RFD Illinois

Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports on issues impacting the Ukraine export crisis. We hear from Illinois Pork Producers Association President Thomas Titus. Merrill Crowley with Ag Trader Talk discusses corn prices and USDA's Brad Rippey talks cool temps. We also check overnight markets and get an ag weather update from Dan Hicks with Freese-Notis Weather.

Friday's show features a conversation with Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert. Michael Bierman of South Central FS is featured in the Profit Watch Energy Report and Illinois Farm Bureau's Tasha Bunting provides an update on the IVET program. Dan Hicks has the latest weather information and Jim Taylor has overnight market numbers.

Matt Kaye reports on key bills making their way through Congress. Grant Hammer, Executive Director of AISWCD, talks with Rita about the state Envirothon. FarmWeek’s Dan Grant shares a view from the cab with Al Lyman from Henry County. Talk planting progress, conditions, and the value of manure from his beef operation. DeLoss talks with Jeffrey Barron, Economist with the Energy Information Administration about gasoline supply and forecast. Jim has early morning markets and weather.

Matt Kaye reports on USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s concern about getting grain out of Ukraine longer-term, even while exporting short-term to a hungry world will be a big challenge. Don Hartman is a New Mexico farmer and posts 'from the tractor seat' on social media. He talks from the heart and explains his motivation for writing. Don also recently represented the New Mexico Farm Bureau on CNN, as they covered the impact of inflation and supply chain disruptions on agriculture. Farm Week Crop Watchers report from Colby Hunt and Greg St Aubin. Mike Havens, Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing talks about the company being busier than ever since Covid. Retail sales and farmland values

Matt Kaye reports on US and European policymakers trying to find ways to deal with a brewing global food crisis stemming from Russia’s war on Ukraine. Rita Frazer visits with Travis Meteer U of I Beef Extension Specialist talks pasture condition. Jim Taylor shares a Farm Week Crop Watcher report with Mark Kerber in Livingston County. DeLoss Jahnke covers crop numbers and the reports of North Dakota weather. We get a Kent Casson report and Weather commentary from Mark Henderson, WIFR TV in Rockford. Plus early morning markets and Freese Notis Weather.

Illinois Farm Bureau’s Mark Gebhards talks with Rita Frazer about the positive takeaways from President Biden’s visit to Illinois last week. India bans wheat exports and DeLoss Jahnke talks with Brian Doherty, Total Farm Marketing by Stewart Peterson, on how high or how low corn might go. Jim Taylor has the early morning markets and weather.

Matt Kaye reports on reducing trade tariffs, with commentary from AFBF Senior Director of Congressional Relations with Dave Solmonson. Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello talks about May, Mental Health Month and promotes the Farmer Mental Health Resource hotline. Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics, talking WASDE and domestic use of biofuels boosting the markets. Rob Wiegand, Trails End Smokehouse in Goodfield, talks Pig Wings and keeping prices in line with food inflation. Early morning markets and weather.

Team coverage of President Biden's visit to Illinois with reactions from FarmWeek's Tim Eggert, Kankakee County Farm Bureau President Greg St. Aubin and Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. All that plus other news, weather and markets.

Matt Kaye reports on USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told the Senate Ag Appropriations panel that tens of thousands of farmers have fallen on hard times and need help now. Joel Tatum Solar Specialist American Farmland Trust talks about efforts to maintain ground in production amidst solar panels. David Powell, GROWMARK, on the need to scout fields.

Crop watcher report from Ron Moore in Warren County. Amy Rademaker, Carle Health Farm Safety & Health coordinator talks about Progressive Ag Safety Days events. Coverage of crop conditions and weather reports. Kent Cassan reports on rain and planting progress for SE Livingston County.