the curtain with Dakota Cowger, a dairy farmer. He shares insights into the dedication required for dairy farming, the deep connection farmers have with their animals, and how to inspire the next generation of agriculturalists. Discover how the FFA program is fostering growth and understanding among young people, even those without traditional farm backgrounds.

Inside This Episode: 

0:53 - Dairy Farming Misconceptions
2:49 - Caring for Cows: A Farmer's View
3:40 - Mentoring the Next Generation in Ag
5:26 - Student Success: Impactful Ag Programs
6:40 - Not To Be Corny

Uncover the realities of dairy farming and youth leadership. 

Listen to the full episode and connect with Dakota on his social channels for more updates!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcow6/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dcow6?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcow6
Website: https://www.dakotacowger.com/

Get e-mail alerts when new episodes air by signing up for our e-mail list here: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 For sponsorship inquiries, contact [email protected].

👍 Hit FOLLOW for more IL Corn TV episodes.

#DairyFarming #AgEducation #FFA #YouthInAg #ILCorn TV

Are You Doing Enough to Fight Tar Spot?

Tar spot has become one of the biggest headaches for Illinois farmers — but are you sure you’re using every tool to protect your crop?

In this episode of IL Corn TV, Lindsay Croke chats with Matt Montgomery, Agronomy Education Lead at Beck’s Hybrids, to uncover the hidden risks, surprising strategies, and expert tips for managing foliar diseases in corn.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
00:00 – Welcome to IL Corn TV
00:55 – Beck’s top recommendations for managing tar spot
01:40 – Other practices that make a difference
02:20 – Fungicide timing: what’s changing?
02:55 – How foliar diseases have evolved over the decades
03:35 – Unique challenges across Illinois
04:15 – How disease management strategies have changed
05:20 – Have fungicides kept pace with hybrid advancements?
06:25 – The one thing farmers need to plan for next season
07:20 – Time to get corny: dad joke break
08:34 – Final thoughts and takeaways

📩 Get notified when new episodes drop!
Sign up for email alerts here: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

For sponsorships or inquiries, email: [email protected]

👉 Like what you hear? Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share this episode with a farmer who could use a little help managing tar spot this year!

#TarSpot #FoliarDiseases #BecksHybrids #FungicideTips #HybridSelection #FarmSmart #CropDiseaseManagement #AgEducation #ILCornTV